Ready to rumble

September 30, 2008

The highly anticipated revival of West Side Story has found a theater and set an opening date on Broadway.

The classic New York musical about the Sharks, the Jets and the ill-fated love affair involving two people caught between the gangs will open March 19 at the Palace Theatre. Preview performances begin there Feb. 23. Casting will be announced shortly.

The show, which has music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents, will play an out-of-town engagement Dec. 15-Jan. 17 at Washington's National Theatre. Laurents will direct and Joey McKneely will restage Jerome Robbins' original choreography.

From Sun news services

today's birthdays

Author Elie Wiesel, 80.

Singer Johnny Mathis, 73.

Actor Len Cariou, 69.

Actor John Finn, 56.

Actress Fran Drescher is 51.

Actress Marion Cotillard, 33.

Rapper T-Pain, 24.