It’s 1957, and summer is ending in the West Side of New York City. A dance at a local gym brings Tony and Maria together, and it's love at first sight! However, their love is threatened by a strong rivalry between two gangs: the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang, and the Jets, made up of ‘American’ boys. Maria is the sister to the leader of the Sharks, and Tony is an ex-member and the best friend of the leader of the Jets. Preparations are being made for one big rumble to settle the rivalry once and for all. Can Tony and Maria bridge the gap between the gangs and bring peace to their love before it’s too late? West Side Story is a modern take on the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet, and you can catch it at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre August 6 – September 19.
Fresh out of the roles of Dream Curly and Cord Elam in Dutch Apple's Oklahoma, Carver Duncan is hitting the stage as Tony, which he refers to as one of his dream roles (thanks to his parents who introduced him to the show when he was eight). Duncan also played Caleb in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, both at Dutch Apple and on the national tour. Maria will be played by Alexis Semevolos, who is reprising this role from a run at Dutch Apple’s sister theatre, Broadway Palm in Florida. Semevolos’ Off-Broadway credits include The Love Note, and regional credits include La Dispute and Macbeth at Hartford Stage, A Proper Place at Goodspeed Opera House, and Blood and Fire at Tru Voices.
Bernardo, leader of the Sharks and Maria’s brother, will be played by Dutch Apple alum, Chris Kane. Kane just performed in Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of Victor/Victoria and was seen at Dutch Apple last season as the heartthrob Link Larkin in Hairspary. He is also a three-time professional ballroom dance regional champion. Bernardo’s girl, Anita, will be played by Zoe Raphael, who is also reprising this role from the Broadway Palm production. Raphael’s favorite credits include the reading of A Proper Place for Goodspeed Opera House, Les Miserables at North Shore Music Theatre, Footloose at Maine State Music, and singing with the Boston Pops.
Dutch Apple’s production of West Side Story will be directed by Dean Sobon, who just finished directing Oklahoma! and also directed the national tours of Fiddler on the Roof and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He has a history with this show, performing in an international tour and two national tours. Sobon has worked for the Dutch Apple for 11 years now and is also an acting teacher for their Broadway Bound summer camps.
Samantha Hewes Cramer will be choreographing the production. She has worked with Dutch Apple since she was young, appearing on stage in Gypsy at the age of nine. Cramer is now excited to be on the other side of the stage with her work most recently being seen on the national tour of Memphis, The Musical as the Assistant to the Director, and she recently choreographed Crazy For You at Dutch Apple.
The score, by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, features songs such as "Tonight," "I Feel Pretty," "Maria," "(I Want to Be in) America," "Somewhere" and "One Hand, One Heart."
West Side Story will be at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre August 6 through September 19, 2015. Ticket prices range from $49 to $56 for meal and show with a special rate for groups of 16 or more. A limited number of show-only seats are available for $34. Call 717-898-1900 to make a reservation or order your tickets online at DutchApple.com.
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