Broadway Classic WEST SIDE STORY Set for Extended Run at The Wick Theatre

The Wick Theatre will present the timeless and groundbreaking 1957 Broadway smash, West Side Story. This season's most requested production has already been extended and will run January 12 - February 26, 2017. The gala opening night is set for Saturday, January 14.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice make it one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musicals of all-time.

With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins, West Side Story has become an enduring classic renowned for its enduring social relevance, exhilarating dance moves and iconic songs including "Maria," "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," and "I Feel Pretty."

"West Side Story is our most requested production of this season," said Marilynn A. Wick, Executive Managing Producer. "And thanks to high ticket demand we have already extended the show one week. We know the audiences will enjoy this dynamic mix of drama, dance and music, which features a stellar cast and production team."

MaryJoanna Grisso, stars as Maria, a role she has played over 550 times. After performing on the Broadway National Tour, she has continued her WSS journey at regional theatres across the country. Recently, she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her work at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. She is excited to return to DC this spring for a new adaption of Cinderella playing the title role as part of The American Pops Orchestra concert series. Other credits: Les Miserables (Cosette), Propaganda! The Musical (Fired Girl), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Urinetown (Hope),The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Marriage of Figaro (Barbarina). And concerts including Mozart's Requiem at Carnegie Hall and Broadway Rocks with Marvin Hamlisch, Heinz Hall.

Thaddeus Pearson stars as Tony, a familiar role as well, as he played the lead in the West End production and International Tours. Previous roles include Jesus Christ Superstar (MT Witchita), Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (Gretna Theatre), and Joseph Cover in Joseph...Dreamcoat (National Tour).

Charles South (Director) is a South Florida native director, choreographer, and performing artist. He is a Hartt School conservatory graduate, and has toured Europe and the West End as Bernardo with the International tour of West Side Story. His choreography has been utilized on many regional West Side Story productions and has collaborated to set pieces for the Omaha Symphony. He, as a performer, will be traveling the US in the Broadway production tour of Aladdin coming in 2017 in Chicago. He has worked on numerous pre-Broadway shows including Bull Durham and King Kong. Touring credits include West Side Story, Carmen la Cubana & Aladdin.

Ryan VanDenBoom (Choreographer) is a director, choreographer and performing artist based out of Brooklyn, NY. A graduate from NYU and the Tisch School of the Arts, he has stretched his medium from stage to screen. Choreography for the stage includes productions at the Mac-Hayden Theatre; Damn, Yankees, Mame, & Copacabana. He's provided movement for several plays for the NYU Steinhardt Educational Theatre program. His choreography has appeared with several symphony orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He directed and choreographed several music videos for the web series Charmers and for recording artist, Ryan Amador. Performing credits include the Broadway productions of Annie and Something Rotten! Ryan can also be seen performing on screen in the Coen brothers' film, Hail, Caesar!

Michael McClain (Scenic Designer) has received a Carbonell Award and Silver Palm Award for his work in South Florida. He is the resident set designer for Zoetic Stage, Island City Stage, and Broward Stage Door. Michael has designed for two Off-Off Broadway original works, The Lesbian Love Octagon and Rooftops.

James Olmstead (Music Director) John W. Engeman Theatre (Mamma Mia, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Memphis, West Side Story, The Producers, A Chorus Line, Evita, The Music Man, White Christmas, South Pacific, Sweet Charity), Fame! (2016 National Tour), 54 Below/Feinstein's (Broadway Swinger), Birdland (BAA 10th Anniversary Concert), NYMF (Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist), Laurie Beechman Theater and Triad Theater (Perfectly Complicated), NYU Tisch Collaborative Cabaret, Broadway Comedy Club (Contemporary Traditionalists Present: New Notes), Bridge Theatre (Love Quirks), Broadway Artists Alliance, Don't Tell Mama (Me Sing Pretty for You, Students of Celeste Simone), Duplex (Complicationships, Another Effin' Cabaret, Bending Threads, NYC It's Not You), Theatre Under St. Mark's (Don't Make Me Sing), Manhattan Children's Theater (Stanley's Party).

Matinees: Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun 2pm. Evening Performances: Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 pm. Tickets: $75 & $80, www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333. The Wick Theatre is located at 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida.

Pictured: MaryJoanna Grisso and Thaddeus Pearson

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