By Matthew Blank
13 Aug 2008
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| Max von Essen as Tony |
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| photo by Matt Polk |
With a Broadway revival looming on the horizon, two familiar New York faces are currently appearing as Tony and Maria in the staging of West Side Story that began performances Aug. 5 at Pittsburgh CLO.
Playing this pair of star-crossed lovers are Max von Essen and Ali Ewoldt, both of whom were seen in the recent Broadway revival of Les Misérables at the Broadhurst. Ewoldt potrayed Cosette in the original revival company, with von Essen taking over the role of Enjolras partway through the run.
Also featured are Manoly Farrell as Anita, Wilson Mendieta as Bernardo, Spencer Howard as Riff, Jeff Davis as Diesel, Darren Biggart as A-Rab, Ward Billeisen as Snowboy, Andrew Cao as Chino, Allison Nock as Anybodys, Cary Tedder as Action, Mikey Winslow as Baby John, Amos Wolff as Big Deal, Gene A. Saraceni as Doc, Tim Brady as Lt. Schrank, Gary Kline as Gladhand and Paul Palmer as Officer Krupke.
The ensemble comprises Zachary Berger, Callan Bergmann, Ashley Blanche, Kyle Brown, Kaitlyn Davidson, Yurel Echezarreta, Steffi Garrard, Tracy Groth, Freddie Kimmel, Scott Larsen, Stephanie Maloney, Gabrielle McClinton, Shina Ann Morris, Sydney Morton, Mary Michael Patterson, Justin Peebles, Robert James Priore, Mahri Relin, Lisa Rumbauskas, Ahmad Simmons and Kathryn Lin Terza.
Van Kaplan directs the production, with Mark Esposito re-creating Jerome Robbins' original choreography.
Here is a look at the show, which plays Pittsburgh's Benedum Center through Aug. 17:
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The Jets dance the Prologue |
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The Sharks dance the Prologue |
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The Sharks surround their prey |
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The Jets |
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Ali Ewoldt as Maria |
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Manoly Farrell as Anita (center) leads the Sharks' girls |
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"Tonight" Max von Essen as Tony and Ali Ewoldt as Maria |
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The Sharks |
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Cast members soar during "Somewhere" |
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Ali Ewoldt as Maria and Max von Essen as Tony |
Photos courtesy of Matt Polk
