According to a new casting call, director Steven Spielberg is looking for lead actors to star in his musical reboot of the 1961 musical drama "West Side Story", about gang warfare in New York City, that will start shooting after he completes "Indiana Jones 5" starring Harrison Ford:
Casting is seeking actors to play the musical's four leading roles: 'Maria' (18-20), 'Tony' (18-23), 'Bernardo' (20-24) and 'Anita' (20-24 years). All four actors must be able to sing. Maria, Anita and Bernardo must speak Spanish.
The 1961 musical drama "West Side Story" was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, adapting the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet", starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. The film won 10 Acadmy Awards, including 'Best Picture'.
"...set in the 'Upper West Side' neighborhood of New York City in the mid 1950's, the musical explores the rivalry between the 'Jets' and the 'Sharks', two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, with members of the Sharks, from Puerto Rico, taunted by the Jets.
"Young protagonist Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang's leader, 'Riff', falls in love with 'Maria', the sister of 'Bernardo', leader of the Sharks..."
Elmer Bernstein's score includes the songs "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America", "Somewhere", "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "A Boy Like That", "One Hand, One Heart", "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool".
Casting submissions: please email a photo and video of yourself singing to: westsidestorycasting@gmail.com
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "West Side Story"...
