"Along with talented choreographer Bebe Weinberg Katz, Sternfeld maxes out the TrueNorth space, often filling the stage with his entire 30-plus person cast. And at times, such as during the “Somewhere” dream sequence when everyone is on stage and in synch, the results are electrifying."

view the entire review here

ABOUT THE PLAY
The world's greatest love story takes to the streets in this landmark Broadway musical that is one of the theatre's finest accomplishments.

PRODUCTION DATES
Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sundays 3:00pm, April 19 - May 12, 2013.

Bebe Weinberg Katz (Choreographer) , B.A., M. Ed. Bebe's recent theatrical credits include Les Miserables: School Edition, A Little Night Music, Big, the musical, Company, Children of Eden & Thirteen at FPAC and The Fantasticks and Baby at TrueNorth. Her credits extend deep into the arts. She has danced, choreographed, staged, designed, directed, taught, written and illustrated. As an educator, Bebe has taught dance, movement education and /or fitness and wellness to children, teens and adults in the public schools, Baldwin-Wallace College, Cleveland State University, the Jewish Community Center, in her own studio, in private dance studios and Camp Wise. Her dance credits extend from Purcell’s Opera The Fairy Queen and The Cathy Powel Dance Company in Pittsburgh to the Dancing Mimes at DanceCleveland, as well as her own company, Center Motion at the JCC. While holding the position of resident choreographer at Euclid High School Bebe worked with the show choir “Varsity Choral” and choreographed the school’s productions of The Music Man, Hello Dolly, Anything Goes, Pajama Game, Pippin, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and Grease. She currently works in both Shaker Heights schools and Cleveland Heights / University Heights school. Bebe is the choreographer for Shaker’s “Chanticleers,” and Cleveland Height’s nationally ranked show choir “Singers.” At CHHS she choreographed Beauty and the Beast, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story as well as doing costume design for the latter two.. Bebe has production credentials spanning the 35 years she has lived in Cleveland. She was dance and drama specialist at Camp Wise, and performed the choreographer duties for Mame at Chagrin Valley Little Theater, Anything Goes at Euclid Community Theater, Joseph, Holy Moses, Rock Pinocchio, The Grand Tour and Fiddler on the Roof at the Cleveland JCC. She also directed The Apple Tree for the JCC and was costume assistant for The Wall and The Merry Widow. She also has written and illustrated a number of books. The M.I.M.E Set, an activity book the integrates movement and academics, and three middle grade chapter books titled Princess Claudia and the Freckles, A Best Friend for Claudia and Sibling Wars.

Kyra Kelley (Velma) is thrilled to make her TrueNorth debut in West Side Story. After a short hiatus from the musical scene she is happy to be performing in one of her favorite shows. While completing her degree in theatre, Kyra is working as a teacher for Weathervane Playhouse and as a figure skating coach at Kent State. She was last seen onstage as Holly in Next Fall at Weathervane. Other recent roles include Jessica in The Merchant of Venice and a fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Miss Wilkinson in Move Over, Mrs. Markham at Coach House Theatre and Sookie/Emily in Mr. Marmalade at Kent State. Kyra sends lots of love and "thank-you's" to Mom and the guys.

Neil Kelly (Baby John) grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania and has lived in Ohio for one full year now. His recent credits include Midsummer and Beauty and the Beast at HYT, and Urinetown and The Music Man at FPAC. Neil is an eighth grader at Beachwood Middle School. He has just recently begun to learn cello and is continuing on with his 9 years of piano training. Neil is also part of the National Piano Playing Auditions and played at Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2011. Some of his favorite roles include Constable Locke in The Music Man, Brett in Thirteen the Musical, and Bobby Strong and Officer Barrel in Urinetown. Neil would like to thank his family and friends for being so supportive of him and wish the entire West Side Story cast to Break a Leg!

Bob Kenderes (Doc) is proud to be a member of this terrific cast. Bob made his TrueNorth debut, along with Robert Hawkes in Art in 2007. Since that time, he has appeared in over a dozen productions at TrueNorth as well as directing Brighton Beach Memoirs and A Year with Frog and Toad. Bob has also performed throughout Northeast Ohio, including Dobama, Cleveland Public Theatre, Weathervane, Mercury Summer Stock, Cassidy Theatre, Huntington Playhouse, Strongsville Community Theatre and others.

