Nationwide casting call for young actors for West Side Story in Concert with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and Irish Youth Musical Theatre at the National Concert Hall

Presented in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

West Side Story, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, was the musical that changed Broadway. On Thursday 23 and Friday 24 July, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI), by arrangement with Music Theatre International, will partner with Irish Youth Musical Theatre (IYMT) and the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) at the National Concert Hall for two concert performances by young actors aged 16 to 25 of this masterpiece re-telling of Romeo and Juliet. All leading and ensemble roles will be cast on the basis of open auditions for actors currently in training or recently graduated. See full details below.

Featuring the original Broadway orchestration, West Side Story in Concert is directed by Irish West End director, Séimí Campbell, with Anthony Gabriele, renowned for his work as a Musical Director on London’s West End and a leading proponent of Film with Orchestra in concert, as conductor and music supervisor. The full creative team remains to be announced.

West Side Story in Concert follows on from the hugely successful concert performances of Evita (2022) and Sweeney Todd (2025), both presented in collaboration with Irish Youth Musical Theatre and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The unique approach followed offers performance, mentorship and training opportunities in a professional environment for young actors aged 16 to 25 from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

On this occasion, all leading and ensemble roles will be cast on the basis of open auditions for actors in training and recent graduates. The closing date for applications is Friday 20 February. Auditions will be held in Dublin in March. For full information on the applications process and training fees, see the RIAM website on here. 

On sale: Tickets for West Side Story in Concert will go on sale in late February. 

Media Queries
Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland.
Email: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie
Mobile: 087 290 4168 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Irish Youth Musical Theatre 
Irish Youth Musical Theatre is Ireland’s National Musical Theatre Training Company for actors aged 16 to 25 years across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Established in January 2020 under the patronage of Colm Wilkinson and the Artistic Direction of Séimí Campbell, and run in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, it strives to find, nourish, train and showcase the next generation of Irish actors, and launch their careers in the musical theatre industry at home and abroad.

Séimí Campbell 
Séimí Campbell is an Irish theatre director based in London. He was an Associate Director at the National Theatre from 2021–2024, where his work included The Witches, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Hex. His passion lies in new writing, and he is currently directing the stage adaptation of Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated Song of the Sea for New York Theatre Workshop and A Mountain For Elodie by Benjamin Scheuer at Signature Theater, Washington DC.

In London’s West End, Séimí has directed Songs for a New World (Other Palace & London Palladium), co-directed A Different Stage (Duke of York’s Theatre) and was associate director on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre).

Other directing includes: Evita and Sweeney Todd (National Symphony Orchestra Ireland); Toy Show the Musical (RTÉ); My Son Pinocchio (Southwark Playhouse); Mozart and Dumbshow (Mountview); and An Triail (Abbey Arts Centre). He was recently the remount director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the Netherlands.

Séimí is a guest lecturer at Trinity College Dublin from where he holds a Gold Medal of Excellence.

Anthony Gabriele 
Limitless in terms of genre, for over 30 years Anthony has travelled the world to conduct over 60 orchestras and appear regularly with the musicians of the Royal Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Korean National Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, and the Luxembourg Philharmonic. He has collaborated with artists including percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie; tenor Fabio Armiliato; violinist Daniel Hope; and singer/songwriters Anastacia and Ronan Keating. 

Anthony’s fascination with story-telling in music has always guided his choices, from London’s West End, and internationally, where as Musical Director his credits include Sweeney Todd, The Lion King, CATS, and The Phantom of the Opera, to prize winner in the international opera conducting competition Blue Danube Musik Impresario (Vienna), with opera credits including Don Carlo, La traviata, La bohème, Don Giovanni and Madama Butterfly. 

Embracing his life-long love for the music of the 20th century’s greatest film music composers, and without peer as a conductor of ‘Film with Orchestra’ concerts, Anthony was entrusted with the World Premieres of Superman, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Choristes, Moby Dick, Life on Our Planet, and Spectre, and has currently performed over 40 titles. 

Anthony’s exciting 2025/2026 season includes performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Amsterdam’s Het Concertgebouw, and the Seoul Arts Centre, and in April, he is back on stage with multi-platinum singer song writer, Anastacia, for new performances of Anastacia – Live at the Symphony, at Lucerne’s KKL. 

Anthony considers his collaboration with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and with Director Séimí Campbell for last year’s production of Sweeney Todd to be a personal and career highlight, and is thrilled to be returning for this year’s production of West Side Story.

About the National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, National Symphony Chorus Ireland, Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg, and provides a creative base for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all its facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040.
 
