West Side Story
The Epic Love Story ReturnsJuly 15 – 21
One of the greatest and most powerful musicals of our time. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a love story that has endured the test of time. Tony and Maria find themselves in each other’s arms in a dance of romance, but can they escape the tensions in the streets? The classic Sharks and Jets rivalry leaps onto the Muny stage for the first time in a decade. With the memorable “Maria,” “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty” this is your chance to fall in love with this story all over again!
CAST
CHRISTIAN DOUGLAS
Tony
Currently touring the country in Moulin Rouge, Christian was last seen in New York as Charlie Price in the off-Broadway revival of Kinky Boots. Other credits include the national tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical, as well as regional productions of Songs for a New World (The Gateway), Newsies (Arena Stage) and Gun & Powder (Signature Theatre). Before moving to New York in February 2021, Christian was an active-duty soldier and tenor in the United States Army Chorus. He performed as a soloist, singing “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot, for the Italian presidential state visit at the White House. Christian is also a prolific songwriter and was an Artist in Residence at the Strathmore Music Center in Washington D.C. His debut album of original music, Inside Voice, was written, recorded and released during the pandemic.
KANISHA FELICIANO
Maria
Kanisha recently closed the historic run of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway as a Christine Daaé understudy. She also originated the role of Ann/Judith in Flying Over Sunset at Lincoln Center. Other credits include Lily from The Secret Garden at Sacramento’s Broadway At Music Circus, along with operatic roles such as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Baby Doe (The Ballad of Baby Doe), Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) and Amy March (Little Women).
JERUSHA CAVAZOS
Anita
Broadway: The Prom. Off-Broadway: Between the Lines. Regional (select): Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Barrington Stage Company. TV: Atlanta on FX and FBI on CBS. Her original music is streaming on all platforms.
YUREL ECHEZARRETA
Bernardo
has appeared on Broadway in West Side Story, La Cage aux Folles, Matilda, Disney’s Aladdin, Head Over Heels and Moulin Rouge. Most recently, Yurel appeared as Bernardo in West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago. TV/Film: Comedy Central’s Alternatino, Bravo’s Odd Mom Out and The Last Five Years, starring Anna Kendrick. He had the honor of acting in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and had the privilege of experiencing its release at premieres on both coasts. Yurel now lives in Los Angeles where he starred in Pasadena Playhouse’s production of Head Over Heels, the Hollywood Bowl’s Kinky Boots, and appeared on HBO’s hit show Barry.
SEAN HARRISON JONES
Riff
is overjoyed to be back in Forest Park, at the theatre that gave him his start. Having performed in several Muny productions since 2015, his favorites include Mike in A Chorus Line, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and The Music Man. Broadway credits: Charles Lee and Samuel Seabury in Hamilton. Film: Action in Spielberg’s West Side Story.
KEN PAGE
Doc
has performed in over 40 shows on the Muny stage. Ken is widely known as the voice of Mr. Oogie Boogie in the classic Disney/Tim Burton animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. He has performed the score sung live at The Hollywood Bowl, Barclay Center NY, LA’s Banc of California Stadium, the UK, Glasgow, London (SSE Arena, Wembley), Dublin and Tokyo. Films: Dreamgirls, Torch Song Trilogy, All Dogs Go to Heaven and more. Ken made his Broadway debut in Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival, (Theatre World Award), and recreated the role at The Hollywood Bowl, followed by Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Sebastian, live-to-film). Other Broadway: Cats (Old Deuteronomy, Original Cast & Video/Film Casts, Grammy Award), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (OBC, LA, Paris, Drama Desk Award for Best Actor, Emmy Award, Grammy Award), The Wiz (Lion), It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. London’s West End: Children of Eden (Father, OBC), My One and Only in Concert (London Palladium). Mr. Page’s solo concert Page By Page, was recorded live and released on CD (LML Music).
CREATIVE TEAM
ROB RUGGIERO
Director
Muny: Sweeney Todd, 1776, Gypsy, The Music Man, Oklahoma!; Hello, Dolly!; South Pacific and The King and I. Rob has also directed several award-winning productions at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, including Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Take Me Out and Evita. His award-winning work has been seen at regional theatres all over the country. Broadway: High and Looped. Off-Broadway, he conceived and directed Make Me a Song (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations). In 2011, Rob directed a new version of Show Boat at Goodspeed Musicals where he had been a frequent collaborator. He is the Producing Artistic Director at TheaterWorks Hartford, where he has been affiliated for almost 30 years, and recently directed a successful production of Fun Home there.
PARKER ESSE
Original Choreography Reproduced by
is a multi-award-winning director-choreographer. Broadway/Regional: After performing on Broadway in Fosse, Parker collaborated as associate director/choreographer for Finian’s Rainbow, A Tale of Two Cities, Follies and five Encores! (NY City Center). Credits as Director and/or Choreographer: Oklahoma! (50th Anniversary, Arena Stage), Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis’ A Bed and a Chair (NY City Center Encores!) as well as New York, Regional and International theatres including Ed Mirvish (Toronto), Arena Stage (18 productions), Kennedy Center, Kennedy Center’s National Opera, Goodspeed, Omaha Symphony/NBC Holiday Televised Specials, Shaw Festival Canada, 92nd Street Y’s Lyrics & Lyricists, York Theatre, Signature, Ogunquit, Buck’s County, The Rev. Upcoming: The Light in the Piazza (NY City Center Encores!). BFA-NYU-Tisch.
JAMES MOORE
Music Director/Conductor
Muny: Sweeney Todd, 1776, Gypsy, The Music Man, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Hello, Dolly!; West Side Story, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Producers. Broadway: Miss Saigon, On the Town, Gigi, Follies, South Pacific, Ragtime, Steel Pier, Company. National tours: The Producers, Kiss Me, Kate; Crazy for You, And the World Goes ‘Round. Encores! Off-Center: Road Show. The Kennedy Center: The Music Man starring Norm Lewis, Camelot starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, My Fair Lady starring Jonathan Pryce, Mame starring Christine Baranski. Moore serves as music supervisor for the North American touring production of Les Misérables. He holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Upcoming: Ragtime in Concert with The Boston Pops.
Give the gift ofromance.
Gift cards are now available with show-specific inserts for holiday giving! The perfect clutter-free, experience-focused gift for the ones you love most.
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on a Conception of Jerome Robbins