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Sizzling and Sexy West Side Story Ignites Charleston Stage’s 31st Season of Plays and Musicals
For Immediate Release, August 2008
The soaring and jazz-inspired melodies of Leonard Bernstein’s acclaimed West Side Story take flight September
10-21, 2008 when Charleston Stage opens its 31st Season with this Broadway musical landmark. Featuring such wonderful songs as “Maria”, “I Want to Be In America”, “Tonight” and “Somewhere”, West Side Story, with its sizzling and sexy dance numbers has been dazzling audiences for more than 50 years.
Directed by Charleston Stage Associate Artistic Director, Marybeth Clark, Charleston Stage’s production of West Side Story features a company of over 50 singers, dancers, actors and musicians. Guest Choreographer Kevin Hill will stage West Side Story’s noted hot and sassy dance numbers. Kevin will be remembered for his amazing work on last season’s Gershwin at Folly and returns to Charleston after staging numerous productions around the country including three other productions of West Side Story. He will be leading a terrific ensemble of 20 dancers that Charleston Stage has assembled for this blockbuster production.
Taking the role of Tony is professional New York guest actor Aaron Velthouse who is joined by members of Charleston Stage’s Professional Resident Acting Company in key roles: Viveka Chandrasekaran as Maria, Sonny Kong as Action, Michael Lasris as Bernardo, Andy McCain as Detective Schrank, Sara Claire Smith as Anita, and Brian Zane as Riff.
“It has taken 30 years to build a company with the capability to produce Broadway musicals on this scale”, says Charleston Stage Founder Julian Wiles. “We’ve held back shows like West Side Story until we felt the day had come when we could do them justice. Quite honestly, I think that day has come.”
A live orchestra, led by Charleston Stage Resident Music Director Wendell Smith will bring the rousing Leonard Bernstein score to life. Much like Rent and the Tony Award Winning Into the Heights of recent years, Bernstein used the contemporary jazz music of his era to create something new and unique which provides the perfect backdrop for a story set on the amidst the gangs of 1950’s New York.
Taking advantage of the College of Charleston’s Sottile Theatre’s Broadway sized stage, Designer Stefanie Christensen has designed an awe-inspiring set which Costumer Barbara Young will fill with dazzling costumes.
West Side Story, presented by Charleston Stage, plays September 10-21, 2008 at the Sottile Theatre (44 George Street, Downtown Charleston, SC). Tickets now on sale: Order online at www.charlestonstage.com or call (843) 577-7183.
GUEST ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Aaron Velthouse (Tony, Equity Guest Actor)
Aaron Velthouse comes to Charleston after playing the leading role of Marius in Les Miserables with Festival Theatre Company in New Bedford, Massachusetts this summer. Other recent credits include Batboy (Dr. Parker), Joseph… Dreamcoat (Joseph), Oklahoma (Curley), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), A New Brain (Minister), Closer Than Ever and Songs for a New World. Aaron is originally from Lansing, Michigan where he started taking voice lessons at age 12, after watching his older sister perform on stage. Aaron studied vocal and choral music at Grand Valley State University where he received a Bachelors in Music Education
in 2004 and went on to earn a Masters of Music in Vocal performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Though focusing on opera at the New England Conservatory, after Aaron was cast as the leading role of Sky Masterson, in Guys and Dolls he decided to pursue a career in musical theatre. Aaron currently lives in New York, with his wife Anne and two, one hundred pound Labrador retrievers, Brinkley and Bowser. Mr. Velthouse is a member of Actor’s Equity.
Kevin Hill (Guest Choreographer)
Kevin P. Hill recently returned from Houston, where he was the Assistant to the choreographer and performed in Hello Dolly starring Leslie Uggams. Prior to that he directed and choreographed Seussical the Musical and choreographed West Side Story where he was awarded the New Hampshire Theatre award for best choreography. Kevin was recently the assistant to the director on the Broadway production of On the 20th Century starring Marin Mazzie, Douglas Sills, Joanne Worley and Kathleen Turner.
He also directed and choreographed successful productions of Tick, Tick . . . . Boom! and Forever Plaid and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, for the Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Kevin was also nominated in the categories of Best Musical, Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreography for his work in Smokey Joe’s Cafe. For five years Kevin taught dance and headed the dance minor program for Penn State University. He was named a semifinalist through the SSDC Dance Break Program where hopefully his work will be showcased on Broadway. Kevin is currently working on Standing Still, an original ballet/play.