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Preaseisiúint 
Dáta eisiúna: Dé Céadaoin 28 Eanáir 2026

Triail aisteoireachta ar bhonn náisiúnta d'aisteoirí óga do West Side Story in Concert le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann agus Ceolamharclann Óige na hÉireann sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta

Curtha i láthair i gcomhpháirt le Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann.

Ba é West Side Story, le ceol le Leonard Bernstein, liricí le Stephen Sondheim agus leabhar le Arthur Laurents, an ceol a d'athraigh Broadway. Ar an Déardaoin 23 agus Dé hAoine 24 Iúil, rachaidh Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, trí shocrú le Music Theatre International, i gcomhpháirtíocht le Ceolamharclann Óige na hÉireann agus le Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta do dhá léiriú ceolchoirme le haisteoirí óga idir 16 agus 25 bliana d'aois den athinsint shárshaothar seo ar Romeo agus Juliet. Roghnófar gach príomhról agus ról ensemble ar bhonn trialacha aisteoireachta oscailte d'aisteoirí atá i mbun oiliúna faoi láthair nó a bhfuil céim bainte amach acu le déanaí. Féach na sonraí iomlána thíos.

Le ceolfhoirniú bunaidh Broadway, tá West Side Story in Concert á stiúradh ag stiúrthóir Éireannach West End, Séimí Campbell, le Anthony Gabriele, a bhfuil clú agus cáil air mar Stiúrthóir Ceoil ar West End Londain agus mar phríomh-thacadóir Scannán le Ceolfhoireann i gceolchoirm, mar stiúrthóir agus mar stiúrthóir ceoil. Cuirfear an Foireann Chruthaitheach iomlán in iúl amach anseo.

Leanann West Side Story in Concert ó léirithe ceolchoirme an-rathúil Evita (2022) agus Sweeney Todd (2025), iad araon curtha i láthair i gcomhar le Ceolamharclann Óige na hÉireann agus Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann. Cuireann an cur chuige uathúil a leanadh, deiseanna taibhithe, meantóireachta agus oiliúna ar fáil i dtimpeallacht ghairmiúil d'aisteoirí óga idir 16 agus 25 bliain d'aois ó Phoblacht na hÉireann agus ó Thuaisceart Éireann araon. 

Ar an ócáid seo, roghnófar gach príomhról agus gach ról ensemble ar bhonn trialacha aisteoireachta oscailte d'aisteoirí atá i mbun oiliúna  agus iad siúd atá ina gcéimithe déanaí. Is é Dé hAoine an 20 Feabhra an dáta deiridh le haghaidh iarratas. Reáchtálfar trialacha aisteoireachta i mBaile Átha Cliath i mí an Mhárta. Chun eolas iomlán a fháil ar an bpróiseas iarratais agus táillí oiliúna, féach ar shuíomh gréasáin Cheol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann anseo. 

Ar díol: Beidh ticéid do West Side Story in Concert ar díol i ndeireadh mhí Feabhra. 

Ceisteanna ó na Meáin
Assumpta Lawless, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Cumarsáide, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta.
Ríomhphost: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie
Fón Póca: 087 290 4168 

NÓTAÍ D'EAGARTHÓIRÍ

Ceolamharclann Óige na hÉireann
Is í Ceolamharclann Óige na hÉireann Comhlacht Náisiúnta Traenála Ceolamharclannaíochta na hÉireann d'aisteoirí idir 16 agus 25 bliain d'aois ar fud Phoblacht na hÉireann agus Thuaisceart Éireann araon. Bunaithe i mí Eanáir 2020 faoi phátrúnacht Colm Wilkinson agus Stiúradh Ealaíonta Séimí Campbell, agus á reáchtáil i gcomhpháirtíocht le Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, déanann sé a dhícheall an chéad ghlúin eile d'aisteoirí Éireannacha a aimsiú, a chothú, a oiliúint agus a thaispeáint, agus a ngairmeacha beatha a sheoladh i dtionscal na ceolamharclannaíochta sa bhaile agus thar lear.

Séimí Campbell
Is stiúrthóir amharclannaíochta Éireannach í Séimí Campbell atá lonnaithe i Londain. Bhí sé ina Stiúrthóir Comhlach san Amharclann Náisiúnta ó 2021-2024, áit a raibh The Witches, Dancing at Lughnasa, agus Hex mar chuid dá shaothar. Tá a dhúil sa scríbhneoireacht nua, agus faoi láthair tá sé ag stiúradh an chóirithe stáitse de Song of the Sea, de chuid Cartoon Saloon a bhí ainmnithe d'oscar, do Cheardlann Amharclannaíochta Nua-Eabhrac agus A Mountain For Elodie le Benjamin Scheuer ag Signature Theater, Washington DC.

