Casting is complete for The Muny’s upcoming production of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s West Side Story, which will play the outdoor St. Louis venue July 15-21.
Leading the company will be the previously reported Christian Douglas as Tony, Kanisha Feliciano as Maria, Jerusha Cavazos as Anita, Yurel Echezarreta as Bernardo, and Broadway veteran Ken Page as Doc.
Newly announced for the production are Kyle Coffman as Riff, Drew Battles as Gladhand, James A. Butz as Officer Krupke, Cedric Leiba, Jr. as Chino, Michael James Reed as Lt. Schrank, Ethan David Zeph as Action, Caylie Rose Newcom as Anybodys, Ethan Van Slyke as Baby John, Daniel Assetta as A-Rab, Tanner Ray Wilson as Big Deal, and RJ Higton as Snowboy with Gabriel Amato, Angelica Maria Beliard, Jonathan Bryant, Veronica Sofia Burt, Devin Cortez, Daniela Delahuerta, Abbey Friedmann, Henry Julian Gendron, Yoni Haller, Eloise Kropp, Francis Lawrence, Macy McKown, Natalia Nieves-Melchor, Tatiana Nuñez, Courtney Ortiz, Daniel Pahl, Daniel Powers, Grace Marie Rusnica, and Ronan Ryan. The company will be joined by the Muny Teen ensemble.
Rob Ruggiero will direct the epic love story with Jerome Robbins' original choreography reproduced by Parker Esse. The creative team will also include associate choreographer Erin N. Moore, music director James Moore, and fight coordinator and intimacy director Bart Williams.
The production will also have scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer, costume design by Gail Baldoni, lighting design by John Lasiter, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, video design by Shawn Duan, wig design by Ashley Rae Callahan, and production stage management by Larry Smiglewski.
With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Bernstein, and lyrics by Sondheim, West Side Story
opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre September 26, 1957. It
played 732 performances before closing June 27, 1959. Conceived,
directed, and choreographed by Robbins, the original cast included Larry
Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria, and Chita Rivera as Anita.
Robbins won the Tony for his choreography, and Oliver Smith took home
the prize for Best Scenic Design. It was nominated as Best Musical but
lost to The Music Man.
The memorable Bernstein-Sondheim score boasts such tunes as "Tonight," "America," "Maria," "I Feel Pretty," and "Somewhere."
The Telsey Office is the official casting partner for The Muny.
The Muny’s 2023 season also includes Chess (July 5-11), Little Shop of Horrors (July 25-31), Rent (August 4-10), and Sister Act (August 14-20).
Visit Muny.org.
