WEST SIDE STORY To Play Arts Centre Melbourne And Sydney Opera House In 2019

One of the most celebrated musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY will play limited seasons at Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House in 2019.

Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment today announced that the acclaimed BB Group production of WEST SIDE STORY will play in two of Australia's most iconic theatres in 2019.

Audition submissions are now open to find Australia's most exciting young talent to play dream roles in this timeless classic, which features Jerome Robbins' ground-breaking choreography.

A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet; this tragic love story tells the tale of two young people whose happiness is destroyed by the hate of two enemy camps in New York City's urban jungle. The 'Jets', sons of previous immigrants to America, battle the new arrivals from Puerto Rico, the 'Sharks', for domination of the streets.

BB Group CEO and Producer Ralf Kokemuller said "We are thrilled to be bringing this production for an eagerly awaited return to Australia. The dramatic story, spectacular dancing and unforgettable songs have captivated theatregoers for decades and audiences in Melbourne and Sydney are going to love it!"

When the original West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, musical theatre changed forever as the most complex and challenging unity of music, dance, book and lyrics was realised in a way which has been rarely matched since. The genius of its four creators, a remarkable collaboration between Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins, produced a masterpiece whose artistic quality remains unquestioned to this day.

Now former pupil of Jerome Robbins, Joey McKneely's vibrant new stage production returns to Australia after wild acclaim world-wide. Since the first world tour in 2003, there have been more than 1500 performances of McKneely's award-winning production of West Side Story. Joey McKneely is a two-time Tony Award nominated choreographer whose Broadway credits include Smokey Joe's Café, The Life, Twelfth Night, The Wild Party and The Boy From Oz.

Auditions commence in Sydney from Tuesday 21 August and in Melbourne from 28 August. For more information on the audition process visit www.westsidestory.com.au.