West Side Story Presented in Rochester for the First Time in 10 Years!

OFC Creations Theatre Center Presents

West Side Story returns to Rochester for the first time in 10 years with OFC Creations Theatre Center’s October production, part of the “Broadway in Brighton” series. With a cast of professional actors across the country, including equity actors playing the roles of ‘Tony’ and ‘Maria’, fresh from the international tour, as well as an actress who has played the demanding role of ‘Anita’ four times, the full cast is made up of Latinx performers and includes choreography from Syracuse native and resident Marisa DeGuzman, a Flamenco, Latin and tango specialist.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to the vibrant battleground of New York City’s West Side in the 1950’s as two young, idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the “American’ Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time. Unforgetting musical numbers include ‘Tonight,’ ‘American,’ ‘One Hand, One Heart,’ and equally mesmerizing choreography to ‘Mambo,’ ‘Cool,’ and ‘The Rumble’.

“The time was right to bring back this beloved and iconic show,” shares OFC Executive Director, Eric Vaughn Johnson, who also directs the full Broadway in Brighton Series. “To do West Side Story justice, there are so many elements that need to align- and that is why it isn’t often performed at the regional level. This show has such resonance with audiences, but it’s important to have the right cast of Latinx performers to help tell this story authentically. The vehicle of Broadway in Brighton series allows us to bring shows like this to Rochester and upstate NY audiences.”

West Side Story, based on a conception of Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, changed the face of musical theatre forever when it debuted on the Great White Way in 1957, the lyrics “There’s a Place for us, somewhere a place for us…” could not resonate any louder than it does today.

West Side Story continues OFC’s 2024-2025 Broadway In Brighton Series with a focus on bringing beloved shows and stories of heroes of generations to the stage, many that are not typically performed in Rochester. The series also includes The Prince of Egypt, an upstate NY and Rochester premiere- of which OFC is one of the first performing arts centers in the country to be granted permission to present this show; the classic musical Gypsy; and Anything Goes, a golden age musical. Closing out the 2024-2025 season will be the hugely popular Jersey Boys, produced locally for the first time.

OFC Creations has been a fixture of the Rochester, NY performing arts scene since 2005. After opening the 260-seat OFC Creations Theatre Center in 2020, OFC has continued to expand with the largest educational theater program for young actors in New York State, opening an immersive theatrical restaurant and cabaret performance venue in 2022. The 2024-2025 season marks the second year of the Broadway in Brighton Series, a professional regional theater season guaranteeing theatrical excellence for audiences.

Starring Trevor James as Tony

Trevor is a Los Angeles based performer joining OFC after recently portraying Tony in the International Tour of West Side Story. He was in the original cast of The Karate Kid musical pre-Broadway tryout at Stages St. Louis, 'Jack' in Into the Woods (Guthrie Theatre), Sunday in the Park with George (Pasadena Playhouse), 'Frankie Valli' in Jersey Boys (Theatre Aspen), 'Jack Kelly' in Newsies (RMTC), and 'Sky' in Mamma Mia! (MRT). Trevor has appeared on screen in Prodigal Son (FOX Network) and WeCrashed (AppleTV+).

Starring Joy Del Valle as Maria

Joy Del Valle is thrilled to be performing in West Side Story for the 7th time! Select credits: Tours: International Tour of West Side Story (Rosalia, Maria alternate). Regional: Maria in West Side Story (Phoenix Theatre Company), West Side Story (PCLO & KC Starlight Co-Pro), West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Holiday Inn (Arts Center Coastal Carolina), Cinderella (Phoenix Theater Company), Fiddler on the Roof (Goodspeed), Annie Get Your Gun (Goodspeed), Once On This Island (STONC), In The Heights (Beck Center), A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage).

Starring Courtney Arango as Anita

Courtney is a New York City based actress who recently performed in the Pre-Broadway run of Boop! The Betty Boop Musical in Chicago under the direction of Jerry Mitchell. She was seen in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar among many shows across the country including Off-Broadway. OFC's production of West Side Story will be Courtney's 4th time returning to the role of Anita.