Published: Wednesday, 26th September, 2007 10:30
Maria, I just met a girl named Maria
By Lorna Caitens
Print Article
THE best of Bankie theatre talent will be treading the boards to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the world’s best known musicals.
Six young performers from Clydebank will take to the stage in a colourful rendition of Broadway’s West Side Story in celebration of its milestone birthday.
Talented newcomer and Parkhall teenager Kelly Anne Reilly will lead the cast after landing the top role of Maria for the Pantheon production which runs this week at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
She will be joined on stage by fellow Bankie cast members Laura Galloway, Mark Long, Kevin Scullion, Kevin Shiach and Gary Lawson from Blairdardie.
The production has been dubbed as a “blistering display of some of the freshest and brightest young talent in Scotland” and Kelly Anne is delighted to be its leading lady.
The 19-year-old politics student started out her musical career as a junior, then adult member, of Clydebank Musical Society (CMS).
And she hopes her first major role will lead to a successful career in London’s West End.
Kelly Anne told the Post: “I have been performing on an amateur basis for 10 years and I have been in CMS for about eight years doing lots of junior and adult shows with them.
“I have played lots of roles before in Clydebank but this is my first lead at the King’s.
“I actually went up together with a few friends to the open auditions, including Mark [Long] and Kevin [Scullion].
“West Side Story is a really well-known musical and a lot of people come to see the show and compare it against other productions that they have seen. I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m a bit nervous and it’s quite scary.
“Everyone gets on really well and I’m sure it will be a great experience for everyone.”
West Side Story transforms Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet into a musical set against the backdrop of New York city gang warfare in the late 1950s. Wilma Forbes, the show’s producer, says she believes they have found the perfect cast to depict the world-renowned musical.
She said: “We’re thrilled to have found so many talented young performers, many of whom are appearing with the company for the first time.
“Our leads, Peter Hannah as Tony and Kelly Anne Reilly as Maria, are both only 19, but they’ve brought such a phenomenal wealth of talent, enthusiasm and professionalism to the show.
“I really predict big things for them both in the future.’
West Side Story runs at the Kings Theatre until Saturday.
Tickets prices from £7 until £20 and can be bought by calling 0870 060 6648 or visiting www.theambassadors.com/kings
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