West Side Story
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Opera Australia’s smash-hit musical West Side Story on Sydney Harbour opened to a full house when it returned to the open-air stage at Mrs Macquaries Point on Friday 22 March.
There was a buzz in the air as the glamorous, star-studded audience descended on the stunning waterfront setting for the keenly anticipated return of the most popular production ever staged at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
The exceptional cast received rapturous applause, with stand-out performances by newcomer, First Nations soprano Nina Korbe playing Maria and Canberra-born Billy Bourchier in his lead-role debut as Tony.
They were joined by Newcastle-born Patrick Whitbread as Riff, Gold Coast’s Kimberley Hodgson as Anita, and Broadway performer Manuel Stark Santos in his Australian debut as Bernardo. 
Jerome Robbins’ celebrated choreography, that includes famous dance scenes like ‘Dance at the Gym’ and ‘America’, was elevated to larger-than-life status by a brilliantly talented and energetic ensemble of 33 dancers from all around Australia.
This legendary Broadway musical returns to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour for a limited four-week season, directed by Francesca Zambello with Associate Director Eric Sean Fogel, Revival Choreographer Kiira Schmidt Carper and Musical Director Guy Simpson, who will conduct each performance.
Known as one of Sydney’s most spectacular night’s out, an evening at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour includes a dazzling fireworks display, a range of pop-up bars and eateries across the site and unmatched views of Sydney’s city skyline, including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government, via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and through the International Foundation for Arts and Culture as Naming Rights Partner, Dr Haruhisa Handa OA’s Patron in Chief, and OA’s Principal Partner HSBC.
