Photo Flash: La Mirada Stages Timeless Classic WEST SIDE STORY

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel. WEST SIDE STORY will preview on Friday, April 21, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 22) and run through Sunday, May 14, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

From the first notes to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. As powerful, poignant, and timely as ever, the thrilling Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim score - including "Tonight," "Maria," "America" and the classic "Somewhere," remains one of the best ever written. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City, caught between warring street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

Richard Israel (Director) is thrilled and grateful to be returning to MRE/La Mirada Theatre, where he directed last year's production of Rent and 2014's Floyd Collins (LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for Directing and Outstanding Musical in a Large Venue). Most recently, Richard was the on-set Avenue Q coordinator for the upcoming HBO series Big Little Lies. Recent directing credits include Our Town at the Actor's Co-Op, From Foster Care To Fabulous for NY Fringe, Promises Promises for MTG and the original Jeff Marx/Fat Mike musical Home Street Home at San Francisco's Z-Space. Other directing credits include The Baker's Wife, and 110 In The Shade (LA Stage Alliance Award for Outstanding Musical in an Intimate Venue), Kiss Me Kate for Cabrillo Music Theatre, Glorious! for ICT, Avenue Q for DOMA Theatre and the multiple-Ovation nominated Having It All for the Laguna Playhouse. Intimate theatre credits include Bronies!, The Full Monty, The Burnt Part Boys, and Falsettos (all for the Third Street Theater), as well as Gypsy, Assassins, Big and the west coast premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins (all for West Coast Ensemble Theatre). For the Rubicon Theatre he has directed George Gershwin In Concert and The Secret Garden In Concert, and for MTG he has directed Road Show, High Fidelity and Violet, among others. He is on the musical theatre faculty of AMDA and is the recipient of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Career Achievement Award for Directing.

John Todd (Choreographer), a native of the Carolina's, received his training at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts, receiving a full scholarship at the age of 15. Taking his training into the world, John has worked with such luminaries as Martha Graham, Agnes De Mille, Hal Prince, Twyla Tharp and contemporary artists Robert Zemeckis, Coppola and Paul Feig. John's most recent experiences include directing/choreographing West Side Story at the Triandi Stage in Athens, Greece, choreographing multiple episodes of "Days Of Our Lives" for NBC, Kiss Me Kate at the Herod Atticus Theater in Athens, Greece. John's film and television credits include: "The Last Tycoon" (with Kelsey Grammer), "Saving Mr. Banks," "Mad Men," "About A Boy," "Ronna and Beverly," Marvel's "Agents of Shield," as well as choreographing the movie musical "Samantha Spade Ace Detective." Mr. Todd has also created 3 works for the prestigious Houston Ballet.

Brent Crayon (Musical Director) has had the privilege to work with such notable artists as Stephen Schwartz, Daisy Prince, John Caird, Paul Gordon, Scott Schwartz, John Bucchino, and Richard Maltby, Jr.. Favorite theatrical productions include the West Coast premieres of Songs For a New World and Tick, Tick...BOOM!, and the world premiere productions of Stephen Schwartz's Snapshots, John Bucchino's It's Only Life, and Bubble Boy, The Musical (Music Director/Orchestrator). Brent recently conducted Les Misérables in Anchorage, Alaska. An accomplished and multi-faceted musician, Brent has been a featured soloist in ensembles throughout Southern California, including Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, and the Ventura Chamber Orchestra.

The Cast for WEST SIDE STORY features Eddie Egan as Tony (La Mirada Theatre/McCoy Rigby tour of Miss Saigon); Ashley Marie as Maria (West Side Story at Musical Theatre West and Riverside Repertory Theatre); Marlene Martinez as Anita (National Tour of Mamma Mia!); Michael Starr as Riff (La Mirada Theatre Carrie: The Musical); and Armando Yearwood, Jr. as Bernardo (International Tour of West Side Story); and in the ensemble Adrian Arrieta as Nibbles, Jean-Luc Cavnar-Lewandowski as Big Deal, Max Chucker as A-Rab, Autumn Crockett Cooper as Consuela, Maggie Darago as Graziella, Jake Dupree as Snowboy, Lance Galgon as Glad Hand, Erik Gratton as Krupke, Joe Hart as Lt. Schrank, April Josephine as Francisca, Natalie Iscovich as Rosalia, Danielle Kay as Anybodys, Chris Meissner as Baby John, Gabriel Navarro as Pepe, Dino Nicandros as Chino, Nich O'Neil as Luis, Clarice ORdaz as Teresita, Steven Rada as Anxious, Joshua Rivera as Indio, Mark Shunkey as Gee-Tar, Bailey Day Sonner as Velma, Alyssa Weldon as Minnie, Justin Michael Wilcox as Action, Time Winters as Doc, and Adam Ziv as Diesel.

The Design Team for WEST SIDE STORY is as follows: Scenic Design by Stephen Gifford; Lighting Design by Steven Young; Sound Design by Julie Ferrin; Wardrobe Design by Thomas G. Marquez; Hair/Make-Up/Wig Design by Katie McCoy; and Prop Design by Terry Hanrahan. The Assistant Stage Manager is Lisa Palmire. Casting is by Julia Flores, and the Production Stage Manager is John Calder.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

WEST SIDE STORY will preview on Friday, April 21, 2017 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 22) and run through Sunday, May 14, 2017 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Performances are 7:30pm on Wednesdays & Thursdays; 8pm on Fridays; 2pm and

8pm on Saturdays; and 2pm on Sundays. There will be no performance on Saturday, April 22 at 2pm.

There will be an ASL interpreted performance on Saturday, May 13 at 2pm and an Open Captioned performance on Saturday, May 6 at 2pm. Talkbacks with the cast and creative team will be on Wednesday, April 26 and Wednesday, May 10.

Tickets range from $20 - $70 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre's website, www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student, Senior and group discounts are available. $15 Student Tickets available for the first 15 performances of the production.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.

Photo Credit: Jason Niedle

The company performs in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The company performs in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
Ashley Marie as Maria and Eddie Egan as Tony star in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
The company performs in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
Michael Starr (center) and the company perform in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
The company performs in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
Eddie Egan as Tony and Ashley Marie as Maria star in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
Ashley Marie (center) and the company perform in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
The company performs in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
Marlene Martinez (center, in purple) stars as Anita (with the company) in the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCoy Rigby Entertainment production of "WEST SIDE STORY," directed by Richard Israel and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.