West Side Story, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, Angel

Ticket Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com
Performance Times: Tue – Sat 7.30pm, Sat & Wed Mat 2.30pm, Sun at 5pm
Ticket Pricing: £10 - £60
West Side story runs from July 22 – August 31 2008

Goodness – is West Side Story really 50? It sure is. And to mark its half century the ten-academy-award-winning dance musical is coming to Sadler’s Wells for a limited season as part of a sell-out world tour which has played in Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.

This new version of the original Broadway classic is the only modern day production which may call itself ‘The Original’. It’s the only production currently licensed to tour internationally. This re-staging of West Side Story is directed and choreographed afresh by Joey McKneeley - former assistant to the orginal director and choreographer Jerome Robbins when it opened on Broadway in 1957.

Set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs; one white, the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang’s leader, the feud takes on a new dimension, and as their love blossoms so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred.

Since 1957, Joey McKneely has choreographed and directed extensively on Broadway and his credits include Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hal Prince’s production of Whistle Down The Wind and Nicholas Hytner’s production of Twelfth Night. He staged and choreographed West Side Story at La Scala in Milan and has worked on many Hollywood movies. He choreographed The Boy From Oz, with Hugh Jackman in the leading role, before embarking on the direction and choreography for this production of West Side Story.

Tickets - £10 - £60 (* restricted view)
STALLS: £40, £50, £60
FIRST CIRCLE: £35*, £40, £50, £60 SECOND CIRCLE: £15, £25, £40
WEDNESDAY MATINEE: STALLS: £30, £40, £50
FIRST CIRCLE: £25*, £30, £40, £50
SECOND CIRCLE: £10, £15, £30
There is a transaction charge of £2.20 for telephone and postal bookings
(£1.50 for online and concessionary bookings. No charge in person)
Ticket Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com