West Side Story

"...Fresh, raw, youthful energy; glorious music and razor-sharp lyrics; a vibrant production" Sunday Telegraph

"World class. It wasn't good, it was BRILLIANT" David Atkins

SOLD OUT in London, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing, the international smash hit West Side Story is now in Brisbane until 5 December 2010.

With groundbreaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story changed the face of musical theatre for ever.

Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and packed with unforgettable songs including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty, West Side Story has been described as "a masterpiece of musical theatre" (The Daily Mail) and "a musical landmark" (The Guardian).

The movie version went on to win an incredible 10 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and further cemented the reputation of this undoubted masterpiece.

Watch the auditions for the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story

Brisbane Season Reviews

"Julie Goodwin as Maria and Alinta Chidzey as Anita are both terrific, demonstrating the strength of the writing for the female leads." The Courier-Mail

"The big winner from this high-energy production remains this wonderful story, told through powerful hit songs and coupled with the brilliance of Robbins' iconic choreography." The Courier-Mail

"This young company... brought an exciting raw energy to the Bernstein and Robbins classic...  From their opening Prologue, through Dance at the Gym to Cool, the Jets and the Sharks took hold of the show and powered it through to show-stopping ovations." Stage Whispers

"Choreographer Joey McKneely's mastery of effortless synchronicity is evident from the opening number. Under his direction, the young Australian cast transitions from high-energy ensembles to intimate pas de duex with easy grace." Brisbane Times

"Lighting, costume and set design worked in harmony in this visually stunning production." Brisbane Times

"As an audience member, you could feel the energy, the passion, the exuberance, the fear, the hatred and the love. The music, the set, the choreography, the lighting, the direction, the dancers, the singers, the........ oh need I go on? Bravo, everyone." Arts Hub 

"Peering into the orchestra pit at the end of the show, I wanted to jump in there myself and shake everyone's hand - awesome!" Arts Hub 

"I wanted to jump up and dance and sing with the cast, a sensational performance... An emotionally charged performance of love and loss, my foot was tapping from the opening dance number to the final curtain." Greg Hinks, 97.3FM

"West Side Story is tremendous!! You can feel the energy on stage from the first act and that continues through til the end. I was blown away by the dancers. They're so strong and brilliant, at times I didn't know who to look at ! Equally as powerful are the leads Josh Piterman and Julie Goodwin . Their voices are gifts .. absolutely amazing. These two performers are stars. I had never seen West Side Story before, but after seeing this production, I have to go back again." Loretta Ryan, 4BH

Australian Season Reviews

"The gangs create a lot of action and there's more men going to this show than pretty much any other (I've been involved with). You've also got a love interest and drama the whole way through. It's really got a bit of everything. If you've never been to a musical then this is the one for you." Nigel Turner-Carroll "Bernardo"

"World class. It wasn't good, it was BRILLIANT" David Atkins

"Sharp as a flick-knife, the dancing is terrifically tight" The Sydney Morning Herald

"Fabulous. It's hard not to get goosebumps" Daily Telegraph

"Exuberant. Utterly relevant today" The Australian

"World Class.  Better than Broadway and the West End.  IT WAS BRILLIANT" Alan Jones, Radio 2GB

"The best, hottest young cast.  Fantastic!" David Campbell

"West Side Story was every bit as good, and even better, than I could have imagined. Brilliant dancing, singing and acting made this production outstanding. The energy of all the performers left me breathless. This is a show which would appeal to anyone of any age." Riley Lavelle Long (age 15)

"I am not a big fan of musicals but I really enjoyed West Side Story. It was so good I am going back to see it again." Matt Bowd (age 14)

Check out what people in Melbourne thought of West Side Story

Check out what people in Perth thought of West Side Story

Check out what people in Sydney thought of West Side Story