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A Symphonic Take On The Music Of ‘West Side Story’

photo of Zach Meeker and Jim Waddelow in front of an orchestra
Raleigh Little Theatre

When “West Side Story” debuted on Broadway in 1957, it was an instant hit. The new take on “Romeo and Juliet” set in 1950s New York City earned seven Tony nominations in its first year.

By 1961, the musical was turned into a movie that was equally successful and took home 10 Academy Awards.

But it is the music of Leonard Bernstein paired with the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim that has made “West Side Story” a favorite among theater lovers for generations. Raleigh Little Theater is joining forces with Raleigh Symphony Orchestra to bring this music to life in “West Side Story” Symphony Concert. Host Frank Stasio previews the event with Raleigh Little Theatre’s Artistic Director Patrick Torres and the music director of the Raleigh Symphony, Jim Waddelow. Singers Zach Meeker and Alyssa White join them in studio for conversation and live performance. The symphonic concert is on stage this Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday May, 19 at 3 p.m. at Raleigh Little Theatre’s Stephenson Amphitheater in Raleigh.

 

Dana is an award-winning producer who began as a personality at Rock 92. Once she started creating content for morning shows, she developed a love for producing. Dana has written and produced for local and syndicated commercial radio for over a decade. WUNC is her debut into public radio and she’s excited to tell deeper, richer stories.
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.