CHARLESTON STAGE PROFESSIONAL RESIDENT ACTING COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
Viveka Chandrasekaran (Maria)
Viveka Chandrasekaran who was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia (yes she’s a Braves fan!) comes from a very musical family. Her older sister is an opera singer and composer, her brother-in-law is a percussionist and her mother recently published a book on how to play the veena, an instrument from southern India that is similar to a lute. Her father is a chemist at Georgia State University. Viveka recently graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre. She last appeared at the Barbican Centre in London, England as a featured soloist in the opera Ainadamar. Previous roles include Maria
(West Side Story: Concert Version) with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Liat (South Pacific) at Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, FL, Philia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) at the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern, Johanna (Sweeney Todd) at FSU. In addition to being a Braves Fan, Viveka is an avid runner.
Sonny Kong (Action)
Sonny Kong grew up in Charlotte. His parents escaped the communist regime in Cambodia during the late 1970’s and he says that “growing up in a world of broken English proved to be a rather humorous ongoing struggle.” After acquiring a solid grasp on the English language, Sonny attended Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte studying both graphic arts and musical theatre. He received his BA in Theatre from Catawba College last May. Previous roles include Jesus in Godspell (Stageworks Theatre), Wolf/Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (Charlotte Summer Theatre), Jackie in of The Wild Party (Catawba College), Third Witch/Young Macduff in Macbeth, and Neville Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Michael Lasris (Bernardo)
Michael Lasris grew up in Seaford, Virginia, in a family of three boys where he was “Michael in the middle”. In high school he choreographed annual cabarets for his local synagogue and toured nationally as a Dance Caravan Kid. Michael is a recent Musical Theatre graduate from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina where in addition to acting he learned to knit and to do a mean sizzling bacon in-the-frying pan imitation. Previous roles include Major General (Pirates of Penzance) ,Finch (How to Succeed...),
Yepikhodov (The Cherry Orchard), Ganster in 42nd Street (Papermill Theatre),Bernie Buscbaum in Little Me (Shenandoah
Summer Music Theatre), and Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain (Peach State).
Andy McCain (Detective Schrank)
Andy McCain was born and raised in Mequon, Wisconsin. With a mother as a high school drama teacher he was naturally drawn to the theater. His brother is a set builder for Albuquerque Movie Studios. Andy began acting at Homestead High School and made extra money performing as “Mystical McCain”, a magician for children’s parties. In the summer of 2003, Andy traveled to London, England, where he studied Shakespeare from a Resident Globe Theatre actor. Andy received BA in Theatre from Catawba College in 2008. Previous roles include Narrator (Rocky Horror), Tonton (Once on this Island), Pirelli (Sweeney Todd), Cornelius
Hackl (Hello Dolly), Orgon (Tartuffe), Tupolski (The Pillowman), Renfield (Dracula) and Cyrano (Cyrano De Bergerac). Recently, Andy just wrapped Better the Devil, a small independent feature length film scheduled to be released in the fall.
Sarah Claire Smith (Anita)
Sarah Claire Smith grew up in Winter Haven, Florida the fifth generation of her family to grow up there. She worked all through high school at Cypress Gardens as a Southern Belle and in the winter as a Caroling Belle. She also was a nanny and looks forward to working with our TheatreSchool students. A recent graduate of Florida State University (Go Gators!) with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Sarah Claire and her graduating class recently performed showcases in New York and Los Angeles. She also appeared with Viveka at the Barbican Centre in London in the opera Ainadamar. Other roles include Baker’s Wife (Into The Woods), Lucy (You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown), and Polly (Crazy For You).
Brian Zane (Riff)
Brian Zane grew up in Pleasantville, New York, a small town just outside of the Big Apple. He is a recent graduate of The College of William and Mary where he received a BA in Theatre and English. An accomplished piano player, as well as an actor, Brian has worked as a church organist, a piano bar vituroso and even as a Hannah Montana After-school Workshop instructor. Brian placed First Place in the Mid-Atlantic Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in 2006. Previous roles include: Joey (Pal Joey), Cladwell (Urinetown), and Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof). Brian has performed with Virginia Shakespeare Festival, New Jersey’s Broadway ala Carte, Broadhollow Theatre Company on Long Island, as well as, the New York City International Fringe Festival.
