West Side Story in Auckland

An international award-winning production of WEST SIDE STORY, described as “the No. 1 greatest musical of all time” (The Times, UK), is set to electrify Auckland audiences when it comes to The Civic from Thursday, 22 June 2017 for a strictly limited season.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s tumultuous love story Romeo and Juliet, and set amidst the vicious rivalry of teenage gangs in 1950s New York, WEST SIDE STORY’s ground-breaking choreography and unforgettable score changed the face of musical theatre for ever when it burst onto the Broadway stage in 1957.

Now a vibrant new stage production of the classic dance musical is receiving wild acclaim during sold-out seasons around the world, from London to Tokyo, and Sydney to Johannesburg.

This new production of WEST SIDE STORY is as daring, realistic and relevant today as it was on the day of its premiere.  Jerome Robbins’ original choreography has been recreated by director and choreographer Joey McKneely, a former pupil of Jerome Robbins.  Musical supervisor is the renowned conductor Donald Chan, who studied under Bernstein himself, and who leads a live orchestra of 20 musicians.

An outstanding international cast will electrify audiences with their impassioned high-energy dance routines and their astounding vocal range in such classic songs as Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty.

In a sweltering New York summer, the boys from the Upper West Side neighbourhood are on the prowl.  Ready to explode at any moment they dance with their girls, the air vibrating with the rhythms of mambo, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz.  They belong to two enemy street gangs ruling the immigrant quarter – the Jets and the Sharks – and a clash is imminent.  The Jets, sons of previous immigrants to America, are fighting the new arrivals from Puerto Rico, the Sharks, for domination of the streets in the area.  Among them, Tony, a Jet, and Maria, sister to the leader of the Sharks, fall in love.

The action takes place over no more than a few hours of two consecutive days and portrays a love story, action thriller and social study all at the same time.  WEST SIDE STORY tells the tale of a love between two young people whose happiness is destroyed by the hate of two enemy camps in New York City’s urban jungle.

Don’t miss your chance to see this celebrated production of the greatest Broadway musical of all time at Auckland’s Civic Theatre. Tickets available now.

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