A revival of West Side Story, directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee, begins at Pittsburgh CLO's Benedum Center stage June 11. The run continues through June 16, after which the production is set to move to Starlight in Kansas City.
The cast is led by Sabina Collazo as Maria and Spencer LaRue as Tony, along with Adriana Negron as Anita, Giuseppe Bausillio as Bernardo, Davis Wayne as Riff, Grace G. Arnold as Graziella, Jenniellen Beattie as Margarita, Ken Bolden as Doc, Bianca Bulgarelli as Consuelo, Emmanuel Cologne as Pepe, Ixchel Cuellar as Teresita, Joy Del Valle as Rosalia, Roberto Facchin as Chino, Mathew Fedorek as Big Deal, Harry Francis as Action, Brandon Halvorsen as A-rab, Miles Marmolejo as Baby John, Maggie McCown as Velma, Macy McKown as Anybodys, J. Alex Noble as Krupke, Maile C. Oravitz as Pauline, Coty Perno as Toro, Eric Rivas as Luis, Ronan Ryan as Snowbaby, Maya Santiago as Francisca, Allan Snyder as Schrank, BB Stone as Minnie, Dixie Surewood as Gladhand, and Cole N. Zieser as Diesel. Swings Drew Tanabe, David Grindrod, and John E. Viso round out the company.
Joining Lee on the creative team are associate director and choreographer Jacob Brent (Cats), music director Anthony T. Edwards, scenic designer Leo Meyers, lighting designer Paul Miller, costume designer Robert Fletcher, sound designer Chris Evans, and hair and makeup designer Jeff Knaggs. Renée Rimland serves as production stage manager, with Kelly Haywood and Heather Ankley as assistant stage managers.
Lee is best known for creating the role of four-foot-ten Connie in the original company of A Chorus Line, along with dancing on Broadway in Flower Drum Song; Promises, Promises; and Seesaw, among others. The project sees Lee returning to the realm of one of her earliest choreographers. Jerome Robbins, who co-conceived, directed, and choreographed the original production of West Side Story, choreographed a five-year-old Lee as Princess Ying Yaowalak in the original company of The King and I.
Lee is set to direct and choreograph the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents musical again at Starlight in Kansas City, running August 20-25.
The Pittsburgh company's summer season also includes The Color Purple, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Young Frankenstein, and Seussical.
Tickets are available at PittsburghCLO.org.
