(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre presents Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – West Side Story Reimagined on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 7:30pm. This electrifying performance transforms Leonard Bernstein's iconic score through Afro-Caribbean grooves, Puerto Rican bomba and plena, and the vibrant swing of New York jazz. Over 1,000 images by the legendary photography collective Seis del Sur will be projected behind the orchestra, perfectly synced with the music.
Immediately following the performance, Sanabria will join Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, for a special post-show conversation. Jamie is an author, speaker, broadcaster, and filmmaker. Her memoir, Famous Father Girl, was published by HarperCollins in June of 2018, and released in paperback the following year. In addition to writing her many articles and concert narrations, Jamie has traveled extensively, speaking about music, and in particular about her father, Leonard Bernstein. Jamie is a frequent radio and podcast presence, most recently on New York City’s classical station, WQXR. Jamie’s film documentary, “Crescendo: the Power of Music,” has won numerous prizes, and is currently viewable on iTunes.
Bronx-born Nuyorican drummer, composer, arranger, and bandleader Bobby Sanabria has performed and recorded with legends including Tito Puente, Mario Bauzá, Dizzy Gillespie, Celia Cruz, and Ruben Blades. His albums—including Afro-Cuban Dream: Live and in Clave, Big Band Urban Folktales, Multiverse, West Side Story Reimagined, and Vox Humana—have all been Grammy-nominated, with West Side Story Reimagined winning the Jazz Journalists Association Album of the Year Award.
A dedicated educator, Sanabria teaches at the New School and NYU, has served on the faculty of Manhattan School of Music, and has been honored with Percussionist of the Year awards, induction into the Bronx Walk of Fame, and an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Lehman College. Sanabria’s work celebrates the history, culture, and innovation of Latin jazz while mentoring new generations of musicians worldwide.
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling (609) 258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to its first performances in 1930. Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, and Bus Stop all premiered at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of launching remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances worldwide.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock. Of the 100,000 community members who engage with McCarter each year, more than 5,000 are students participating in educational programs in Princeton, Trenton, and schools across the region. McCarter leads with values of justice, joy, and beauty in belonging—creating a space where artists and audiences can come together to celebrate the power of live performance.
