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Tag Archives: West Side Story

WEST SIDE STORY at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center November 14 – December 1

15 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alexa Lopez, Arthur Laurents, Broadway Palm, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Jacob Tarconish, Jerome Robbins, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, Lauderhill Theatre, Leonard Bernstein, LPAC, Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story

Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Collaboration with
Broadway Palm presents
West Side Story

November 14 – December 1

“Pooling imagination and virtuosity, [they] have written a profoundly moving show that is as ugly as the city jungles and also pathetic, tender and forgiving.”
Brooks Atkinson ~ The New York Times, September 27, 1957

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

October 15, 2019

LAUDERHILL, FL:  West Side Story: Classic. Powerful. Groundbreaking. Heartbreaking.  All words that have been used to describe one of Broadway’s most memorable and iconic pieces of musical theatre.  The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in collaboration with Broadway Palm will present West Side Story as the first production in their brand-new Broadway at the LPAC series.  The show will run from November 14th through December 1st.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.  The story of their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice became one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching musicals of all time, and the subject matter is as relevant today as it was when the show opened in 1957.

West Side Story was written by Arthur Laurents. The musical’s score was composed by Leonard Bernstein, and the show was choreographed by Jerome Robbins, who won a Tony Award for his work.  West Side Story also marked the Broadway debut of a then unknown lyricist/composer – Stephen Sondheim.   Sondheim was contracted to write the lyrics for the show after composer Bernstein decided that he needed to concentrate solely on the music.  (Sondheim originally declined the offer, but his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein, convinced him to do it, telling him he would benefit from the experience.)

The production’s Artistic Producer, Brian Enzman, has cast Alexa Lopez and Jacob Tarconish as West Side Story’s star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony.

Alexa Lopez

“West Side Story was the first piece of musical theater I had ever seen live, it was the first thing that sparked my passion for performing, and so it holds an extremely special place in my heart,” seventeen-year old Lopez, a senior at the American Heritage School in Plantation, explains. “Looking back, I remember how moved I was by the rich music, the actors, and the relevant story they were telling. I saw myself on stage that night, and was able to, as a Cuban-American, deeply identify with Maria. I’ve carried this show with me since and am truly amazed at how contemporary it remains today. It is a story that I am honored to be able to tell.

“My journey with West Side has been a long one,” she continues. “I auditioned for the role of Maria many times and at many levels. One of my most memorable experiences was this past year when I had the wonderful opportunity of making it to the final round of callbacks for the upcoming 2020 Broadway revival, auditioning for Ivo Van Hove, the director. In any case, I’m so ecstatic to finally play Maria and be able to share her story.”

Jacob Tarconish

Jacob Tarconish has given a lot of thought to the relevance of the play in today’s world, and to his character:  “The Sharks and Jets are in this world of divisiveness, racism and xenophobia, and then you have two people fall in love and realize “everything we’ve been told to believe is wrong. We’re all just people whose differences aren’t a reason to hate each other, they’re what make us exciting and magical”, and we see what happens when two people challenge those barriers and try to tear them down,” he says. “I think in our country today, there’s a lot of that same divisiveness and there’s also a sense of drastically changing beliefs, which makes West Side Story such a powerful and wonderful piece of theatre to be a part of.

“I think a lot of people have a side of Tony in them,” he continues. “He’s got a job, he’s at a point in his life where he’s grown past what his friends are still doing, but he’s kind of dissatisfied. He’s got all this energy and ambition, but nothing to really use it on. Then, he meets Maria, and his world instantly changes. He realizes “I’ve found someone who understands me, who sees me, and I would do absolutely anything and everything to be with her,” and suddenly he’s alive again, he’s using that drive again, and it makes him feel like he’s superhuman. I think people can absolutely identify with that sense of longing and passion.”

The rest of the West Side Story cast includes the Shark Girls – Katie Whittemore as Anita, Sandi Stock as Francisca, Emily Stys as Rosalia and Emilee Hassanzadeh as Margarita; The Jets Girls:  Sarah Rose Knoche as Anybodys, Laura Titus as Graziella, Lauren Cagnetta as Minnie and Bailee Cudmore as Velman; The Sharks:  Pasqualino Beltempo as Bernardo, Brandon Santos as Chino, Jermarcus Riggins as Pepe, Phillip Giandiletti as Luis and Richel Ruiz as Juan; The Jets:  Rhett Warner as Riff, Robert Ayala as Action, Michael Friedman as A-Rab, Clint Maddox Thompson as Baby John, Mason Lewis as Diesel and Derik Lawson as Snowboy.  Also in the cast are Peter Librach as Doc, Craig Smith as Lieutenant Schrank, and Justin Schneyer as Officer Krupke.

