(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents West Side Story, the final production of Paper Mill's 2025-2026 season, from May 28 through June 28, 2026. An enduring masterpiece based on a conception of Jerome Robbins, West Side Story reimagines Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York, where young lovers Tony and Maria dare to dream of a future together as rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks clash for control of the streets.
With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, this unforgettable classic captures the thrilling passion of first love and the heartbreak of a world divided, featuring the original choreography of Jerome Robbins.
Directed by Paper Mill Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, West Side Story is led by a young cast of newcomers alongside several stage veterans, including Noah Henry as Tony, Sarah-Anne Martinez as Maria, Mikaela Secada as Anita, Antony Sanchez as Bernardo, Sean Harrison Jones as Riff, Hugo Pizano Orozco as Chino, Nick Alvino as Action, Stuart Zagnit as Doc, Adam Monley as Schrank, and Adam Kozlowski as Krupke.
The cast also features Gianna Paulina Annesi, Joseph Aued, Bridget Bailey, Anette Barrios-Torres, Taven Blanke, Delaney Diaz, Benjamin Freemantle, Karina Gonzalez, Sofie Hans, Alex Haquia, Macie Harris, Paulo Hernandez-Farella, Beatrice Howell, Cydney Kutcipal, Jamie LaVerdiere, Justin Lopez, Jasper Thomas Moore, Kennedy Perez, Matthew Quintero, Brett Rawlings, Ryan Rodiño, Juan Rojas, Daniel Patrick Russell, Ronan Ryan, Avelina Kiyome Sanchez, and Kyra Sorce.
The creative team also includes Alex Sánchez (choreographer), Ben McNaboe (music direction) leading the 19-piece Paper Mill orchestra, Kelly James Tighe (scenic coordination and additional design), Antonio Consuegra (costume design), Charlie Morrison (lighting design), Matt Kraus (sound design), The Wig Associates (hair, wig and makeup design), and Rick Sordelet (fight & intimacy direction). Casting is by The TRC Company. Andrea Cibelli is the Production Stage Manager.
This production of West Side Story is licensed by Music Theatre International.
M&T Bank | Wilmington Trust are the Marquee Sponsors for West Side Story. The GenWealth Group is the Opening Night Sponsor of the 2025–2026 season. Paper Mill Playhouse's accessibility programs are generously supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Fund for the New Jersey Blind and the Michael J. Kosloski Foundation. Major funding for Autism-friendly programs is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Karma Foundation, Children's Society of Orange, and the Summit Foundation. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill's Education & Outreach Partner.
Tickets to West Side Story can be purchased at www.PaperMill.org, by calling (973) 376-4343, or at the Millburn box office.
AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT
A CAST Q&A will be held on Saturday, June 13 following 1:30pm the matinee performance.
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES are scheduled for Sunday, June 21 at 1:30pm and Saturday, June 27 at 1:30pm.
AN AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE is scheduled for Friday, June 26 at 7:30pm.
OPEN-CAPTIONED & ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES are scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at 1:30pm and Sunday, June 28 at 7:00pm.