Kassie Lee (Isabela) is very excited to be joining TrueNorth in their production of West Side Story. Kassie has been dancing for about 17 years and is now an apprentice with Ohio Dance Theatre's professional ballet company as well as a member of their staff as a dance teacher. Kassie also received training in Joffrey's Jazz and Contemporary summer program where she received a featured spot in their end of program performance. She has performed in numerous ballets and productions, including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Dracula, Peter and the Wolf, A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and others. Kassie has also performed in the musicals Beauty and the Beast, Bye, Bye, Birdie with a featured dancing role as Sad Girl, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Her most recent role was in LCMT's production of Hairspray as Little Inez. Kassie sends a huge thank you to her family, friends, and dance teachers.

Jason Leupold (Tony) is thrilled to be making his TrueNorth debut in this classic, wonderful show! Jason received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Kent State University in 2011 and has performed at multiple regional theatres here in Ohio and in NYC. Most recently, he was seen at Weathervane Playhouse as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and as Brandon in Next Fall. Audiences may also remember him from shows at the Beck Center or at Porthouse Theatre. As always, much love to his family and fiance for their continued love and support.

Joanna Li (Music Director) graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with her Masters in Organ Performance. She is currently the organist at University Circle United Methodist Church in Cleveland. She is music director at Heights Youth Theatre and also teaches and plays musicals throughout the Greater Cleveland area. She has worked as an accompanist for Opera Cleveland and the Interlochen Academy of the Arts, and music directed at Stagedoor Manor last summer. She greatly enjoyed working with the cast and staff of West Side Story!

Sean Manos (Glad Hand) has been acting and playing characters nearly his whole life and has two actor parents to thank for it. Recent roles include The Common Man in Man For All Seasons, Everyman in Everyman, and Morgan in The Corn is Green, all with Bodwin Theatre Co. Sean performs improv comedy weekly at The Cleveland Improv Jam and writes and performs with his sketch comedy groups, The Public Squares and ManFlan. When he isn't acting or doing comedy, he is playing drums for the Cleveland-based alternative hip-hop/rock fusion band, The Dangerous Colors.

Cameron Caley Michalak (Scenic Designer) designed sets for Cleveland Play House (CPH) productions of Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, A Soldier's Tale with Catch and Release, the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program’s The Winter’s Tale, and CPH Theatre for Children productions The Little Mermaid, Huck Finn, A Jewel of a Tale, Tuck Everlasting, and The Emperor's Groovy New Clothes. Local credits include The Secret Garden, Cinderella, Children of Eden, The Fantasticks, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at TrueNorth Cultural Arts; The Music Man and Les Miserables: School Edition at Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory; She Stoops to Conquer at St. Joseph's Academy; The Masked Musketeer and Beauty and the Beast at Brush High School; Ten More Minutes from Cleveland at Dobama Theatre; and Into the Woods for the Music, Arts and Drama (M.A.D.) Factory in Oberlin. In addition to scenic design, Cameron is in his first year as Associate Technical Director after five seasons as CPH’s Assistant Technical Director.

Charles Miller (Anxious) is in the 9th grade at Shaker Heights High School. He is very excited to make his debut at TrueNorth. He has been in numerous shows all around Cleveland. His most recent ones are Pasko in A Little Princess, Ensemble in Midsummer, Hot Blades Harry/Old Man Strong in Urinetown, Malcolm in 13, and many more. While he is not on stage he likes playing his clarinet in the highest band at the High School and playing with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. He would like to thank Fred and Bebe for this amazing opportunity. See you at the show!

Joe Pine (Riff) Joe is thrilled beyond belief to be making his TrueNorth debut in one of his favorite shows! Joe is a New York native who, prior to moving to Ohio worked as an actor with the professional touring theatre, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. He also spent a year touring nationaly with Theatre IV, a children's theatre based in Richmond Virginia. Since moving to Ohio Joe has appeared in many professional and community stages in the Cleveland/ Akron area. Favorite roles include Hamlet, Theatre 8:15, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Brecksville Theatre on the Square, Starky the Pirate in Peter Pan at Beck Center, Happy in Death of a Salesman at Lakeland Civic Theatre, Father Flynn in Doubt , Andrew in I Hate Hamlet, Bruno in Shipwrecked and Dexter in Philadelphia Story at Coach House Theatre. Joe will also be entering his 4th season as a company member of Ohio Shakespeare Festival where he has played Demetrius in Midsummer, Bassanio in Merchant of Venice, Longaville in Love's Labors Lost, Tranio in Taming of the Shrew, Edmund in King Lear, and 2nd Murderer in Richard III. Joe would like to extend a huge thank you to Fred for the opportunity to play one of his dream roles, and to all his friends and family who make to long drive to see him perform. Perhaps the most exciting role of them all is his new role as husband to beautiful wife and fellow Jet Tess Burgler, to whom all performances are dedicated.

