BRUNSWICK – Maine State Music Theatre will officially kick off its 49th season with “West Side Story” Wednesday, June 6. The production, based on the conception of legendary director Jerome Robbins with a score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, will be performed through Saturday, June 23, at Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus.
The production, directed by MSMT artistic director Charles Abbott, stars four young actors making their MSMT debuts: Yolibet Varela as Maria, Michael Deleget as Tony, Lindsay Lopez as Anita, and Xander Chauncey as Bernardo. Tim Robertson is music director; Scott Thompson, choreographer.
The presentation of “West Side Story” is a celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary. “The themes and values that ‘West Side Story’ examines are unfortunately as topical today as they were 50 years ago, and, indeed, as topical as they were in Shakespeare’s day,” said MSMT Executive Director Steven Peterson. The story is a tragedy, but also a love story that resounds throughout time and cultures.
Ticket prices range from $27 to $49. For tickets, call the box office at 725-8769, or go online to www.msmt.org.
MSMT’s 49th season is themed around musicals associated with famous films. The film version of “West Side Story” won 10 Academy Awards,MSMT including Best Picture in 1961. The 2007 MSMT season also includes “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Grand Hotel,” and “Hairspray.” Tickets are available for all shows.
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