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including The Great Gatsby, Disney's Newsies, Bandstand, Honeymoon in Vegas,A Bronx Tale, and Les Misérables (25th Anniversary production). The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation's premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
BIOGRAPHIES
NICK ALVINO (Action) is thrilled to make his Paper Mill debut! Broadway: Death Becomes Her, The Music Man (with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster). Other NYC: The Light in the Piazza (City Center Encores!), A Chorus Line 50th Anniversary Concert. Regional: Pittsburgh CLO, Shakespeare Theatre Company. Instagram/TikTok: @nickalvinoo
NOAH HENRY (Tony) is ecstatic to be making his Paper Mill debut! Some of his favorite roles include Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, Chad in All Shook Up, and Cornelius in Hello, Dolly!. Noah is a graduate of Belmont University. Instagram: @noahdhenry
SEAN HARRISON JONES (Riff) is thrilled to be making his Paper Mill debut in West Side Story. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Sean studied musical theater at the Boston Conservatory. Broadway: The Outsiders (original cast, Trip), Hamilton(Charles Lee, Samuel Seabury). Tour: Hamilton (Samuel Seabury, swing). Film/TV: Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (Action), Spirited (Apple TV), "Girls5eva" (Peacock), SNL50: The Homecoming Concert with Jimmy Fallon. Instagram: @Seany_Swagger
ADAM KOZLOWSKI (Krupke) is delighted to have his Paper Mill Playhouse debut be West Side Story. National Tour: The Lion King, Scrooge: The Musical (starring Richard Chamberlain). Las Vegas Strip: The Lion King. Regional: Frozen (regional premiere), Anastasia, Jersey Boys (Tuacahn Amphitheatre); Urinetown (Nevada Conservatory Theater); The Water Coolers (world premiere, Lakeshore Theater); Show Boat, The Pajama Game, Carousel (Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire); Kiss Me, Kate (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Candide, Man of La Mancha, Countess Maritza (Light Opera Works). Most recently, Adam was seen as one of many Benjamin Franklins in a New York Lotto commercial.
SARAH-ANNE MARTINEZ (Maria) is pleased to be making her Paper Mill Playhouse debut! Regional: Mean Girls (La Mirada Theatre); Deceived (Arizona Theatre Company); The Light in the Piazza (The Huntington); POTUS (Arena Stage—Helen Hayes nomination); Leaving Eden (NYMF, Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role); Peter and the Starcatcher, The Addams Family, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Festival 56); Hello, Dolly! (Tulane Summer Lyric). Television: "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Blue Bloods," "Evil." Ball State University alum. Instagram: @Sarahmartinezz
ADAM MONLEY (Schrank) is thrilled to make his Paper Mill debut! Broadway: Death Becomes Her, The Music Man (with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster). Other NYC: The Light in the Piazza (City Center Encores!), A Chorus Line 50th Anniversary Concert. Regional: Pittsburgh CLO, Shakespeare Theatre Company. Instagram/TikTok: @nickalvinoo
HUGO PIZANO OROZCO (Chino) was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and moved to New Mexico at an early age. He graduated from the Juilliard School in 2022. Earlier this year he made his Broadway debut in Aladdin! Previously: Ballet Hispanico, Twyla Tharp Dance, Anastasia (Cape Playhouse), Frozen (Paper Mill Playhouse). Hugo is grateful to be returning to Paper Mill! @hugopizza
ANTONY SANCHEZ (Bernardo) is making his Paper Mill debut after recently starring as Bernardo in the international tour of West Side Story directed by Lonny Price. Select credits include Legally Blonde (La Mirada), Evita (Fulton), West Side Story (Barrington Stage and San Jose Opera), On Your Feet! (Gateway), and Chess (East West Players). TV: "American Horror Story," "Dying for Sex," "Law & Order." @sanchez_antony_
MIKAELA SECADA (Anita). Born and raised in Miami, FL, Mikaela Secada is an Afro-Cuban singer, dancer, and actor. She is so excited to be making her Paper Mill debut! Theater credits include Jennifer Parker in Back to the Future (Broadway), Diana in A Chorus Line (Goodspeed), Nicola in Kinky Boots (Bucks County Playhouse), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (U of M), Carla in In the Heights (Music Theater Wichita), and Beastgirl(Kennedy Center). TV: "The Endgame" (NBC Universal), "Lioness" (Paramount+), "Blue Bloods" (CBS). Proud alum of University of Michigan! Instagram: @mikasecada
STUART ZAGNIT (Doc). Broadway: Harmony; Caroline, or Change; Newsies; Seussical; The People in the Picture; The Wild Party; Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Off-Broadway: Original Little Shop of Horrors, All in the Timing. National tours and regional: Wicked, Applause, Crazy for You, Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, Grinch, The Producers, The Sound of Music, The Miracle Worker. TV: Five Law & Orders, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Blacklist," "The Good Wife," "30 Rock," "Blue Bloods," "Elementary." Stuart is the original voice of Pokémon's Professor Oak.
