Marina Lazzaretto News

Students were engaged and challenged as they learned original Jerome Robbins choreography in a morning dance class, led by West Side Story's dance captain Marina Lazzaretto, on Saturday, December 19.

Matthew Hydzik officially took over the role of 'Tony,' beginning Tuesday, December 15. After having understudied the role since performances began on Broadway on Monday, February 23, 2009 at Broadway's Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway), Mr. Hydzik will star as 'Tony' opposite Tony Award nominee Josefina Scaglione. Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) will play the role of 'Tony' on Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees.

BAA will continue their one-day master class series December 19th and 20th with master classes in the themes of 'West Side Story' and 'In the Heights'. 'West Side Story' master class students will learn original choreography from dance captain Marina Lazzaretto, and will partake in a "Song Interpretation" class with the hit revival's original Tony, Matt Canvenaugh. 'In the Heights' class participants will receive one-one-one feedback from star Andrea Burns, and will also have the opportunity to sing for Telsey & Co. Casting.

BAA will continue their one-day master class series December 19th and 20th with master classes in the themes of 'West Side Story' and 'In the Heights'. 'West Side Story' master class students will learn original choreography from dance captain Marina Lazzaretto, and will partake in a "Song Interpretation" class with the hit revival's original Tony, Matt Canvenaugh. 'In the Heights' class participants will receive one-one-one feedback from star Andrea Burns, and will also have the opportunity to sing for Telsey & Co. Casting.

Broadway favorite Christopher Sieber (Shrek, Spamalot) spent Saturday, December 12 mentoring the young talent of Broadway's future as they led the morning portion of a Shrek master class with Broadway Artists Alliance. Sieber (Lord Farquaad) answered questions and candidly spoke about his experiences with Shrek as well as other stage and screen credits to a group of eager and talented young performers ages 10 to 21. The group's morning Q & A was followed with a Song Interpretation class led by Sieber. The master class concluded with a Musical Theatre Audition Technique session by a representative from Tara Rubin casting.

The smash hit revival of WEST SIDE STORY announced today that Matthew Hydzik will officially take over the role of 'Tony,' beginning Tuesday, December 15. After having understudied the role since performances began on Broadway on Monday, February 23, 2009 at Broadway's Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway), Mr. Hydzik will star as 'Tony' opposite Tony Award nominee Josefina Scaglione. Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) will play the role of 'Tony' on Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees.

BAA will continue their one-day master class series December 19th and 20th with master classes in the themes of 'West Side Story' and 'In the Heights'. 'West Side Story' master class students will learn original choreography from dance captain Marina Lazzaretto, and will partake in a "Song Interpretation" class with the hit revival's original Tony, Matt Canvenaugh. 'In the Heights' class participants will receive one-one-one feedback from star Andrea Burns, and will also have the opportunity to sing for Telsey & Co. Casting.

The smash hit revival of WEST SIDE STORY announced today that Matthew Hydzik will officially take over the role of 'Tony,' beginning Tuesday, December 15. After having understudied the role since performances began on Broadway on Monday, February 23, 2009 at Broadway's Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway), Mr. Hydzik will star as 'Tony' opposite Tony Award nominee Josefina Scaglione. Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) will play the role of 'Tony' on Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees.

Cast members of WEST SIDE STORY received Actors' Equity Association's Third Annual Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. The award, which honors the distinctive talents and contributions made by the chorus of a Broadway musical, was presented in a special ceremony at the September 22nd ACCA meeting at Actors' Equity Association (Equity) headquarters in New York City.

Cast members of WEST SIDE STORY will receive Actors' Equity Association?s Third Annual Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. The award, which honors the distinctive talents and contributions made by the chorus of a Broadway musical, will be presented in a special ceremony at the September 22nd ACCA meeting at Actors' Equity Association (Equity) headquarters in New York City.

The smash hit revival of WEST SIDE STORY announced today that slight changes have been implemented into the current Broadway production at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street). 'A Boy Like That' is now predominately sung in English to the original lyrics and selected dialogue and lyrics in 'I Feel Pretty' have reverted to English. The changes went into effect last Thursday, August 20, 2009.

Matt Cavenaugh, Tony in Broadway's West Side Story, and Jenny Powers, the co-star of LCT's recent musical Happiness, are getting married in Boston today, August 23rd, at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Boston. The Rev. Lawrence J. Drennan, a Roman Catholic priest, is to perform the ceremony.

WEST SIDE STORY has a new 'Riff' in John Arthur Greene. The actor, already making his Broadway debut as a swing in the show, takes over the role from Cody Green. Greene played his first official performance in the role last night, August 4th.

Theatre legend Arthur Laurents, currently represented on Broadway as both the Librettist and Director of the revival of WEST SIDE STORY, discusses his long-time partnership, new play and career with The Guardian.

Sony Masterworks proudly presented the recent release of the New Broadway Cast Recording of WEST SIDE STORY. The recording became available nationwide on June 2, 2009. The official opening of WEST SIDE STORY, which took place at the Palace Theatre in New York City on Thursday, March 19, 2009, has been greeted with great critical acclaim and sold-out performances. The opening followed a pre-Broadway engagement at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., where the musical made its original world premiere in 1957.

Hollywood royalty Steven Spielberg and Billy Crystal visited backstage with stars Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, Cody Green, George Akram, Curtis Holbrook, and the entire cast of Broadway's WEST SIDE STORY after catching the show last night, Tuesday July 14th.

One of Broadway's favorite leading men Matt Cavenaugh, currently starring as the lovestruck Tony in the current acclaimed revival of West Side Story at the Palace Theater, is featured in the current issue of OUT magazine. Cavenaugh chats about working with Arthur Laurents, playing the iconic role of Tony and that fact that the last inhabitant of his dressing room was Liza Minnelli!

WEST SIDE STORY stars Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, Cody Green, George Akram, Curtis Holbrook, visited Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on Thursday, June 11th to celebrate the new Broadway cast recording available now from Sony Masterworks. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were on hand to catch the soaring performance by the talented young stars!

WEST SIDE STORY stars Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, Cody Green, George Akram, Curtis Holbrook, visited Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on Thursday, June 11th to celebrate the new Broadway cast recording available now from Sony Masterworks. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there to join in the classic melody filled celebration!

Audemars Piguet was the presenting sponsor of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards Telecast Red Carpet on June 7th at Radio City Music Hall. Audemars Piguet, considered one of the world's finest watch manufacturers, displayed eight solid aluminum clocks along this year's red carpet.