New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City in the breathtaking musical, WEST SIDE STORY which is being presented by the New Bedford Festival Theatre July 20-29, 2018 at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, MA for 7 performances. With book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the original 1957 Broadway production ran for over 700 performances before going on tour, and garnered 6 Tony nominations. It became the most powerful, moving, daring, and influential musical of the 1950s.
The story is set in the Upper West Side of New York City in the mid-1950s and explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. When, Tony, a Jet, falls in love with Maria, a Shark, the young lovers struggle to keep their love alive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre when it was first produced; WEST SIDE STORY remains one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.
Some of the musical’s legendary songs include: “Maria” “Tonight” “America” “I Feel Pretty” ”Somewhere” and “Gee. Officer Krupke.” WEST SIDE STORY will also offer audiences some of the most energetic and demanding choreography ever seen on the Zeiterion stage with “The Prologue” “The Dance at the Gym” “The Rumble” and the moving “Somewhere Ballet.” Hailed as “Electrifying” (NY Times), “A milestone in musical-drama history”(Time), and “Extraordinarily exciting”(New York Daily News), WEST SIDE STORY continues New Bedford Festival Theatre’s mission of bringing the Best of Broadway to southern New England, as it has done for the past 28 years.
Tickets are on sale ($59 $52 $45 $39) at the Zeiterion Box Office, by calling 508.994.2900, or on-line at zeiterion.org.
