The evening at Feinstein's/54 Below will honor the legacy of Leonard Bernstein and commemorate the 65th anniversary of WestSideStory.
By
Andrew Gans
September 20, 2022
Chita Rivera
Bernstein on Broadway: A Celebration, honoring the legacy of conductor, composer, pianist, and educator Leonard Bernstein, will be held September 27 at 7 PM at 54 Below.
Produced and hosted by theatre journalist and historian Michael Portantiere, the evening will also commemorate the 65th anniversary ofWest Side Story and will feature an appearance by three-time Tony honoree Chita Rivera, who will share her memories about the original Broadway production, which cast the theatre icon as Anita.
Performers for the Bernstein celebration will also include Nikita Burshteyn (Romeo&Bernadette), Samantha Rose Cárdenas, Alex Getlin, Ben Jones, Jay Aubrey Jones (Cats), Albert Nelthropp, and Megan Styrna. Matthew Martin Ward is the musical director/pianist for the tribute, which will also be live-streamed.
Bernstein composed such Broadway favorites as On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, West Side Story, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The play comes on the heels of a broader cultural conversation about Dahl's work and the prejudice that was embedded in many of his most beloved stories.
