Manchester Opera House – West Side Story 1958 Signed UK Premiere

Marlys Watters – Don McKay,

Chita Rivera – Hal Galili,

George Chakiris – Marlys Watters.


Signed programme for the pre-London tryout run of the Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim musical “West Side Story”. The British premiere was on 14 November 1958 at the Manchester Opera House, where the show ran for just twenty performances before transferring to London for its 1039 performance run, commencing on 12 December.

This 6″ x 9″ Manchester programme has been signed by two of the cast members: Sylvia Tysick (Anybody’s) and Francesca Bell (Rosalia). Also in the cast were George Chakiris (Riff, not Bernardo, who he played in the movie), Marlys Watters (Maria) and Chita Rivera, reprising her Broadway role of Anita.