West Side Story: announces full cast

The full cast has been announced for the Broadway revival of West Side Story, in a new production directed by two-time Tony Award winning librettist Arthur Laurents.

West Side Story will open at the Palace Theatr on 19 Mar 2009, following previews from 23 Feb 2009, and is currently booking through to 19 Nov 2009.

The cast of 37 will star Matt Cavenaugh as 'Tony,' Karen Olivo as 'Anita,' Cody Green as 'Riff' and George Akram as 'Bernardo.'

The role of 'Maria' will be played by Broadway newcomer Josefina Scaglione. The 21 year old actress comes directly, by special arrangement with Actors' Equity Association, from Buenos Aires after an international search for the role. She created the role of 'Amber Von Tussle' in the Argentinean production of Hairspray and the title role in Cinderella.'

' West Side Story will also feature Steve Bassett as 'Lt. Schrank,' Kyle Brenn as 'Boy Soprano,' Joshua Buscher as 'Diesel,' Mike Cannon as 'Snowboy,' Kyle Coffman as 'A-Rab,' Joey Haro 'Chino,' Eric Hatch as 'Big Deal,' Curtis Holbrook as 'Action,' Michael Mastro as 'Glad Hand,' Danielle Polanco as 'Consuela,' Jennifer Sanchez as 'Rosalia,' Lee Sellars as 'Krupke,' Tro Shaw as 'Anybodys,' Ryan Steele as 'Baby John' and Greg Vinkler as 'Doc.'

The ensemble will feature Madeline Cintron, Lindsay Dunn, Matthew Hydzik, Marina Lazzaretto, Chase Madigan, Kaitlin Mesh, Pamela Otterson, Sam Rogers and Amy Ryerson as 'The Jets' and Isaac Calpito, Haley Carlucci, Peter John Chursin, Yurel Echezaretta, Manuel Herrera, Yanira Marin, Mileyka Mateo, Kat Nejat, Christian Elan Ortez, Michael Rosen, Manuel Santos, Michaeljon Slinger and Tanairi Sade Vazquez as 'The Sharks.'

Directed by multiple Tony Award winner and author of the musical Arthur Laurents, West Side Story will feature scenic designs by James Youmans, costumes by David C. Woolard, lighting by Howell Binkley and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier.

Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely ('The Boy from Oz,' 'The Life') will recreate Jerome Robbins�s original choreography. (Robbins died in 1998.)

West Side Story transports the tale of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the turbulent streets of the Upper West Side in 1950's New York City. Two star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, find themselves caught between the rival street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, the "Jets" and the "Sharks." The musical tells of their struggle to exist together in a world of violence, hate and prejudice.

The Bernstein and Sondheim score features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere."

West Side Story is written by two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents (book) and multiple Tony and Grammy Award winners Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics).

West Side Story will play an out of town engagement from 16 Dec 2008 - 17 Jan 2009 at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., where the musical made its world premiere in 1957.

West Side Story had its Broadway premiere in 1957, and was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. The production earned Robbins a Tony Award for Best Choreography.

The show was revived on Broadway in 1960, 1964 and 1980. Except for the 1964 revival, which was directed by Gerald Freedman, all previous Broadway productions were directed by Jerome Robbins and featured his original choreography.

The revival is being produced by Kevin McCollum, James L. Nederlander, Jeffrey Seller with Terry Allen Kramer, Sander Jacobs, Freddy DeMann, Roy Furman, Robyn Goodman / Walter Grossman, Hal Luftig, Roy Miller and Broadway Across America.

Bios:

Matt Cavenaugh (Tony). Cavenaugh created the role of Ralph in 'A Catered Affair' (2008) on Broadway and at the Old Globe. Previous Broadway credits include 'Grey Gardens' (2006) and Urban Cowboy (2003).

Josefina Scaglione (Maria) is makig her Broadway debit in the production. Scaglione hails directly from Argentina where she recently created the role of 'Amber Von Tussle' in Argentinean premiere of Hairspray at the Astral Theater in Buenos Aires. A 21 year old trained opera singer, Josefina has previously appeared in Argentinean productions of 'Cinderella.'

Karen Olivo (Anita) created the role of 'Vanessa' in the Tony Award winning production of In the Heights both on and off Broadway. Previous Broadway credits include: 'Rent' (1996) and 'Brooklyn' (2004).

Cody Green (Riff) made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of 'Movin' Out' (2002), and is currently featured in the ensemble of Grease.

George Akram (Bernardo) in making his Broadway debut.

Steve Bassatt (Lt. Schrank) spent six years playing the role of Seth Snyder on CBS' "As the World Turns."

Kyle Brenn (Boy Soprano) is making his Broadway debut. Off-Broadway.

Joshua Buscher (Diesel) recently graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Musical Theatre. West Side Story marks his Broadway debut.

Mike Cannon (Snowboy) made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of 'All Shook Up' (2005). He played the role of 'Tom' in the recent revival of 'A Chorus Line.'

Kyle Coffman (A-Rab) moved to New York, studying under a full scholarship at the American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet schools. He has danced with The Joffrey Ensemble, Buglisi/Forehe is making his Broadway debut.

Joey Haro (Chino) began his professional career as the swing/dance captain in 'Altar Boyz' in Chicago. He then relocated to New York and briefly joined the Off-Broadway company of 'Altar Boyz' before making his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Hairspray.

Eric Hatch (Big Deal) previous Broadway credits include the ensemble of 'Legally Blonde' (2007), Mary Poppins and 'The Pirate Queen' (2007).

Curtis Holbrook (Action) understudied the role of 'Sonny Malone in Xanadu, and played the role for two weeks when he covered for 'Cheyenne Jackson.' Other Broadway credits include 'All Shook Up' (2005), 'Boy From Oz' (2003), Taboo (2003), Fosse (1999) and Footloose (1998).

Michael Mastro (Glad Hand). Broadway credits: 'Twelve Angry Men' (2004), 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (2003 revival), Mamma Mia! (2001), Judgement at Nuremberg (2001) Side Man (1998) Barrymore (1997) and he understudied in 'Love! Valour! Compassion!'

Danielle Polanco (Consuela) is making her Broadway debut. As a dancer and choreographer she is best known for her lead performance in Omarion's video 'Touch' and in the 2008 movie 'Step Up 2 the Streets' as Missy Serrano.

Jennifer Sanchez (Rosalia) is making her Broadway debut. Ooriginally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sanchez has a degree in musical theatre from Oklahoma City University.

Lee Sellars (Krupke) understudied for the Broadway production of 'Talk Radio' (2007).

Tro Shaw (Anybodys) is making her Broadway debut in West Side Story. Shaw hails from Berkeley, CA and this past Spring she graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in Acting.

Ryan Steele (Baby John) is making his Broadway debut. He trained at the Dance Dynamics Performing Arts Center in Michigan.

Greg Vinkler (Doc) is making his Broadway debut. He has worked extensively in Chicago theatres including Chicago Shakespeare (32 productions), Steppenwolf, Goodman, Victory Gardens, Northlight, Writer's, and Marriott Lincolnshire. He has performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon as Falstaff in the two parts of 'Henry IV,' and at London's Barbican Theatre in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'