In West End Londain, tá Songs for a New World (Other Palace & London Palladium) stiúrtha ag Séimí, comhstiúradh déanta aige ar A Different Stage (Duke of York's Theatre) agus bhí sé ina stiúrthóir comhlach ar Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre).

Iad seo stiúrtha aige freisin: Evita and Sweeney Todd (Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann); Toy Show the Musical (RTÉ); My Son Pinocchio (Southwark Playhouse); Mozart and Dumbshow (Mountview); and An Triail (Ionad Ealaíon na Mainistreach). Bhí sé ina stiúrthóir athshuite ar Harry Potter and the Cursed Child san Ísiltír le déanaí.

Is aoi-léachtóir é Séimí i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, áit a bhfuil Bonn Óir Feabhais faighte aige.

Anthony Gabriele
Gan teorainn ó thaobh seánra de, le breis agus 30 bliain thaisteal Anthony ar fud an domhain chun os cionn 60 ceolfhoireann a stiúradh agus bíonn sé le feiceáil go rialta le ceoltóirí ón Cheolfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Ríoga, Ceolfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Learphoill, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach na Cóiré, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann agus Colfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Lucsamburg. Chomhoibrigh sé le healaíontóirí lena n-áirítear an cnagcheoltóir Dame Evelyn Glennie; an teanór Fabio Armiliato; an veidhleadóir Daniel Hope; agus amhránaithe/cumadóirí amhráin Anastacia agus Ronan Keating. 

Threoraigh an spéis a bhí ag Anthony sa scéalaíocht sa cheol a roghanna i gcónaí, ó West End Londain, agus go hidirnáisiúnta, áit a bhfuil creidiúintí aige mar Stiúrthóir Ceoil lean n-áirítear Sweeney Todd, The Lion King, CATS, agus The Phantom of the Opera, mar bhuaiteoir duaiseanna sa chomórtas stiúrtha ceoldráma idirnáisiúnta Blue Danube Musik Impresario (Vín), le creidiúintí ceoldrámaíochta ina measc Don Carlo, La traviata, La bohème, Don Giovanni agus Madama Butterfly. 

Ag glacadh leis an ngrá a bhí aige i rith a shaoil do cheol na gcumadóirí ceoil scannáin is mó sa 20ú haois, agus gan piaraí mar stiúrthóir ar cheolchoirmeacha ‘Scannán le Ceolfhoireann', cuireadh de chúram ar Anthony na céad taibhithe de Superman, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Choristes, Moby Dick, Life on Our Planet, agus Spectre, agus tá os cionn 40 teideal léirithe aige faoi láthair. 

Áirítear ar shéasúr spreagúil Anthony 2025/2026 léirithe ag Royal Albert Hall i Londain, Het Concertgebouw in Amstardam, agus Ionad Ealaíon Seoul, agus i mí Aibreáin, tá sé ar ais ar stáitse leis an amhránaí is scríbhneoir il-platanaim, Anastacia, le haghaidh léirithe nua de Anastacia – Live at the Symphony, ag Lucerne's KKL. 

Measann Anthony gur buaicphointe pearsanta agus gairme é a chomhoibriú le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann agus leis an Stiúrthóir Séimí Campbell léiriú Sweeney Todd na bliana seo caite, agus tá ríméad air a bheith ag filleadh do léiriú na bliana seo de West Side Story.

Maidir leis an gCeoláras Náisiúnta
Is é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta institiúid náisiúnta chultúrtha na hÉireann don cheol, a fhreastalaíonn go bródúil ar phobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é i 1981 trí léirithe ceoil beo agus trí chláir shuntasacha oideachais agus chultúrtha. Tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta lonnaithe i gcroílár lár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, béal dorais le Gairdíní pictiúrtha Uíbh Eachach, agus tá Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, Cór Siansach Náisiúnta Éireann, Cór Linn agus Cór na nÓg lonnaithe ann, agus cuireann sé bonn cruthaitheach ar fáil do réimse eagraíochtaí ceoil eile lena n-áirítear Cór Aireagail Éireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation. Tá sé ag pleanáil faoi láthair go ndéanfaí athfhorbairt mhór ar a áiseanna go léir mar chuid den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus de Thionscadal Éireann 2040.
 
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