West Side Story
PNC Broadway in Louisville

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, West Side Story remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere."

“So exciting it makes you ache with pleasure” –John Lahr, The New Yorker

What Is West Side Story Like?
Considered a great groundbreaking musical, West Side Story has remained a poignant, provocative and emotionally devastating piece of theater for over half a century. Dark in tone and content, the show is flush with many of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein's most famous compositions, offering a richly layered score played by a full orchestra—a rare find, even on Broadway, these days. Factor in recreations of original director and choreographer Jerome Robbins' equally iconic choreography, and the production becomes an electrifying piece of musical drama. Despite West Side's difficult themes, the show also offers some of the biggest, brightest crowd-pleasers in theater history, including uber-ballad “Tonight,” the chirpy "America" and the hilariously macabre "Gee Officer Krupke." The show may be a rollercoaster of emotions, but it offers something for every taste.

Is West Side Story Good for Kids?
Let's make one thing clear—audience members of all ages should come armed with tissues. Like its Shakespearian predecessor, all is not well that doesn’t end well, so those upset by anything less than a pitch-perfect happy ending should enter warily. The show also deals with adult themes: violence, murder, rape and bigotry all get their turn in the spotlight, as do bad language, sexual innuendos and racial slurs. While the tiniest tots may not be ready for this sort of musical education, West Side Story is a valuable experience for theater buffs and newbies alike. If your brood can handle the Academy Award-winning film, then they (and you) will be well prepared for what will play out on the Broadway stage. West Side Story is suggested for ages 13 and up.

LATE SEATING POLICY

Late arriving audience members may be held out until the first appropriate seating opportunity. This applies to the opening act and any ensuing act following an intermission. Late seating holds are in place for the convenience of the performers and audience members who are seated at show time. The lengths of seating holds vary by production and are set in consultation with production artistic staff.

RUNNING TIME: Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes

Show Times are as follows in Whitney Hall:
Wednesday May 15, 2013 7:30 PM
Thursday May 16, 2013 7:30 PM
Friday May 17, 2013 8:00 PM
Saturday May 18, 2013 2:00 PM
Saturday May 18, 2013 8:00 PM
Sunday May 19, 2013 1:00 PM
Sunday May 19, 2013 6:30 PM

Access Services

Accessible Seating
Assistive Listening System
Audio Description is available for the Saturday, 5/18 performance at 2:00 p.m.
Captioned Theatre is available for the Saturday, 5/18 performance at 8:00 p.m.
Patrons may now book their own wheelchair accessible seating when purchasing tickets online. For best seating location for all other Access Services, please call The Kentucky Center box office at 502-584-7777.

For more information about the Access Services The Kentucky Center offers, please call the Access Services hotline, 502-562-0111 (V) or 502-562-0140 (TTY).