West Side Story at Signature

This guy playing Tony also sings the crap out of Maria!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_7ekdt_eE

Why can't companies hire more age appropriate actors for the roles?. Natacsia Diaz is 45 years old. Isn't that a bit too old for 19 year old Anita?

Updated On: 11/23/15 at 11:03 PM

I don't think she looks 45 years old in this video. All that really matters is how she is in the role which I guess remains to be seen. I think Anita can stand to be slightly older. Rita was 30. Karen Olivo was 33. Also in order for this play to have the gravitas it needs they can't all be 19. A 19 year old musical theatre performer doesn't even begin to have the life experience of these gang members in the 1950s. Arthur Laurents says so in his book, that while they tried to cast the revival age appropriately millennials don't carry this kind of weight with them. They haven't been through a war, they haven't seen anything. A 19 year old in the slums of New York in the 1950s is a far more mature person than a 19 year old musical theatre actor.

Updated On: 11/24/15 at 08:03 AM

Wish I could see this. WSS is one of my favorite shows, and I'm really feeling this Tony. Thanks for the clip.

She looks incredible. She takes great care of herself!