A new staging of West Side Story will move audiences—at least physically, quite possibly emotionally as well—in Japan this summer. The production, licensed by Music Theatre International and directed by David Saint, will implement StageAround, a new technology from producer Robin de Levita that seats attendees in a rotating auditorium, transporting them through different scenes completed by curved projections.
Performances will kick off at IHI Stage Around Tokyo in August; exact dates will be announced later.
The staging will feature choreography by Julio Monge, who recently presented an outdoor production of the Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents classic in Australia. The creative team also includes set design Anna Louizos, lighting designer Ken Billington, and costume design Lisa Zinni. 54 Productions will also serve as projection designer.
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The musical is also slated to return to the big screen in a new film adaptation from director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner (Saint, who previously associate directed Laurents' 2009 revival, also serves as a consultant on the upcoming movie). Tony-winning director Ivo van Hove will bring his own interpretation of the piece to Broadway; the Teresa De Keersmaeker-choreographed production is expected to open in February 2020.
Check out footage from previous StageAround productions in the video below.