Grand Scale WEST SIDE STORY for Artscape Opera House from 23 July 2015

Presented at Artscape by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre, WEST SIDE STORY, the musical masterpiece by Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim, based on an original conception of Jerome Robbins, opens at the Artscape Opera House on 23 July 2015.

The story, inspired by William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood in New York City in the mid-1950s. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different backgrounds. Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks.

Bernstein's magnificent score includes the world famous "Something's Coming", "Maria", "I Feel Pretty" and "Tonight". Following its Broadway premiere in 1957, the popularity of WEST SIDE STORY - with its sophisticated music, extended dance scenes and focus on social conflict - was cemented when the musical was adapted for film 1961.

Under the direction of Matthew Wild, the musical direction of Charl-Johan Lingenfelder and with choreography by Louisa Talbot, the Fugard Theatre team that brought audiences seasons of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and CABARET will present a cast of 40 in a grand scale production of this classic masterpiece. Lingenfelder will conduct the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in the orchestra pit.

The South African company of WEST SIDE STORY will be led by South African theatre stars Jonathan Roxmouth (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SUNSET BOULEVARD) as Tony, Lynelle Kenned (SHOW BOAT, ORPHEUS IN AFRICA) as Maria, Bianca Le Grange (BLOOD BROTHERS) as Anita and Christopher Jaftha (DIRTY DANCING) as Bernardo. Other cast members include Daniel Buys, Stephen Jubber, Adrian Galley, Sven-Eric Müller, Matthew Berry, Michael Wallace, Cameron Botha, Angela Inglis, Delray Halgryn, Michèle La Trobe, Jenna Robinson Child, Claire Taylor, Daniel Richards, Sonwa Sakuba, Thami Njoko, Rory Marais, Sabelo Radebe, Kirsten Rossiter, Sarah Anne van der Merwe, Natasha Hess, Lee Piedt, Felipa van Eck, Chloe Perling, Oleksii Ischenko, Nurit Graff and Dominique Maher.

The WEST SIDE STORY season runs from 23 July to 23 August 2015 at the Artscape Opera House. Performances are from Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm, on Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and on Sundays at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets cost from R95 to R400 through Computicket or 0861 915 8000 or via the Artscape box office on 021 421 7695. Advance booking is highly recommended.

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