Milling About with West Side Story cast at Paper Mill Playhouse

The Jets vs. The Sharks are back for another rumble at The Paper Mill Playhouse production of West Side Story running June 1- June 26. Host Robin Milling goes behind the scenes to chat with the cast. Michigan born Mikey Winslow (On The Town) as Riff  began his career on Broadway dancing in the ensemble of the 2009 revival of West Side Story. He tells Robin, “Working my way up to the gang. I was Baby John, Big Deal; I played Action and now here I am. Maybe someday I'll play Officer Krupke!”

Natalie Cortez reprises her role as Anita. In the 2009 Broadway revival she was cast just after having her first child. She recalls, “Just do West Side Story to lose baby weight! I have a 10-month old so I'm dancing off the baby weight this time too!!” German Alexander (2010 national tour of West Side Story) describes his take on Bernardo. “He plays against his situation either through jokes, humor, or sex. Anything that gets in the way of his relationship with Anita, with Maria is a threat to him just like the Jets are.”

Spring Awakening star Matt Doyle is a newcomer to the Jerome Robbins classic. He says, “I'm talking middle school, high school; I've never done it. I somehow always missed the boat. I'm excited for the opportunity to finally get to play Tony, and hopefully not too late!” Belinda Allyn played Maria before at Riverside Theater in Florida, reuniting with choreographer Alex Sanchez at Paper Mill. She says the story still has incredible relevance and needs to be told to reinforce it's theme of intolerance. “The moral of the story is to not hate and that lesson still hasn't been learned in the world.”