Individual tickets go on sale this coming Sunday for the musical theater classic “West Side Story,” returning to the Bay Area in a new, national touring production at The Flint Center in Cupertino for a limited engagement Sept. 16-18.
As relevant today as it was nearly 40 years ago when the poignant love story and tale of rival teenage gangs first electrified Broadway, “West Side Story” features the brilliant collaboration of four theatrical legends – director-choreographer Jerome Roberts, librettist Arthur Laurents, composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
Set against the gritty backdrop of gang warfare on the streets of New York City, this powerful and gripping musical, based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” tells the moving story of star-crossed lovers whose romance ends in tragedy.
This production of “West Side Story” boasts a cast of the most energetic, young singer-dancers ever assembled and reproduces Jerome Robbin’s original direction and Tony Award-winning choreography to capture the conflict and passion of the two rival gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, through exhilarating and exciting dance.
The memorable score, written by composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, features some of the most extraordinary songs from the Broadway stage, including “Somewhere,” “Maria,” “America,” “One Hand, One Heart” and “Tonight.”
The original musical production of “West Side Story” opened at the Winter Garden theater in New York City in 1957 and won Tony Awards for Best Choreographer (Jerome Robbins) and best Scenic Design (Oliver Smith). The show was last seen on Broadway in 1980, when it won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The classic 1961 motion picture starring Natalie Wood, garnered 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as a special award for Jerome Robbins’ choreography.
As Clive Barnes said in 1980 in the New York Post, “West Side Story” is now no longer just a legend, it is a living legend.”
“West Side Story” is presented by Flint Center as part of the 1997-98 Broadway Theater Series including “Stomp,” Cirque Ingenieux and “A Chorus Line.”
Tickets for “West Side Story” range in price from $25 to $40 and are available at the Flint Center Box Office or can be charged by phone at (510) 762-BASS or (408) 998-BASS. All tickets are subject to a convenience fee. For more information, call (408) 864-8916.
