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The Gateway Playhouse launches its 77th Season with the electrifying musical West Side Story, running May 8 through May 31, 2026. This bold new production brings fresh urgency and emotional depth to one of the most iconic works in American musical theatre.
Set on the restless streets of 1950s New York City, West Side Story reimagines Romeo and Juliet through the lens of two rival gangs divided by culture and circumstance. When Tony and Maria meet, their connection defies the boundaries of their worlds, igniting a love that is as powerful as it is perilous.
Directed and choreographed by Vincent Ortega, a Mexican-American artist whose journey with The Gateway began as a performer in 2008, this production marks his return after seventeen productions and his acclaimed directorial work on In the Heights. Ortega brings a deeply personal perspective to the Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim classic.
Featuring choreography inspired by Jerome Robbins’ original work, this production honors the legacy of the show while speaking directly to today’s audiences. With a focus on immediacy and human connection, it highlights enduring themes of love, identity, and conflict. Through dynamic movement and striking visual storytelling, the tension between the Jets and Sharks comes vividly to life, with choreography that serves as both language and emotion.
With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the score includes beloved songs such as “Tonight,” “Somewhere,” “America,” and “Maria.” The production blends sweeping romance, explosive dance, and searing drama into a theatrical experience that is as thrilling as it is deeply moving.
“Bringing a fresh perspective comes from leaning into authenticity, especially in the movement and relationships, and allowing the cast to bring their own lived experiences into the process,” said Ortega. “It’s about finding the balance between preserving what audiences love and making it feel immediate, honest, and alive for today.”
The cast of West Side Story includes (in alphabetical order) Manuela Agudelo, Keaton Bartz, Franco Bianchi*, Bill Carmichael*, Sabina Collazo*, Samara DeCastro, Angelina DiDea, Curtis J. Faulkner*, Megan Elyse Fulmer*, Abigail Graham, Gabriel Hobbs, Jackson Hurt*, Carlos Jimenez*, Ashton Lambert*, Keeghan Lavery, Dustin Lawson, Lily Mendoza, Bryan Ernesto Menjivar*, Jack Mintz, Brendon Moreno, Jack David Mullen, PJ Palmer, Alexis Papaleo, Rodolfo Santamarina, Olivia Schuh, Jesse Swimm*, Tugboat Manny, and Alysia Vastardis. (*Appearing through an Agreement between The Gateway and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)
The creative team includes Associate Director/Choreographer and Intimacy Director Ashley Klinger, Music Director Andrew Haile Austin, Associate Music Director Jake Turski, Lighting Designer José Santiago, Costume Designer Janine Loesch, Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Designer Dustin Lawson, and Properties Designer Brittany Loesch.
Audiences can expect Broadway-caliber performances in an intimate setting, with both evening and matinee performances available. Located in the heart of Bellport Village, The Gateway offers a complete theater experience with convenient parking and on-site concessions.
Tickets are on sale now.
For more information or to purchase, visit TheGateway.org or call the Box Office.
Performance Dates: May 8 – May 31, 2026
Location: The Gateway Playhouse, Bellport, NY
West Side Story is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
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