Joey McKneely News

One of the most well-known shows of all time, West Side Story, is coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center this June. In anticipation of its arrival, I spoke with Joey McKneely, the showÂ’s choreographer, to gain insight into the unique elements of this production. He offered a glimpse into the creative minds of the late Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents. He explains why every generation needs to experience the power of West Side Story, and why this imagining of the production brings to light the relevance of the themes. (more...)

Mit der Broadway-Premiere von WEST SIDE STORY am 26. September 1957 am Winter Garden Theater in New York nahm die Geschichte des amerikanischen Musiktheaters eine entscheidende Wende: ein Bühnenwerk, das seinen Darstellern nicht nur das Äußerste an schauspielerischer, tänzerischer und gesanglicher Ausdruckskraft abverlangte, sondern auch musikalisch wie dramaturgisch vollkommen neue Maßstäbe setzte, definierte ein ganzes Genre neu. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of West Side Story is coming to New Jersey. West Side Story will open at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 1, 2012. Award-winning librettist Arthur LaurentsÂ’ Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. Mr. Saint is also the artistic director of the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life). (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Philadelphia. WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Academy of Music on March 28 through April 8 as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. (more...)

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Columbus, opening at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday, April 17. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur LaurentsÂ’ Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life). (more...)

The tour of the smash-hit Broadway revival of West Side Story is coming to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. West Side Story will open at the Center on April 24. Tony Award®-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the associate director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life). (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Cincinnati. (more...)

WEST SIDE STORY is currently touring the country, and now stars Ross Lekites as Tony, Evy Ortiz as Maria, Michelle Aravena as Anita, Drew Foster as Riff and German Santiago as Bernardo. Also featured are Mike Boland as Schrank, Stephen DeRosa as Glad Hand, Jon Drake as Action, Wally Dunn as Krupke, Alexandra Frohlinger as Anybodys, Jay Garcia as Chino, Casey Garvin as Diesel, Nathan Keen as Big Deal, Harris Milgrim as Snowboy, John O'Creagh as Doc, Christopher Rice as Baby John, Clay Thomson as A-rab, along with Karolina Blonski, Alicia Charles, Lauryn Ciardullo, Dean Andre De Luna, Lori Ann Ferreri, Ryan Ghysels, Tim Hausmann, Nicole Hellman, Laura Irion, Thayne Jasperson, Gizel Jimenez, Eric Anthony Johnson, Patrick Ortiz, Kristen Paulicelli, Christie Portera, Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva, Alexandra Blake Redelico, Michael Scirrotto, Jeffrey C. Sousa, Dani Spieler, Jessica Swesey, Kathryn Lin Terza and Kirstin Tucker. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Cincinnati. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to St. Louis. WEST SIDE STORY will close at The Fox Theatre on February 26, 2012. (more...)

More than fifty years ago one musical changed the theatre forever! From the first note to the final breath, this new Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY soars again as the greatest love story of all time. Dancap Productions presents the first national tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY beginning May 8, at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Tickets on sale Saturday, February 25 at dancaptickets.com. (more...)

There have been any number of renowned re-imaginings of Shakespeare. But, easily one of the finest to have been conceived is the musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, WEST SIDE STORY. One thing that makes it so special is the way that Leonard Bernstein's dramatic orchestral score meshes so perfectly with Stephen Sondheim's lyrical contributions, and how Arthur Laurent's clever book replaces the feuding families of the original work with rival gangs of different races. And, there no denying the ground-breaking choreography and direction that Jerome Robbins brought to the table. The combination of acrobatics, ballet, and modern dance requires exceptional athleticism. Thankfully, the current production playing the Fox Theatre is an exciting and thoroughly entertaining version that's brought to life by an exuberant and talented cast. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to St. Louis. WEST SIDE STORY will open at The Fox Theatre on Tuesday, February 14, 2012. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of West Side Story is coming to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. (more...)

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Milwaukee and is presented by Broadway Across America-Milwaukee and the Marcus Center as part of the Time Warner Cable Broadway at the Marcus Center Series. WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Marcus Center on April 10-15. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life). (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of West Side Story is coming to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Philadelphia. WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Academy of Music on March 28 through April 8 as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. (more...)

The national tour of “West Side Story,” which visits Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center now through January 29, updates a classic, not with modern reinventions and sets, but with a somewhat darker take on the musical’s Romeo and Juliet story, as well as with new Spanish dialogue added for a more authentic and balanced feel. But much of the production stays true to tradition, magically recreating Jerome Robbin’s original choreography and paying tribute to all the original Leonard Bernstein songs, including “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” The cast, too, sticks to the show’s roots while providing outstanding vocal performance, and James Youmans’ basic sets keep the production simple. (more...)

The tour of the Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Cincinnati. (more...)

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Sacramento. WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Sacramento Community Center Theater on January 24 and play through January 29, 2012. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur LaurentsÂ’ Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life). (more...)