Katie Hall returns to Wales Millennium Centre as Maria in West Side Story
Having delighted audiences with her outstanding performance as Christine in Phantom of the Opera in 2012, Katie Hall returns to Wales Millennium Centre to play leading lady, Maria, in West Side Story this summer [12-23 Aug 2014]. She will be leading the cast of the immensely successful production alongside Louis Maskell as her star-crossed lover, Tony.
Katie is also well known for her appearance as a boot camp contestant for the BBC1’s search for ‘Nancy’ in “I’d Do Anything” and as a final round contender for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for the Eurovision entry, “Your Country Needs You”, also for BBC1.
Louis Maskell, joining Katie on stage as Tony, has previously appeared in the national tour “Scrooge -The Musical” and “Iolanthe” at Wilton’s Music Hall.
Also leading the cast is Djalenga Scott as Anita and Jack Wilcox as Riff. Djalenga Scott has appeared in “Chicago” in the West End as well as the national tour of “Flashdance – The Musical” and the European tour of “The Rocky Horror Show”. Jack Wilcox was most recently seen in “Singin’ in the Rain” at the West End’s Palace Theatre. His other West End credits include “Wicked” and “Shoes”.
One of the most successful stage shows of all time, West Side Story has seen sell-out seasons in international cities including Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Berlin, Madrid, and Beijing. The stunning production now returns to the UK after a five year absence, promising breathtaking choreography and captivating renditions of the musical’s unforgettable songs.
Based on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and 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. As Tony and Maria’s love blossoms, so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred. The musical score includes memorable, much-loved songs ‘Maria’, ‘Tonight’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘America’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’.
Since opening on Broadway in 1957, West Side Story has changed the course of musical theatre and remains one of the most successful shows of all time. The 1961 film version has also seen great success winning ten Academy Awards.
The production is directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely using the full original Jerome Robbins choreography. Joey is the former assistant to Jerome Robbins. He has worked extensively on Broadway where his choreography credits include “Smokey Joe’s Café” (Tony Award nomination) and “The Boy From Oz” starring Hugh Jackman. His other credits include Hal Prince’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Whistle Down the Wind” and Nicholas Hytner’s production of “Twelfth Night”.
West Side Story, originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, has music by Leonard Bernstein and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It has also inspired a book by Arthur Laurents.
West Side Story is at Wales Millennium Centre from 12 – 23 August 2014. Tickets range from £19.50 – £48.50. Age Guidance 11 + (No under 2s). For more information and booking, visit www.wmc.org.uk or call the ticket office on 02920 636464.
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