West Side Story
by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein & Arthur Laurents
(april 2024, yale university production)
“These characters have taught me about the bravery of staring down the not-knowing of the future. They are all trying to believe in something. Their systems of belief collapse and collide, but in the end, Maria and Tony suggest a path toward something new—a place beyond the United States’s systemic failure to make these children believe that there is no future.
This is a small theater and a smaller production than you might be used to. In this space, I want you to allow yourself to feel immersed. Feel proximate to the bigness of the feelings, the motion, the sounds. This is West Side Story as a product of this community for this community, the first production of this show at Yale in over a decade. All I ask is that you open yourself up to whatever this enduring story might give you. Take a seat. Enjoy.”
- From West Side Story director’s note
Cast
Maria / Isabella Walther-Meade
Tony / William Romain
Anita / Zaida Rio Polanco
Bernardo / Benjamin Jimenez
Riff / Chris Tillen
Action / Crawford Arnow
Anybodys / Bebhinn Knudsen
Chino / Sebastian Gervase
Doc / Genesis Browne
Lt. Schrank / Eli Buchdahl
Krupke / Poe Doub
A-Rab / Zach Redhead-Leconte
Baby John / Joseph Kayne
Diesel / Stellan Min
Big Deal / Jordan Mincy
Graziella / Hannah Kurczeski
Velma / Nneka Moweta
Jet Ensemble / Nire Oloyede
Jet Ensemble / Tybee Feiler
Jet Ensemble / Elizabeth Dejanikus
Rosalia / Emma Upson
Shark Ensemble / Annelise Quintero
Shark Ensemble / Daniela Rodriguez-Larrain Fernandez
Shark Ensemble / Paloma Vigil
Shark Ensemble / Seung Min Baik Kang
Shark Ensemble / Nicolas Maynulet
Shark Ensemble / Tadea Martin-Gonzalez
Glad Hand / Elizabeth Stanish
Tony / William Romain
Anita / Zaida Rio Polanco
Bernardo / Benjamin Jimenez
Riff / Chris Tillen
Action / Crawford Arnow
Anybodys / Bebhinn Knudsen
Chino / Sebastian Gervase
Doc / Genesis Browne
Lt. Schrank / Eli Buchdahl
Krupke / Poe Doub
A-Rab / Zach Redhead-Leconte
Baby John / Joseph Kayne
Diesel / Stellan Min
Big Deal / Jordan Mincy
Graziella / Hannah Kurczeski
Velma / Nneka Moweta
Jet Ensemble / Nire Oloyede
Jet Ensemble / Tybee Feiler
Jet Ensemble / Elizabeth Dejanikus
Rosalia / Emma Upson
Shark Ensemble / Annelise Quintero
Shark Ensemble / Daniela Rodriguez-Larrain Fernandez
Shark Ensemble / Paloma Vigil
Shark Ensemble / Seung Min Baik Kang
Shark Ensemble / Nicolas Maynulet
Shark Ensemble / Tadea Martin-Gonzalez
Glad Hand / Elizabeth Stanish
Director / Emiliano Cáceres Manzano
Producer / AJ Walker
Producer / Prentiss Patrick-Carter
Stage Manager / Elizabeth Stanish
Music Director / Sam Tucker-Smith
Music Director / Sophie Dvorak
Orchestra Director / Nicole Lam
Choreographer / Amara Neal
Choreographer / Katia George
Set Designer / Annabelle Hee
Lighting Designer / Rhayna Poulin
Costume Designer / Chizaram “Zara” Aidevo Belo
Props Designer / Paula Toranzo
Sound Designer / Abby Asmuth
Sound Engineer / Michael Willen
Graphic Designer / Linda Zhou
Photography / Melany Perez