West Side Story: Musical cast
West Side Story cast
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Arthur Laurents
Basis on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Tony
Riff
Bernardo
Maria
Baby John
Chino
Anita
Shrank
Doc
Action
Diesel
Arab
Rosalia
Consuela
Krupke
Glad Hand
Velma
Graziella
Jets
Sharks
Jet girls
Shark girls
Creative Team Legacy.
Leonard Bernstein merges Latin pulse, jazz heat, and classical rigor.
Stephen Sondheim answers with crisp, aching lyrics.
Arthur Laurents frames the street tragedy with razor focus.
The trio’s work still guides every revival.
Directors respect the bones, yet colour inside new lines.
2024-2026 Casting Evolution.
- Tony: Duke Kim heads LA Opera 2025, Brenton Ryan leads Houston 2024.
- Maria: Gabriella Reyes melts hearts LA 2025, Nina Korbe stuns Sydney 2024.
- Anita: Kimberley Hodgson electrifies Sydney 2024, Cristina María Castro charms Indianapolis 2025.
- Riff: Kyle Coffman returns Houston 2024, Patrick Whitbread flashes grit Sydney 2024.
- Bernardo: Manuel Stark Santos commands Sydney 2024, Federico Del Toro energizes Fireside 2025.
Global stagings.
- Houston Grand Opera, April 2024.
- Handa Opera Sydney Harbour, March 2024.
- Starlight Kansas City, August 2024.
- Indianapolis Opera, February 2025.
- LA Opera, September 2025.
- Washington National Opera, May 2026.
Casting trends.
Latinx and First Nations artists now headline Shark roles.
Opera singers cross over, adding vocal heft.
Dance captains weave waacking flourishes for Jet girls.
Directors favour handheld cameras, creating street immediacy.
| Season | Company | Tony | Maria | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Houston Grand Opera | Brenton Ryan | Shereen Pimentel | Francesca Zambello |
| 2024 | Handa Opera Sydney Harbour | Billy Bourchier | Nina Korbe | Francesca Zambello |
| 2024 | Starlight Kansas City | Brenton Ryan | Not announced | Baayork Lee |
| 2025 | Indianapolis Opera | Eric Botto | Cristina María Castro | TBA |
| 2025 | LA Opera | Duke Kim | Gabriella Reyes | Francesca Zambello |
| 2026 | Washington National Opera | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Impact on audiences.
Fresh casting deepens authenticity.
Young viewers find mirrors.
Seasoned fans hear the score anew.
Questions and Answers.
- Which performers lead LA Opera 2025?
- Tenor Duke Kim stars as Tony, soprano Gabriella Reyes as Maria.
- Who portrays Maria at Sydney Harbour 2024?
- First Nations soprano Nina Korbe sings Maria at the outdoor harbour spectacular.
- How many languages appear in 2024 stagings?
- English and Spanish lines remain, Italian surtitles appear for Rome 2024 tour.
- Are Jet girls given new choreography?
- Yes, Baayork Lee adds waacking flourishes, honouring street vogue culture.
- Where can young actors audition?
- Regional opera companies list calls online, check January 2025 portals.
Last Update:June, 26th 2025