On this new podcast, Paul goes behind the curtain with the starts of the Lyric Opera’s production of “West Side Story,” playing June 2 – 25th. Ryan McCartan (Tony) and Kanisha Marie Feliciano (Maria) talk about playing these iconic shows from one of the most beloved musicals of all time and on the most legendary stage in Chicago. This is the kind of production that belongs on the Lyric Opera stage in all its grandeur and with an amazing orchestra. The score, songs, classic story…it’s all here and not to be missed….Tickets can be purchased at: www.lyricopera.org/westsidestory.

West Side Story Review:

Tonight, tonight…won’t be just any night….it will be filled with the magnificent production of West Side Story on the state of the Lyric Opera in all its grand glory that would make Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and Jerome Robbins so very proud. I’ve seen West Side story countless times and you probably have too. I was in a high school production of the show and you probably were too. But then there’s THIS production.

Ryan McCartan presents a reimagined version of Maria that I’ve never seen before and judging from the ovation by the audience, few others have seen it either. The entire cast takes a familiar show and gives it new meaning and interpretation. Maybe because we live in a world so filled with hate and bigotry these days that West Side Story, has not only maintained it’s relevance since the 1950s but is more important now than at time since it’s original days.

The truth in casting with Latinos playing Sharks, and magnificent operatic voices (including the spectacular range of Kanisha Marie Feliciano as Maria) that take this show to a level above a Broadway expectation, and the production adopts the recent film version’s conversion of the role of Doc to a woman, played here by Genevieve VenJohnson. It’s a comfortable switch and fine casting here. Plus, a full orchestra in all its auditorium filling glory (tho will you notice that there are no violas in the West Side Story orchestra??).

The production only plays only through June 25th and it really is one not to be missed….

Somewhere…there’s a place for us…and the place for this incredible production of West Side Story is exactly where it belongs, at the Lyric Opera House.

****/4