Hydzik, Ewoldt and Cortez Lead All Star Cast Of McCallum Theatre's WEST SIDE STORY Concert

Matthew Hydzik (West Side Story, Side Show, It Shoulda Been You, Grease), Ali Ewoldt(Phantom of the Opera, The King and I, Les Miserables) and Natalie Cortez (West Side Story, A Chorus Line) will headline a special concert version of West Side Story for five performances only,March 9-11, 2018 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, CA. Tickets go on sale September 12, 2017 at 8am online at www.mccallumtheatre.com or the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787.

Produced and directed by Chad Hilligus, this exclusive McCallum Theatre production of West Side Story: IN CONCERT will feature an on-stage 40-piece orchestra under the baton of Grammy-winning conductor Richard Kaufman and an all-star cast reuniting from the Broadway and National Tour companies of this iconic musical. Additional casting still to be announced. The show is part of the McCallum's Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration.

Matthew Hydzik's (Tony) Broadway credits include Tony in West Side Story and Kenickie in Grease. Off-Broadway: John in Tomorrow Morning. National Tours: Flashdance, Rent, Grease, and Fame. Regional favorites include Side Show at La Jolla Playhouse and shows at Planet Hollywood Theater of Las Vegas, The George St. Playhouse, Marriott Lincolnshire Chicago, Fulton Opera House, and Pennsylvania Centre Stage.

Ali Ewoldt (Maria) made her Broadway debut in the Les Miserables revival in 2006 in the role of Cosette. She has performed on national and international tours and in regional theatre. She was the first Asian-American actress to star in Phantom of the Opera. From 2009 to 2011, Ewoldt starred in the North American tour and the 50th anniversary international tour of West Side Story. Other roles include Tuptim in The King and I, Luisa in The Fantasticks and Princess Jasmine at Disneyland. She graduated cum laude from Yale University.

Natalie Cortez (Anita) made her Broadway debut playing DiAna Morales in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. She portrayed Anita in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story and has appeared in The Public Theatre productions of Giant and Here Lies Love.

The McCallum Theatre, located in Palm Desert, California, is celebrated by artists and audiences alike as an intimate jewel of a theatre with a reputation for bringing the finest interna­tional talent to the Coachella Valley. Consistently ranked among California's most popular venues, most recently the McCallum was rated by Pollstar magazine as the top ticket-selling venue in the state and No. 8 in the world for the first quarter of 2017.