WEST SIDE STORY Star Cody Green 'Riffs' to DC Theatre Scene

More than 50 years after it opened at The National Theatre, the new production West Side Story , under the direction of the legendary Arthur Laurents, returned to the National in preparation for its Broadway opening. DC audiences thrilled to Cody Green's dynamic performance as 'Riff' in the production. Before Cody left Washington for New York, he spoke to DCTheatreScene.com, click here to read the interview.

Cody Green was chosen as the winner in last years finale episode of BRAVO's "Step It Up & Dance," winning the $100,000 grand prize. The 27-year-old dancer from Surrey, Canada beat out 11 other contestants as they competed in weekly dance challenges from some of the top performers and choreographers in the industry including: Tina Landon, Jordi Caballero, Lee Martino and Jason Alexander.

Cody Green is no stranger to the dance world having starred in the Billy Joel musical Movin' Out playing "Eddie" in London's West End and later on Broadway. Cody was seen singing and dancing in the cast of Grease on Broadway and as an understudy for the role of "Kenickie." Green plays "Nick Hoffman" in the film "Center Stage 2" and is a featured dancer in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (starring Brad Pitt).

Often compared in looks and demeanor to the likes of Patrick Swayze, Cody Green's childhood parallels that of Swayze in that both their mothers are their first dance teachers. Cody trained with his mother until he was invited to study at The Juilliard School on a full dance scholarship in New York.

Directed by multiple Tony Award winner and author of the musical Arthur Laurents, West Side Story features scenic designs by James Youmans (Gypsy), costumes by Tony Award nominee David C. Woolard (The Farnsworth Invention, The Who's Tommy), lighting by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Gypsy, Jersey Boys), hair by Mark Adam Rampmeyer (The Farnsworth Invention) and sound design by Tony Award nominee Dan Moses Schreier (Gypsy, A Catered Affair). The original Jerome Robbins choreography is being reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

West Side Story is written by three theatrical luminaries: two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents (book) and multiple Tony and Grammy Award winners Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) in his Broadway debut.

West Side Story is produced by Kevin McCollum, James L. Nederlander, Jeffrey Seller with Terry Allen Kramer, Sander Jacobs, Freddy DeMann, Roy Furman, Robyn Goodman / Walter Grossman, Hal Luftig, Roy Miller and Broadway Across America.

Broadway preview performances at The Palace Theatre will be Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Beginning the week of March 23, performances will be Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday - Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. D.C. Ticket prices are $121.50 - 46.50.

Photo by Retna Ltd.