West Side Story lights up the Roman summer at the Baths of Caracalla

West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece, premieres on Saturday, July 5 at the Baths of Caracalla in a new production by Damiano Michieletto for the Caracalla Festival 2025. Following the success of Mass in 2022, the director returns to Bernstein’s world, joined by Michele Mariotti on the podium and Paolo Fantin for set design. The musical - based on an idea by Jerome Robbins, with a libretto by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim - comes to life in a fresh interpretation that highlights the emotional and impulsive nature of its characters. At its core lies the tension between the dream of inclusion and the harsh reality of exclusion and unfulfilled hopes. An international cast blends American performers with standout Italian musical theatre artists. A timeless classic that speaks to today’s world through dance, emotion, and social commentary.