BBBay's WEST SIDE STORY Opens Tonight

By: Aug. 14, 2015
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

The musical WEST SIDE STORY runs from tonight, August 14th, through 30th at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City (2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA) and September 5th through 13th at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey (417 Alvarado Street, Monterey, CA).

WEST SIDE STORY is set in the Upper West Side of New York City in the mid-1950's, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is heart-wrenching and takes the audience on a journey of self discovery. Arthur Laurents' book remains as powerful as ever and the score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is widely regarded as one of the best ever written.

"Based on Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story West Side Story is a musical that most people know," says Director Amanda Folena. "The show thrusts together two young, eager and passionate individuals from different walks of life. Despite the veracity of hatred surrounding them and their situation they disregard all rules and expectations because they are meant to be with each other."

"This same circumstance is ever present today in the news, media, movies, literature, other theatrical pieces, the list goes on," remarks Folena. "We are unable to learn from this experience and accept that love defies all boundaries. Regardless of it lasting a day or 50 years, human connection is the life-blood of our existence. Relationships are vast and unique and are rarely defined by the limits of what society expects of us. For Tony and Maria, their devotion to each other is real and actively present. They do not believe that destruction and death will be the ultimate outcome, for if they did, they would never proceed down the path they set in motion. So while we all know how the story ends, we are going to defy the conclusion every step of the way. We want them to succeed and run off into the sunset - it's what they are fighting for."

"Every character in West Side Story lives for the moment - they do not regret the past nor do they worry about the future - they fill each second with a fierce energy that only youth can possess. Therefore, the action that takes place never stops. Like a roller coaster that continues to build momentum as it races along each curve and drop, the velocity of this production is an upward spiral. In an effort to change the inevitable, the characters must dance and sing with a passionate ferocity that only love can generate. That's what Tony and Maria believe and, ultimately, we believe it too."

WEST SIDE STORY Performance Schedule at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey:Saturday, September 4 at 8pm Saturday, September 12 at 8pmSunday, September 5 at 2pm Sunday, September 13 at 2pm

The Box Office is open 60 minutes prior to the start of each show, and remains open for 30 minutes following the start of the show. Tickets range from $47 to $69 in Redwood City and may be purchased by phone at 650-579-5565 or broadwaybythebay.org. Tickets in Monterey range from $39 to $59 and may be purchased by phone at 831-649-1070 or goldenstatetheatre.com.



Videos