Anna Renkel (Sophie) After having such a wonderful experience as Mrs. Potts in TrueNorth’s summer production of Beauty and the Beast, Anna is very excited to be performing in West Side Story. Anna is a freshman at Westlake High School. She is in Student council and choir, was a football cheerleader, and performed in Westlake’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Anna has also played Alice in LBMS Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland, an orphan in Oliver and Louisa in The Sound of Music at MGP. School is important to her, but her favorite activity is hanging out with her friends.

Samuel Rodriguez (Juano) is pleased to make his TrueNorth debut in West Side Story - his first production outside of his school! He is a senior at Avon High School taking PSEO classes at LCCC. Samuel recently appeared in Avon's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast with fellow West Side Story cast member and friend Archie Rucker. Samuel has his black belt in Tai Kwan Do and has participated in many sports. "I have only been in theatre for a year now and absolutely love it. Meeting new people that are so talented and different makes the experience amazing. I love to try new things and trying theatre is one of the best by far. I am very glad that my choir director recommended this to me or I would have never had such an incredible event. Thank you Miss Koah!"

Archie Rucker (Luis) is a senior at Avon High School where he participated as an Avon Eagle, Honors Choir for 3 years and then moved on to acting and appeared in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He considers himself a "pretty laid back guy who loves to have fun and hang with friends."

Dennis Runkle (Lt. Schrank) is back making the trek from Lakewood to the TrueNorth stage for this production of West Side Story, having first appeared here earlier in the season as Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music. Other recent shows include Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Howard in The Full Monty at Huntington Playhouse, Jack in Regrets Only at Clague Playhouse and Ensemble in the award-winning production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Workshop Players in Amherst. Dennis is also greatly pleased to finally get a chance to work with Fred and provide a little bit of mature filler in this wonderfully talented group of young actors. An excellent cast and production team bringing a classic story to a theatre near (or not so near) you! Enjoy the show!

Bob Russell (Fight Choreographer) is a professional actor, director, and educator. Mr. Russell is an adjunct faculty member with Kent State University's Department of Theatre & Dance. He has also previously taught with Ashland University, Allegheny College and the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory. This summer, he will be a Master Faculty member for the Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute's inaugural year and he will also be directing Jekyll & Hyde. Additionally, Mr. Russell is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association. He has acted and directed regionally in the Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania areas. Some of his previous acting credits include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, The Beadles in Sweeney Todd, Malviolio in Twelfth Night, Mr. Darling / Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Bill Sykes in Oliver!, and Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Previously Mr. Russell has directed the revivals of No Mother to Guide and Bunco in Arizona; turn of the century melodramas, as well as productions of Comfort Me with Peaches (world premiere), My Fair Lady, Dead Man's Cell Phone and Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe. He has previously directed The Sound of Music and was the fight choreographer for The Miracle Worker with TrueNorth.

Christopher Sanders (A-Rab) just moved to Ohio from Pensacola, Florida where we got is BFA in Musical Theater from The University of West Florida. He is extremely excited to be working with TrueNorth Theater for the first time. He has spent the past few months working as an Apprentice with the Cleveland Play House and will be performing in Sons Of The Prophet at Dobama Theatre soon as well. He spent the past few summers studying Musical Theater with the International Performing Arts Institute in Munich, Germany and some of his previous performances include: JoJo in Seussical, Jordan in I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change, Doody in Grease, and Theo in Pippin. He has also Music Directed and Choreographed for numerous productions.

Jacob Schindler (Action) has been involved in the theatrical arts for 5 years and his enjoyment has not diminished even a bit. His credits include Mark in A Chorus Line, Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, Joseph in Joseph...Dreamcoat, The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, Garry Lejeune in Noises Off, and Corney Collins in Hairspray. Jacob finds that the music he enjoys singing the most are Jazz, Show-tunes, and Folk/Acoustic. He is a currently a Vocal Performance Music Major at Lorain County Community College. He hopes to transfer to Bowling Green or Capital University in the upcoming years to study Musical Theater or Jazz performance. Jacob spends free time playing guitar and great games. He is honored and ecstatic to be performing the role of "Action" in West Side Story. Enjoy the show!