West Side Story will be directed by Dean Sobon, with musical direction by Eric Alsford, and the show’s Choreographer is Ron Hutchins.  Lighting Design is by Russell Thompson, Lighting Design is by Chris Young, and Costume Design is by John White.

West Side Story will run from November 14th– December 1st. Ticket prices range from $35 – $55 and are available online at https://lpacfl.com/or by calling 954-777-2055.  Performances are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm.  There will not be a performance on Thursday, November 28th – Thanksgiving Day.

Subscriptions for the Broadway in Broward series are also on sale, and various subscription packages are available. Subscriptions can be purchased by calling the LPAC box office at 954-777-2055.

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) has hosted numerous theatrical events and productions since it opened its doors in January 2016 and has grown its audiences to include theatre patrons from not only Broward County, but Miami/Dade and Palm Beach counties as well. The theatre is located at 3800 NW 11th Place (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7.  For more information about LPAC visit https://lpacfl.com.

For more information about West Side Story please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

~

West Side Story
November 14 – December 1
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on a Conception of Jerome Robbins
Performances:
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30 pm (no Thanksgiving night performance)
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 2 pm
Tickets:  $35 – $55
For tickets:  954-777-2055/ https://lpacfl.com/
All performances will take place at
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11th Place,
Lauderhill, FL  33311
https://lpacfl.com/
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Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Collaboration with Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Announces BROADWAY IN BROWARD

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by Carol Kassie in Broadway in Broward, Clients

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Tags

Beauty and the Beast, Broadway in Broward, Broward Theatre, Kinky Boots, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, LPAC, Musical Theatre in Broward, Once, Prather Productions, West Side Story

Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Collaboration with
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
Announces
Broadway in Broward

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

July 2, 2019

LAUDERHILL, FL:  The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) has partnered with Prather Productions to produce an exciting new musical theatre series, Broadway in Broward, at the state-of-the art venue beginning in November 2019. Four productions are planned for the 2019-2020 season:  West Side Story, Once, Kinky Boots, and Beauty and the Beast.

Prather Productions includes Broadway Palm in Fort Myers, Florida (now in its 26th season), and Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (now in its 31st season), along with Prather Touring and Apex Touring.

“I have been producing theatre year-round in Florida for over 26 years and am most notably known for Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre on the west coast in Fort Myers,” Will Prather, Prather Productions owner and Executive Producer said recently. “While I have also produced national and international tours, it has been a goal of mine to have a consistent presence on the east coast of Florida. The opportunity to partner with LPAC couldn’t have come at a better time, and all of us at Prather Productions are extremely excited to bring together our creative team and the incredible local talent that the east coast of Florida has to offer.”

LPAC General Manager Amanda Segur agrees: “I am thrilled to be a part of the team working to bring Broadway musicals back to the LPAC stage,” she says. “Working with Prather Productions is going to be an exciting, creative, artistic adventure, and the City of Lauderhill is extremely pleased to have forged this new relationship.  We are all looking forward to our very first Broadway in Broward show series, which will be full of magical music, delightful dance and amazing acting, starring award winning performers from South Florida, New York and across the nation!”

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center has hosted numerous theatrical events and productions since it opened its doors in January 2016 and has grown its audiences to include theatre patrons from not only Broward County, but Miami/Dade and Palm Beach counties as well.

West Side Story will run from November 14th– December 1st; Once from December 5th – 22nd; Kinky Boots from January 23rd – February 9th; and Beauty and the Beast from February 20th – March 8th.

Subscriptions to Broadway in Broward are on sale now and various subscription packages are available. Subscriptions can be purchased by calling the LPAC box office at 954-777-2055.

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11th Place (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7.  For more information about LPAC visit http://lpacfl.com.

For more information about Prather Productions, visit www.pratherproductions.com/

For more information about Broadway in Broward please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

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