2. SYNOPSIS (COURTESY OF MTI)
“Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is
transported to modern-day New York City, 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.”
3. CAST
Cast size: Large (over 20)
Cast Type: Ethnic Roles, Showcases trained dancers, Showcases trained singers, Star
Vehicle - Female, Star Vehicle - Male, Strong/Large Chorus, Teenage Roles
Dance requirement: Heavy (Extensive Dance Sections/Solos)
Casting notes: 4 Men, 2 Women, Large ethnically diverse ensemble.
Character Breakdown
ANITA Maria's saucy older friend. Bernardo's girl.
Mezzo-Soprano
BERNARDO Maria's brother, leader of the Sharks.
CHINO Maria's angry young suitor. Bernardo's friend.
DETECTIVE SCHRANK DOC A weary old candy store owner
GLAD HAND A fidgety chaperone
MARIA Puerto Rican ingenue. Bernardo's sister. Soprano
OFFICER KRUPKE A cop
RIFF Quick-tempered leader of the Jets. Baritone
THE JETS Action, A-Rab, Baby John, Snowboy, Big Deal, Diesel, Gee-Tar, Mouthpiece and
Tiger
THE JETS' GIRLS Graziella, Velma, Minnie, Clarice, Pauline, and Anybodys-a tagalong
tomboy
THE SHARKS Pepe, Indio, Luis, Anxious, Nibbles, Juano, Toro, Moose
THE SHARKS' GIRLS Rosalia-Anita's foil in "America", Consuelo, Teresita, Francisca,
Estella and Margarita
TONY Former Jet leader gone straight.
Tenor or Baritone
4. ORCHESTRA
Orchestra Size LARGE Instrumentation: Doublings:
BASS
CELLO I & II
CELLO III & IV
DRUMS TRAP SET
GUITAR CLASSICAL GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR
HORNS 1 & 2
KEYBOARD
PERCUSSION 1 (MALLETS) CASTANETS, CHIMES, CLAVES, CONGA, FINGER
CYMBALS, GLOCKENSPIEL, GOURD, GUIRO, MARACAS, POLICE
WHISTLE, RATCHET, SLIDE WHISTLE, SMALL MARACAS, SNARE DRUM, TAM-
TAM, TAMBOURINES, TEMPLE
BLOCKS, TIMBALES, TRIANGLE, VIBRAPHONE, WOODBLOCK, XYLOPHONE, 2
SUSPENDED CYMBALS, 3 BONGOS, 3 COWBELLS, 4 PITCHED DRUMS
REED 1 ALTO SAXOPHONE, BASS CLARINET, CLARINET, FLUTE, PICCOLO
REED 2 Bb CLARINET, BASS CLARINET, Eb CLARINET
REED 3 Bb CLARINET, BARITONE SAXOPHONE, BASS CLARINET, ENGLISH
HORN, FLUTE, OBOE, PICCOLO, TENOR SAXOPHONE
REED 4 BASS CLARINET, BASS
SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, FLUTE, PICCOLO, SOPRANO SAX
REED 5 BASSOON TROMBONE 1 TROMBONE 2 TRUMPET 1 TRUMPET
2 TRUMPET 3 VIOLIN I & II VIOLIN III & IV VIOLIN V & VI VIOLIN VII
5. SET
Obviously urban
Need a raised platform for the fire
escape/balcony scene
Will feature some type of second story-There
appears to be flexibility about how one designs
this second story.
Will most likely be similarly colored to Macbeth or
Guys and Dolls (Techies will have to learn to love
grey again).
