Which side story? Which side story?

Vivacious performances outweigh a host of odd directorial choices in the Washington National Opera‘s
West Side Story

By May 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM
11 comments
It all began tonight It all began tonight

West Side Story opened LA Opera’s 40th anniversary season with fury and flair

By September 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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Some old and then some new tricks Some old and then some new tricks

David Fox and Cameron Kelsall take on a new revival of Gypsy: Is there any gayer or more impassioned theater topic?

By January 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
23 comments
Midwest Side Story Midwest Side Story

Lyric Opera of Chicago has brought back its wildly successful 2019 production of West Side Story, directed by Francesca Zambello.  I thought it was terrific back then and, even with numerous cast changes, it was just as terrific on Sunday afternoon.

By June 06, 2023 at 9:19 AM
6 comments
A faint impression of the genuine article A faint impression of the genuine article

Can we start by not using Barbra Streisand as a polestar here?

By May 31, 2022 at 9:00 AM
47 comments
Ghost “Story” Ghost “Story”

Time to stop being coy, I think. You and I had quite different takeaways on the show, didn’t we?

By March 18, 2020 at 4:45 PM
3 comments
Lakeside story Lakeside story

In our current political climate with issues of immigration, tribalism, and white nationalists, the 1957 musical West Side Story has a distinctly contemporary feel.

By May 07, 2019 at 2:04 PM
4 comments
Lakeside ‘Story’ Lakeside ‘Story’

Sunny, lakeside Cooperstown presents a peppy, exuberant, winning production of West Side Story, the musical.

By July 24, 2018 at 3:26 PM
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Macaronic and cheese Macaronic and cheese

The Berlin Komische Oper was the scene of one of my greatest opera experiences five years ago, so I particularly looked forward to a return to this theater.

By May 13, 2015 at 9:46 AM
5 comments