West Side Story

Description

Love between enemies Leonard Bernstein's world-famous musical relocates a classic 'Romeo and Juliet' story to the New York gang milieu of the 1950s. Jets versus Sharks: Rivalries between their families thwart the budding love between Tony and Maria and spiral into violence. Additionally, the numerous earworms in Bernstein's score create an irresistible rhythmic pull. Barrie Kosky's and Otto Pichler's successful production at the Komische Oper Berlin radically streamlines the piece. On an almost empty stage, only beneath a swarm of disco balls, people are at the center: in their pure emotions, desires – and in energetic choreography. Barrie Kosky's furious staging restores Bernstein's old 'West Side Story' with its hardness and explosive power. Berliner Zeitung Contributors and additional information: Artistic team - Musical direction – Thomas Wise - Direction – Barrie Kosky, Otto Pichler - Choreography – Otto Pichler - Scenic direction of the new production – Tamara Heimbrock - Choreographic direction of the new production – Silvano Marraffa - Stage – Barrie Kosky - Costumes – Thibaut Welchlin - Lighting design – Franck Evin - Choir direction – Michael Clark - Dramaturgy – Johanna Wall, Benjamin Wäntig - Artistic production management – Anna Crespo Palomar - Stage management – Mick Besuch Cast - Tony – Jan-Philipp Rekeszus - Maria – Samantha Hargreaves - Anita – Kyra Sorce - Anita – Azzurra Adinolfi - Riff – Bart Aerts - Bernardo – Máté Gyenei - Chino – Alessio Urzetta