High-definition broadcast will be transmitted free of charge, live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, to audiences at Loma Alta Park in Altadena and at the Santa Monica Pier

(Los Angeles) August 27, 2025 — Lights, camera, action: Gather your blankets and lawn chairs, pack your picnic, and experience the music and drama of West Side Story under the stars at two locations. At 7:30pm on Saturday, September 27, 2025, LA Opera's season-opening production of the beloved musical theater masterpiece will be transmitted live in high-definition video from nine cameras at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to large LED screens at Altadena's Loma Alta Park and at the Santa Monica Pier.

Music Director James Conlon will conduct a powerful production staged by director Francesca Zambello, featuring the iconic original choreography created by Jerome Robbins. The cast is led by soprano Gabriella Reyes as Maria and tenor Duke Kim as Tony, joined by Amanda Castro as Anita, Taylor Harley as Riff and Yurel Echezarreta as Bernardo.

Through the generous support of Los Angeles County, LA Opera is able to present these simulcasts free of charge as a special gift to the community.

West Side Story will mark the twelfth "Opera at the Beach"  simulcast to the Santa Monica Pier. This will be the first time that LA Opera's annual live simulcast will be experienced by audiences in Altadena, where "Opera in the Park"  will take place at Loma Alta Park.

“Experiencing live theater under the night sky is one of those unforgettable LA moments. This year, I’m excited that West Side Story is coming to the Santa Monica Pier for a free simulcast on September 27,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who represents the Third District. “LA Opera continues to bring incredible performances to our communities, and this event connects Angelenos across the County—with the magic of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion showcased live in both Santa Monica and Altadena. Bring a blanket, gather your friends and neighbors, and enjoy this timeless musical together.”

“Nothing unites us, comforts us, heals us or brings us joy like music does,” said Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the Fifth District. “Residents from Altadena and beyond will get to enjoy West Side Story by the world-class LA Opera, plus lots of fun activities for the whole family, featuring many beloved local organizations, businesses and artists. Loma Alta Park has offered respite, rejuvenation and resources for many in Altadena as our community rebuilds and recovers and will serve as the perfect setting for this unforgettable event.”

The simulcasts will feature subtitles in both English and Spanish.

Although no tickets are required for entrance, guests are encouraged to sign up in advance at LAOpera.org/Beach or LAOpera.org/Park to get important information about parking and the latest updates, and to receive a free gift at the event.

Seating at both locations is general admission. Attendees are advised to bring their own seating and to arrive early both for pre-performance picnicking and to secure the best viewing areas. There will be arts and crafts activities for families, giveaways, free popcorn and more to enjoy before the simulcast begins. Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Pets are not allowed.

About West Side Story
New York City’s West Side is split dangerously between the Jets and the Sharks—but those warring gangs never imagined that two of their own would ever fall in love. Tony, a former Jet, finds himself falling for Maria, whose brother Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks. But Maria is promised to another, and Bernardo is more than ready to rally his Sharks to keep it that way.

Opera in the Park—Loma Alta Park
For detailed information about the Altadena simulcast, please visit LAOpera.org/Park. The park is located at 3330 N. Lincoln Avenue, Altadena CA 91001. Free parking is available in the park's lot.

Pre-show activities at Loma Alta Park will begin at 4:30pm.

In honor of the musical's Jets, head on over to Caltech's booth to learn more about the history of jet propulsion and get more information on their ongoing public presentations. Attendees can also enjoy family friendly crafts with LA Opera Connects, join us on the grass for lawn games including Connect 4, Jenga and more, or stop by our food vendors and other booths for preshow treats and fun. Enjoy musical performances by local artists, get your face painted at our biodegradable glitter bar, and be amazed by jugglers and close-up magicians.

For more information about Loma Alta Park, click here.

Opera at the Beach—Santa Monica Pier
For detailed information about the Santa Monica Pier simulcast, please visit LAOpera.org/Beach. The Santa Monica Pier is located at the western terminus of Colorado Avenue. Parking information can be found at SantaMonica.com/transportation/parking. Attendees can arrive by public transit, exiting the Metro Expo Line at the downtown Santa Monica station.

Gates at the Santa Monica Pier will open at 5:30pm.

To pay tribute to the musical's Sharks, you can get up close and personal with a baby shark, thanks to a viewing tank provided by Heal the Bay Aquarium. There will also be family friendly art activities with LA Opera Connects as well as gift basket giveaways and more.

For more information about the Santa Monica Pier, please visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

For additional information about the production, please visit LAOpera.org/WestSideStory.

To download artist headshots and production photographs, click here.

This production of West Side Story   is licensed by Music Theatre International.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.

In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects department offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reaches people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. Learn more at LAOpera.org.

LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554

LA Opera's production of West Side Story made possible by generous support from
Terri and Jerry Kohl
Alfred and Claude Mann Fund
The Blue Ribbon

This production is dedicated to the memory of
LA Opera Life Trustee, Ambassador Frank Baxter

LA Opera’s Opera at the Beach made possible by generous support from
Los Angeles County and LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District

LA Opera’s Opera in the Park made possible by generous support from
Los Angeles County and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District

LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by
Terri and Jerry Kohl

LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.