If the title of this article hasn’t already implied, the beloved musical West Side Story is coming to Sydney… on a floating stage.
In 2019, Opera Australia (OA) is continuing its super-successful Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour series. You may have heard of previous productions of La Traviata and La Boheme set on the famous floating stage—they were kind of a big deal. For its eighth on-water production, OA is shifting its focus from classic operas to a beloved musical.
You know West Side Story. It’s a modern-day Romeo & Juliet story of Maria and Tony, two star-crossed lovers from rival gangs of 1950s New York. Maria’s family belongs to the Sharks, a group of Puerto Rican migrants coming to America for a new life. Tony is from the Jets, a tough gang of white American dudes.
In our current climate, the musical is ripe for exploring toxic masculinity, cultural identity and the migrant experience. However, in a recent interview, OA’s artistic director Lyndon Terracini indicated the upcoming production might take race out of the storyline.
PS we’re also getting excited for the Steven Spielberg’s cinematic remake of West Side Story. But for now, read more about Opera Australia’s upcoming West Side Story production here and sign up for presale tix riiiiiight here.
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Image credit: Opera Australia