Full cast of West Side Story announced for Melbourne & Sydney

Opera Australia, GWB Entertainment and BB Group have today announced the full cast for the upcoming 2019 production of West Side Story.

West Side Story is a dazzling collaboration between 4 of the world’s greatest theatrical minds – composer Leonard Bernstein, author Arthur Laurents, lyricist Stephen Sondheim and choreographer Jerome Robbins. The original Broadway production opened in 1957, and even over 50 years later, the show still lives on as one of the most acclaimed and well-loved musicals. Director and Choreographer Joey McKneely, a two-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer, has received worldwide acclaim since his staging of the same production opened on London’s West End.

The Producers said, “We are so excited by the cast that has been assembled for this production of West Side Story. From an Australia wide search, this all-Australian company is made up of the most exciting young talent in the country. We were blown away in the audition room and can’t wait for audiences to experience this incredible production which such a talented and dynamic cast.”

The cast not only features some well known names, but truly showcases fresh new talent, with many actors making their professional debut in the show.

The 2019 production will feature Ritchie Singer (Crocodile Dundee, Blue Heelers) as Doc, Paul Dawber (Sons and Daughters, Blue Heelers) as Lt. Schrank, Dean Vince (Aladdin, Evita) as Officer Krupke and Paul Hanlon (The Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables) as Glad Hand.

Daniel Assetta (Book of Mormon, 2015 Rob Guest Endowment Award Winner) will be the Alternate Tony, with Zoe Ioannou (The Wizard of Oz) as the Alternate Maria.

With the ensemble split into two gangs, “The Jets” will include Joshua Taylor, Nicholas Collins, Christian Ambesi, Nathan Pavey, Blake Tuke, Sebastien Golenko, Molly Bugeja, Joseph Donovan with Natasha O’Hehir, Angelica Di Clemente, Taylah Small and Sarah Dimas.

Rounding out the cast as “The Sharks” will be Anthony Garcia, Keanu Gonzalez (Aladdin, Cats), Matt Antonucci (Disney’s The Lion King, Cats), Jason Yang-Westland, Brady Kitchingham, Daniel Wijngaarden with Olivia Carniato (Evita), Nikki Croker (West Side Story, Mamma Mia), Amba Fewster and Ariana Mazzeo.

They join the previously announced Todd Jacobsson (Book of Mormon, 2018 Rob Guest Endowment Award Finalist) as Tony, Sophie Salvesani making her professional theatre debut as Maria, Chloe Zuel (Beautiful, Legally Blonde) as Anita, Noah Mullins also in his professional debut as Riff, and Lyndon Watts (Aladdin, 2018 Rob Guest Endowment Finalist) as Bernardo.

West Side Story plays a strictly limited season at the Arts Centre Melbourne in April 2019, and the Sydney Opera House from August 2019. More information about the cast can be found here.

Director & Choreographer Joey McKneely | Musical Supervisor Donald Chan | Set Designer Paul Gallis | Costume Designer Renate Schmitzer | Make-up Designer Hannelore Uhrmacher | Sound Designer Matt Grounds | Lighting Designer Peter Halbsgut

MELBOURNE: Arts Centre Melbourne 6 – 28 April 2019
SYDNEY: Sydney Opera House 16 August – 6 October

Tickets at www.westsidestory.com.au or www.opera.org.au