Jerry Shepherd (Indio) is a junior at Notre Dame - Cathedral Latin and is extremely excited to make his TrueNorth debut in West Side Story. Recent credits include Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray, and Olin Brit in The Music Man. Jerry would like to wish the entire cast and crew many broken legs!

Devon Shriver (Estella) is extremely excited to be performing in her first show at TrueNorth! She is currently teaching jazz dance at the Beck Center for the Arts, and choreographs in the Northeast Ohio area, as well as New York City. Recent venues for her choreography include the Beck Center, Grand Valley High School, The University of Akron, and The Brick Theater. She is also thrilled to be doing this particular production of West Side Story, as it is the first production she'll be performing in over a year! Roles in the past include Sara Brown in Guys and Dolls, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Betty Rizzo in Grease, and Joan in Dames at Sea. Devon also has degrees in Musical Theater and Child Development from the University of Akron, and teaches preschool in her spare time.

Fred Sternfeld (Director) is pleased to return to TrueNorth after previously directing The Miracle Worker, The Fantasticks, Steel Magnolias and Baby. Other recent credits are Gruesome Playground Injuries at Ensemble Theatre, The Bluest Eye at Karamu Performing Arts Theatre, and A Little Night Music, Company and Les Miserables: School Edition at Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory. Fred is widely represented on Northeast Ohio stages through diverse projects. He has garnered numerous honors and awards, including for Baby at TrueNorth, Yellowman at Karamu Performing Arts Theatre, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center and Ragtime, the musical at the JCC. He previously served as Artistic Director at Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory, Lakewood Little Theatre - Beck Center for the Arts and the Cleveland, Seattle & Dallas Jewish Community Centers. Other selected credits: Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! & The Sound of Music at Cain Park; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife & The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at Dobama Theatre; Children of Eden, Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Eat (It's Not About Food) and The Odd Couple at FPAC; A Shayna Maidel, Jolson and Company, Man of La Mancha, Modern Orthodox, Rags, From Door to Door, South Pacific, The God of Isaac, Beau Jest, Crossing Delancey, The Twilight of the Golds, The Immigrant & Conversations With My Father for the Cleveland JCC; Bad Seed at Ensemble Theatre; Amadeus at Willoughby Fine Arts; Table Settings, Isn’t It Romantic, The Diary of Anne Frank & Broadway Bound at JCC Center Stage in Seattle; Peter Pan (1987 & 2008), On the Town, Of Mice and Men, La Cage aux Folles, Saturday Night, Foxfire, Noises Off, Children of a Lesser God & The Importance of Being Earnest at Beck Center; Proof at GLTG and All My Sons & Enter Laughing at the Dallas JCC. For pictures and reviews for any of the shows listed here you can go to this link.

Kelly Tomko (Clarice) is making her first TrueNorth appearance, and is very excited to be a part of an amazing cast and production. Kelly has been dancing since she was 3 years old, including dance training from Ohio Dance Theater and The Beck Center for the Arts. Some of her past credits include Gypsy as Marjorie May/Caroline and Rented Christmas at The Cassidy Theater, Chicago as Roxy’s Baby and Hairspray as Shelley at LCMT, Cabaret as Lulu at Workshop Players Theater, and Cats! at The Beck Center. She also performed in the comedy Check Please: Take 3 as Ruth/Brooke at North Ridgeville High School, where she will be completing her junior year, and then her senior year with high honors. Kelly began to pursue theater at the age of 14 and now, at 16 years old, hopes to choreograph musical theater productions after college. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support and encouragement in everything she does, and the many people along the way who have helped shape her into the artist that she is today.

Katie Zarecki (Graziella) is excited to be in her first production with TrueNorth! She was recently seen in Beck Center's Legally Blonde as Vivienne. She wants to thank her family and friends, especially her wonderful husband, for all their love and support.

Ryan Christopher Zarecki (Bernardo) was recently seen in TrueNorth's production of The Sound of Music. Ryan is back and ready to rumble with the Jets. Ryan hails from the Toledo area where he was last seen wielding a chainsaw hand in the Valentine Theater's sold out Evil Dead: the Musical.When not onstage Ryan is designing and executing fight choreography. His violence will be on display in February for The Valentine's production of Don Giovanni. He is joined onstage by his lovely and talented wife, Katie, who is everything. Ryan thanks all his families for their continued love and support.

West Side Story
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684
www.MTIShows.com