MARK S. HOEBEE (Director, Producing Artistic Director) joined the artistic team at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2000. Under his leadership, Paper Mill was presented with the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2016 and launched such noteworthy projects as the world premieres of Newsies, in partnership with Disney Theatrical Productions; The Great Gatsby; Honeymoon in Vegas; Bandstand; A Bronx Tale; The Wanderer; Ever After; The Honeymooners; My Very Own British Invasion; Unmasked: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, with the Really Useful Group; and The Sting starring Harry Connick, Jr.; as well as the American premieres of the 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, working alongside Cameron Mackintosh; Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz's The Hunchback of Notre Dame; and the national tour of The Bodyguard starring Deborah Cox. On Broadway, Mark directed the Actors Fund benefit of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Jennifer Hudson. He directed national tours of Victor/Victoria starring Toni Tennille, Dreamgirls, Company, and An Evening of Lerner and Loewe starring Diahann Carroll.
ALEX SÁNCHEZ (Reproduction Choreographer) Paper Mill: On Your Feet! (director-choreographer),Beauty and the Beast (choreographer), West Side Story (choreographer, 2016), Carnival! (associate choreographer), Brigadoon (as Harry Beaton). Recipient of the Calloway Award and the Jeff Award, and an Outer Critics Circle, Lortel, and Drama Desk nominee. As director-choreographer: Sweet Charity, Newsies,Evita (Marriott); Facings (Urban Stages, NYC); The World Goes 'Round (Riverside Theatre, NYC); In the Mood (national/international tour). Select Broadway/NYC choreography: Paradise Square (Barrymore Theater); The Gardens of Anuncia (Lincoln Center Theater); Florencia en el Amazonas (Met Opera); Giant (Public Theater); The Jerusalem Syndrome (York); Far from Heaven (Playwrights Horizons); Where's Charley? and Fiorello! (Encores!). Assistant professor of Music Theater at Oberlin Conservatory. alexsanc.com
BEN McNABOE (Music Director) is thrilled to make his Paper Mill Playhouse debut with Bernstein's symphonic masterpiece, West Side Story. He currently serves as music supervisor and resident conductor at the Fulton Theatre, where he has led the music department for seven seasons and conducted more than fifty productions. A passionate advocate for live music in theater, Ben is deeply grateful to Paper Mill Playhouse for their commitment to a live, 19-piece orchestra. @bmcnabo
KELLY JAMES TIGHE (Scenic Coordination & Additional Design). National tours/Off-Broadway credits include The Cher Show, Martin Luther on Trial, The Most Reluctant Convert, The Fantasticks, The GreatDivorce, Movin' Out, Cats, Shear Madness, Shadowlands, Almost Heaven. Paper Mill designs include Jersey Boys, A Jolly Holiday, Songs for a New World, Pete 'n' Keely, Beehive, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Kelly's work has been seen at the 5th Avenue Theatre, TUTS, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, Center Repertory Co., Slow Burn Theatre, Woodloch Pines Resort, and others. Awards and recognitions: Drama-Logue, SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, Dean Goodman Critic's Choice, SF Bay Shellie Award. Online at KJTdesign.com.
ANTONIO CONSUEGRA (Costume Design) was assistant costume designer for the Broadway productions of Funny Girl, Hamilton, and Almost Famous; the national tour of The Play That Goes Wrong (Chicago); and numerous productions at Paper Mill Playhouse, including Irving Berlin's White Christmas, On Your Feet!, and The Honeymooners. He also designed costumes for White Christmas at Goodspeed Opera House; Jagged Little Pill at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; Masquerade: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Bodyguard at White Plains Performing Arts Center; The British Invasion Live (tour); and Off-Broadway for 'Til Death, Daddy Issues, and All Aboard: The Musical.
