May 02, 2019
WEST SIDE STORY: Behind the Scenes Videos
Nearly 100 talented artists from around the country arrived in Chicago in the first week of April — the culmination of an exhaustive national audition process — and the sound of snapping fingers could suddenly be heard in the hallways of the Lyric Opera House. The collective creative power bringing the legendary West Side Story to Chicago's biggest stage is massive, and it needs to be. The iconic show has it all — laughter, tears, timeless melodies, high-energy dance, and a story that stands the test of time and feels as relevant today as it did when it premiered.
An invitation from the cast of West Side Story
West Side Story cast members Corey Cott (Tony), Mikaela Bennett (Maria), Amanda Castro (Anita), Brett Thiele (Riff), Manuel Stark Santos (Bernardo), and Adam Soniak (Action) give you a whole lot of reasons to catch West Side Story.
Join us behind the scenes and meet director Francesca Zambello, who discusses West Side Story for the 21st century; meet the principal artists as they pour their hearts into this masterpiece; and see the work of acclaimed choreographer Julio Monge, a protégé of the great Jerome Robbins. Monge's deep understanding of Robbins' original, Tony-winning choreography translates into the simply electric and stunning dance that is in store for audiences of Lyric's West Side Story.
Director Francesca Zambello on the Scale of West Side Story
The acclaimed director talks about the grand scale of this production of West Side Story.
WEST SIDE STORY // FIRST LOOK: "AMERICA"
Check out the rehearsal of "America" for Lyric's production of West Side Story.
WEST SIDE STORY // FIRST LOOK: "COOL"
Check out the rehearsal of "Cool" in Lyric's production of West Side Story.
