By Ernio Hernandez
11 Oct 2005

West Side Story star Diana DeGarmo.
photo by Tim Bair

Diana DeGarmo, "American Idol" Season Three runner-up, will star in the upcoming American Musical Theatre of San Jose's staging of West Side Story, starting Nov. 1.

Stephen Bourneuf will direct the California staging to play at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts through Nov. 13.

Fans of the popular Fox make-a-star reality show may remember the Snellville, Georgia teen for her renditions of "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Do You Love Me," Turn The Beat Around" and "Don't Cry Out Loud." Since losing the third season contest, DeGarmo has released her debut "Blue Skies" and appeared on the soundtrack for "Ice Princess."

DeGarmo will play Maria opposite Aaron Ramey as Tony, JoAnn Hunter as Anita, Michael Balderamma as Bernardo and Chris Cobb Olsen as Riff.

Vince Pesce choreographs the production and Barbara Day Turner serves as musical director. The design team features Karen Spahn (lighting), Thomas G. Marquez (costumes), Sharon Ridge (hair and make-up) and Hage Van Dijk (sound).

West Side Story featuring a score by Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) with a book by Arthur Laurents resets the William Shakespeare tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet to New York City in the last days of the summer of 1957. Two star-crossed lovers are caught in the battle for turf between the Jets and the Sharks.

Tickets to American Musical Theatre of San Jose's West Side Story at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd. in San Jose, CA are available by calling (888) 455-SHOW or (408) 453-7108. For more information, visit www.amstj.org.