Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with Austin Colby, MaryJoanna Grisso, Natascia Diaz and More for Signature Theatre's WEST SIDE STORY

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic DirectorMatthew Gardiner(Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

The production stars MaryJoanna Grisso (WEST SIDE STORY, US National Tour) as Maria, Austin Colby (Signature's Simply Sondheim, Sound of Music, US National Tour) as Tony, Sean Ewing (Broadway's WEST SIDE STORY, Amazing Grace) as Bernardo and Max Clayton (Broadway's On the Town, Gigi) as Riff. Helen Hayes Award winner Natascia Diaz (Signature's The Threepenny Opera, St. Louis MUNY's WEST SIDE STORY) returns to the role of Anita. Diaz was previously heralded as "a worthy successor to Chita Rivera" by the Los Angeles Times.

Grisso, Colby, Diaz, Ewing and Clayton are joined in the cast by Jasmine Alexis (Teresita; The Kennedy Center's OMAN O'man), Kurt Boehm (Diesel; Signature's Cabaret), Jennifer Cordiner (Graziella; The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, US National Tour), Ryan Fitzgerald (Action; WEST SIDE STORY, International Tour), Michael Graceffa (Indio; Catch Me if You Can, US National Tour), Colleen Hayes (Velma; Signature's Diner), Mikaela Holmes (Rosalia; Clear Space Theatre's Grease), Jamie Howes (Minnie; NBC's Smash), Ryan Kanfer (A-Rab; Forestburgh Playhouse's Legally Blonde), Ilda Mason (Francisca; Connelly Theatre's Wedding Singer), Tony Niedenbach (Big Deal; Anything Goes, US National Tour), Zachary Norton (Anxious; Cats, US National Tour), DJ Petrosino (Chino; Merry Go Round Playhouse's Saturday Night Fever), Olivia Ashley Reed (Consuela; Mamma Mia!, US National Tour), Eric Rivas (Luis; New Bedford's A Chorus Line) Maria Rizzo (Anybodys; Signature's Gypsy), Ryan Sellers (Pepe; Signature's The Threepenny Opera) Bobby Smith (Doc/Gladhand; Signature's The Fix), Cami Spring (Clarice), Russell Sunday(Officer Krupke; Signature's Elmer Gantry) Joseph Tudor (Baby John; Signature's Cabaret), Shawna Walker (Pauline; Ogunquit Playhouse's Guys and Dolls), J. Morgan White (Snowboy; Olney Theatre Center's Carousel) and John Leslie Wolfe (Lieutenant Schrank; Signature's Diner).

The creative team includes Choreography by Parker Esse; Based on Original Choreography by Jerome Robbins; Musical Direction by Jon Kalbfleisch; Scenic Design by Misha Kachman; Costume Design by Frank Labovitz; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Lane Elms; Hair Design by Anne Nesmith; Fight Choreography by Casey Kaleba; Associate Choreographer Jessica Hartman; Assistant Choreographer Tony Niedenbach; Production Stage Manager Kerry Epstein; and Assistant Stage Managers Allie Roy and Paul Luckenbaugh.

Two star-crossed lovers find themselves wrenched between two rival gangs in New York City's Upper West Side in this musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Featuring an iconic score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim that includes "America," "Maria," "Somewhere," "I Feel Pretty" and "Tonight," WEST SIDE STORY will also mark the 25th production of a Stephen Sondheim musical in Signature Theatre's history.

For tickets and more information, visit www.sigtheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Christopher Mueller

Austin Colby (Tony)

Sean Ewing (Bernardo) and MaryJoanna Grisso (Maria)

Austin Colby (Tony) and MaryJoanna Grisso (Maria)

MaryJoanna Grisso (Maria) and Austin Colby (Tony)

Choreographer Parker Esse and Director Matthew Gardiner

Natascia Diaz (Anita) and Sean Ewing (Bernardo)

Jennifer Cordiner (Graziella)

Max Clayton (Riff) and Sean Ewing (Bernardo)

Natascia Diaz (Anita) and MaryJoanna Grisso (Maria)

Austin Colby (Tony) and MaryJoanna Grisso (Maria)

Natascia Diaz (Anita)

The cast of WEST SIDE STORY in rehearsal at Signature Theatre