Culture | May. 2023
ONE HAND, ONE HEART
By Sherry Thomas
When a lavish new production of the Broadway classic, West Side Story, hit the Lyric Opera stage in Chicago in 2019, it sold out performances and wowed local critics.
Praised as both “a suite of searing, soaring melodies,” and “musical theater euphoria,” the 1957 musical that retells the story of Romeo and Juliet on the backstreets of New York City was the perfect marriage of Leonard Bernstein’s music, Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, and the Lyric Orchestra playing the original orchestrations.
This weekend, the tale of two teenagers in love from two communities in conflict returns to Chicago in a coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and the Glimmerglass Festival. West Side Story opened Friday, June 2, and will continue running through June 25.
The Broadway musical masterpiece begins with Tony and Maria, each from different backgrounds, meeting unexpectedly. As their friends and family battle with one another, Tony and Maria long for “a place for us … somewhere.”
Their songs illuminate every scene and permeate our culture, from the romance of “Maria” and “Tonight” to the exuberance of “America” and the humor of “Gee, Officer Krupke.”
Featuring almost 100 artists, West Side Story promises to be an unforgettable musical theater experience on a theatrical scale only Lyric Opera can offer as the highly anticipated musical turns to Chicago’s biggest stage.
Ryan McCartan and Kanisha Marie Feliciano, both in their Lyric debuts, take on the roles of star-crossed young lovers Tony and Maria.
McCartan is well known for originating the role of JD in the Off-Broadway cult classic Heathers: The Musical, and previously starred on Broadway as Fiyero in Wicked and Hans in Frozen. On screen, he has been seen as Diggie on the hit Disney Channel Show Liv and Maddie and in a recurring role on The CW’s top-rated series The Winchesters.
Feliciano made history as the first Latina Christine Daaé in the long-running Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. She made her Broadway debut in Lincoln Center Theater’s Flying Over Sunset, originating the roles of Ann and Judith.
Broadway at Lyric fans will hail the return of Amanda Castro and her electric embodiment of the iconic role of Anita, joined by fellow original Lyric production castmate Brett Thiele with his impassioned portrayal of Riff, the leader of the Jets.
The production also introduces Chicago audiences to Yurel Echezarreta (Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, Head Over Heels, Aladdin, and Steven Spielberg’s film of West Side Story) as Bernardo. Renowned music director James Lowe will conduct this timeless masterpiece featuring members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Internationally distinguished theater and opera director Francesca Zambello returns to Lyric for this production after her critically acclaimed West Side Story in 2019. Zambello’s other Lyric credits include Florencia en el Amazonas (2021/22), the Broadway classic Show Boat (2011/12), Tristan und Isolde (2008/09), and Salome (2006/07).
Set designs are by Peter J. Davison with costumes designed by Jessica Jahn and lighting designed by Mark McCullough. Lyric’s production will feature choreography by Jerome Robbins from the Broadway premiere, recreated by Tony and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse.
Tickets for West Side Story start at $30 and can be purchased in-person at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, in Chicago. The show runs through June 25. For more information, call 312-827-5600 or visit lyricopera.org.
