West Side Story
Photos courtesy of Jen Kiaba Photography

Up In One Productions brings all the fever and the fervor of Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-Award-winning, WEST SIDE STORY to the stage at The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, beginning July 25th and running through August 17th.

This highly-acclaimed musical update of Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET, set in the tenements of 1950’s New York City, has become a classic in its own right. The Twentieth Century “star-crossed lovers”, Tony and Maria, are torn apart by ethnic intolerance and street gang rivalry. Their tender and tragic story is richly punctuated with exhilarating song and dance numbers, alive with social commentary and hailed as ground-breaking in its time. The music is immediately recognizable, from the ballads, Maria, Tonight, and Somewhere, to the energetic, America, I Feel Pretty, The Jet Song, and Cool.

WEST SIDE STORY, opened on Broadway in 1957, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, and starring Larry Kert, Carol Lawerence and Chita Rivera. The show marked the Broadway debut of composer Stephen Sondheim. It was translated into an Academy Award-winning film in 1961, starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno. Since then, it has enjoyed several Broadway revivals.

Director/choreographer, Laurie Sepe Marder (Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), who has adapted the original Broadway choreography of Jerome Robbins, leads a cast of popular, seasoned actors, singers and dancers in the Up In One Production, including Victoria McCarthy (Romeo and Juliet) as Maria, Matthew Farcher (Les Miserables) as Tony, Chris Tillson as Riff, Risa Petrone as Anita, and Vinnie Lomoriello as Bernardo. Music is directed and conducted by Paul and JoAnn Schubert (Sweeney Todd, Chicago, Oklahoma!). Set and lights are by veteran designer, Andrew Weintraub (Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha, Chicago), and the scenic art by Broadway Scenic Artist, Richard Prouse. The costume designer for the production is Natalie Lunn.

The Up In One production is brought to the stage by producer, Diana di Grandi, who has presented such critically acclaimed hit musicals as Chicago, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, Annie, and Mame.