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You don’t have to be a discerning thespian or a self-proclaimed drama geek to appreciate this theater news: The ultimate in Broadway classics, WEST SIDE STORY, is coming to Hong Kong this May.
Before Hamilton, there was WEST SIDE STORY. Trust us, this has been a timeless classic long before Hamil-hype stole the headlines. The entertaining tale of undying love set in a sweltering 1950’s New York summer is something that everyone should enjoy at some point in their lives. And luckily for us, we can enjoy it right here in Hong Kong. The all-American cast, many of whom are coming direct from the Broadway stage, will bring the story alive starting on May 18.
So, are you ready for a musical explosion of song, dance, New York slang and, of course, the most universal love stories?
WEST SIDE STORY has been the darling of the Broadway stage since audiences got their first glimpse of Tony and Maria all the way back in 1957. The Romeo and Juliet-inspired story chronicles a fateful love affair between teens from rival New York gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Despite the less-than-edgy gang names (hey it’s from the 50’s after all!) the story remains as relevant today as ever.
Here’s a little synopsis without too many spoilers. But we’ll assume you were paying at least a little attention to your English teacher back in school!
The story starts during a hot and sweaty Manhattan summer. The Upper West Side boys are on the prowl, dancing with their girls and rocking out to the passionate rhythms of mambo, rock n’ roll and jazz. But it’s not long before the enemy gangs come face-to-face.
The Jets, sons of previous generations of immigrants to America, are fighting the new arrivals from Puerto Rico, the Sharks, for domination of the streets. Among the gang warfare set in New York’s urban jungle, Tony, a Jet, and Maria, sister to the leader of the Sharks, fall in love.
Life is cruel, and their happiness is destroyed by the hate between the two enemy camps. But not before the audience is blown away by the choreography of Jerome Robbins, score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on the book by Arthur Laurents, it’s an awe-inspiring performance – with powerful acting, production, and of course, a lot of dancing.
The now-famous music by Leonard Bernstein braved uncharted waters at the time it was written, combining influences from American jazz with classical and Latin American music to create a true work of art.
The show debuts in Hong Kong on May 18. Demand for the international award-winning production has been so overwhelming that the producers have decided to extend the run to 18 June, 2017 with no further extension possible. Act fast though, seats are filling up!
The international tour of West Side Story boasts an American cast and one of the best creative teams the world has ever seen. Some of the unforgettable score and timeless songs have been famously covered by artists worldwide, including Hong Kong’s beloved Teresa Carpio’s rendition of Somewhere and Cally Kwong in a Cantonese version of Tonight. Other hit songs, which you can probably already sing along to, include “Maria,” “America” and “I Feel Pretty.”
What: The classic Broadway musical, WEST SIDE STORY is live in Hong Kong!
Where: Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
When: May 18 – June 18, 2017
– Tuesday to Friday: 7:45pm
– Saturday: 2pm & 7:45pm
– Sunday: 1pm & 6pm
Tickets Prices: Standard Ticket Prices: HKD1,195 (Broadway Package), HKD995 (VIP), $795 (A Reserve), HKD595 (B Reserve), HKD445 (C Reserve)
Buying Tickets: Purchase your tickets here.
For show updates and more info please visit the Hong Kong Season website at www.westsidestoryhk.com. Quick! Don’t miss the chance to hear and see it live, in all it’s Americana glory.
Join the contest and WIN tickets to see WEST SIDE STORY!
1st Prize: 2 VIP Tickets
2nd Prize: 2 A-Reserve Tickets | 3rd Prize: 2 A-Reserve Tickets
3 pairs of tickets are up for grabs. All you have to do is:
1. Subscribe to Coconuts Hong Kong newsletters. (Yup, we’ll check!)
2. Email your answer to the question below to hongkong@coconuts.co before 6pm HKT May 5, 2017 and we’ll choose the most creative answers to win.
What’s your favorite song from WEST SIDE STORY and why?
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