Matthew Hydzik Named West Side Story's New Tony; Cavenaugh Exits Dec. 13

By Kenneth Jones
02 Dec 2009

Matthew Hydzik
Matthew Hydzik

Matthew Hydzik will officially take over the role of Tony in Broadway's West Side Story beginning Dec. 15.

Hydzik has understudied the role since performances began on Feb. 23 at the Palace Theatre. Matt Cavenaugh created the role of Tony in the revival. His final performance will be Dec. 13. Hydzik will star opposite Tony Award nominee Josefina Scaglione, who plays Maria in the classic musical melodrama by Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim.

Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) will play the role of Tony on Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees.

Hydzik was most recently seen as Kenickie in Broadway's Grease. Other roles include Marc/Roger in the Rent tour, Nick in Fame, Slim in Cowboy Mouth and Danny in Grease at NCT and Marriott Lincolnshire.

Jordan comes directly from the Broadway cast of Rock of Ages. His regional credits include The Little Dog Laughed at Hartford Theatreworks (Connecticut Critics' Circle nominee) and Big River at Goodspeed.

West Side Story directed by its two-time Tony Award winning librettist Laurents with the original Jerome Robbins choreography restaged by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely.

The cast of 48 also features Karen Olivo as Anita, John Arthur Greene as Riff and George Akram as Bernardo. West Side Story is also welcoming Wes Hart as Action, Michael Rosen as Chino, Mikey Winslow as Big Deal and Sara Dobbs as Anybodys.

The cast is rounded out by Steve Bassett as Lt. Schrank, Mike Cannon as Snowboy, Kyle Coffman as A-Rab, Michael Mastro as Glad Hand, Lee Sellars as Krupke, Ryan Steele as Baby John, Greg Vinkler as Doc along with Kyle Brenn, Joshua Buscher, Isaac Calpito, Gabriel Canett, Haley Carlucci, Peter Chursin, Natalie Cortez, Kristine Covillo, Lindsay Dunn, Yurel Echezarreta, Michael Kleeman, Marina Lazzaretto, Mileyka Mateo, Kaitlin Mesh, Shina Ann Morris, Angelina Mullins, Kat Nejat, Pamela Otterson, Colt Prattes, Alex Ringler, Sam Rogers, Amy Ryerson, Jennifer Sanchez, Manuel Santos, Samantha Shafer, Phillip Spaeth, Brendon Stimson, CJ Tyson, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, Michael Williams and Mark Zimmerman.

The show plays Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM. Broadway ticket prices are $121.50-$46.50.

Tickets for the Broadway production of West Side Story at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway) are on sale at www.tickemaster.com or by (212) 307-4100 or at the Palace Theatre box office.