CHARLESTON STAGE’S WEST SIDE STORY FACT SHEET
Theatre
The College of Charleston’s Sottile Theatre (44 George Street)
Performances:
Wednesday September 10 7:30 PM (Pay-what-you-will preview)
Thursday September 11 7:30 PM (Opening Night)
Friday September 12 7:30 PM
Saturday September 13 7:30 PM
Sunday September 14 3:00 PM
Thursday September 18 7:30 PM
Friday September 19 7:30 PM
Saturday September 20 7:30 PM
Sunday September 21 3:00 PM
Prices:
Adult: $41
Seniors (60+): $39
Student: $31
Tickets Now On Sale:
Order by Phone (843) 577-7183
Order online at www.charlestonstage.com
Group Rates Available: Call Gina Barredo (843) 577-5967
Student Rush: Students with valid ID are $6 one hour before curtain (subject to availability)
West Side Story Credits:
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Produced by Julian Wiles
Directed by Marybeth Clark
Musical Director and Conductor: Wendell Smith
Choreography by Kevin Hill
Scenic Design and Lighting by Stefanie Christensen
Costumes by Barbara Young
Properties by Michael Christensen
Production Stage Manager: Bessie Edwards
Leading Roles:
Aaron Velthouse Tony
Viveka Chandrasekaran Maria
Sonny Kong Action
Michael Lasris Bernardo
Andy McCain Detective Schrank
Sarah Claire Smith Anita
Brian Zane Riff
West Side Story is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials supplied by Music Theatre International, 421 West 54th Street, New York, New York 10019 Phone (212) 541-4684 fax (212) 397-4684 www.mtishows.com
Sponsors:
Lead Sponsor: Piggly Wiggly
Associate Sponsor: Mr. And Mrs. Steven Swanson
Supporting Sponsor:
Orchestra Sponsor: The Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation
BACKGROUND ON WEST SIDE STORY:
Ground Breaking West Side Story Has Been Delighting
Audiences Around The World for Over 50 Years When West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957 it transformed the American musical theatre stage. Here was a new musical
that was not a traditional musical comedy. West Side Story was a musical that told a dramatic story in bold new ways. For the first time a musical used dance not just to entertain but to tell the story itself and its soaring score, with its jazzy contemporary rhythms and moving melodies was like none other heard on Broadway before.
West Side Story was created by some of the American Theatre’s most amazing talents. The original idea for West Side Story, is credited to choreographer/director Jerome Robbins who won a Tony for his choreography. Robbins also created the dances and directed such landmark musicals as The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof. It is Robbins who is credited with the idea to set Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet amid the gangs of New York and he would direct and choreograph the original production.
The score is by the eclectic, Leonard Bernstein, who like George Gershwin a generation before him, moved easily from Broadway to the classical concert stage. (He was named Conductor and Music Director of the New York Philharmonic the year after West Side Story premiered.) Bernstein, was already a Broadway veteran having composed the scores for On The Town (1944), Wonderful Town (1953) and Candide (1956). Most consider West Side Story one of his very best scores.
Lyrics for West Side Story were created by twenty-five year old Stephen Sondheim. who was a protégée of his next door neighbor, Oscar Hammerstein who wrote the book and lyrics for such landmark hits as Oklahoma, The King and I, and South Pacific.
Hammerstein encouraged Sondheim to find his own creative voice (advice the young Sondheim took to heart). Over the
next 50 years, Sondheim would create some of the most original and creative musicals in the history of the American musical theatre. Sondheim’s remarkable string of hits includes Gypsy, Company , Assassins , and Sweeney Todd and Passion. In 1985, Sondheim won the Pulitzer Prize for his musical, Sunday in the Park With George.
Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book for West Side Story, is also a Broadway legend. Laurents wrote the book for the musical, Gypsy, (Sondheim wrote the lyrics) which many contend is one of the best musicals ever written. His play Home of the Brave and his novel, The Turning Point, became major motion pictures. Laurents is also especially noted for his direction, including the recent revival of Gypsy, now playing on Broadway and the winner of three recent Tony Awards for its leading actors. At 90, Laurents will soon begin rehearsals for a new revival of West Side Story, slated to open on Broadway later this year.
In 1961, West Side Story’s remarkable creative team were joined by film director Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, The Day the Earth Stood Still) in creating the landmark version film of West Side Story. The film became a world wide sensation and won an impressive ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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