CHARLIE MORRISON (Lighting Design) Paper Mill: 30 or so shows including The Little Mermaid (twice), White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, Murder on the Orient Express, The Sound of Music, On Your Feet!, Sister Act, Disney's A Jolly Holiday, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Mary Poppins, West Side Story, Elf, Curtains, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Full Monty, and Meet Me in St. Louis. Over a 30+-year career, Charlie has created the lighting for well over 400 projects, including more than 50 national and international tours, as well as projects for regional theater, television, and architecture. Charlie is the recipient of two Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lighting (as well as seven nominations). Please visit www.cmlighting.com.
MATT KRAUS (Sound Design). Paper Mill Playhouse: The Little Mermaid, Mystic Pizza, Murder on the Orient Express, A Jolly Holiday, Cinderella, Chasing Rainbows, Beauty and the Beast, Holiday Inn (to name a few). Broadway: Liza's at the Palace..., Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Broadway, Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony. Off-Broadway: Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (New Victory), CaucasianChalk Circle, 50 Shades!, Stage Struck and Spotlight Bar onboard Princess Cruises. Regional: Guthrie Theater, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Walnut Street. Matt won an Emmy Award for his work on Disney's Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall, which is streaming on Disney+.
THE WIG ASSOCIATES (Hair, Wig & Makeup Design), led by New York–based designers Will Vicari and Krystal Balleza, are known for their recent work on Broadway in Real Women Have Curves and Yellow Face (Roundabout) as well as Off Broadway for Orlando (Signature Theatre); The Connector (MCC); Good Bones, The Tempest (The Public Theater); and The Blood Quilt, Six Characters, and At the Wedding (Lincoln Center Theater). Regional credits include White Christmas (Paper Mill); Eden and Falcon Girls (Yale Rep); Real Women Have Curves (A.R.T.); Angels in America (Arena Stage); and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (2023–2025). For more, visit thewigassociates.com.
RICK SORDELET (Fight & Intimacy Direction) created Sordelet Inc. along with Christian Kelly-Sordelet, a Native-owned action movement company with 40+ years' experience. They have done dozens of shows at Paper Mill and over 80 Broadway productions including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow, plus well over 50 first-class productions worldwide as well as films, operas, live events, and television. They have taught at the Yale School of Drama, NYU, Rutgers, CUNY Harlem, Montclair State, and William Esper Studio, among others. Rick is a board member for Red Bull Theater and also runs Sordelet Ink with author David Blixt, an e-publishing company for the emerging writer. www.sordeletinc.com, www.SordeletInk.com, Instagram: @Sordeletinc
THE TRC COMPANY (Casting). Led by partners Claire Burke, Kevin Metzger-Timson, Xavier Rubiano, and Peter Van Dam. Recent Paper Mill: Frozen, The Little Mermaid, White Christmas, Jersey Boys, Gun & Powder, After Midnight, Disney's Hercules, Rent. Broadway: Beaches, Mamma Mia!, Dead Outlaw, Boop! The Musical, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Left on Tenth, The Outsiders, Six, Aladdin. National Tours: The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Water for Elephants, The Wiz, Back to the Future, Les Misérables. The TRC Company is proud to continue the casting legacy of Tara Rubin Casting and Johnson-Liff Associates.
ANDREA CIBELLI (Production Stage Manager). Paper Mill: World premieres of A Bronx Tale and Honeymoon in Vegas, as well as Mystic Pizza, Hercules, Beautiful, Murder on the Orient Express, Beehive, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Full Monty, Steel Magnolias, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and many New Voices. Broadway: A Bronx Tale, Flying Over Sunset,Head Over Heels, Honeymoon in Vegas. Tours/International: West Side Story, Spring Awakening, Race for Love. Other credits include Monkey: Journey to the West, The Mile-Long Opera, Princeton University, and Lincoln Center Festival. Adjunct faculty at Drew University.
