Jess LeProtto on his 'West Side Story' Experience

This week, Emilio, Madeline, and Julian have the privilege of speaking to Jess LeProtto, an accomplished Broadway performer whose triple threat talents earned him the role of the thorny yet memorable Jet "A-Rab" in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of 'West Side Story'.  Jess talks about his unusual first exposure to the music of West Side Story, the development and audition process, receiving character backstory from the film's Pulitzer Prize winning writer Tony Kushner, and the new historical context specific to the remake.  He also talks about performing in the film's immersive sets, working with Rita Moreno, what it's like to take direction from Steven Spielberg, and the unexpected ways his skill set proved quite useful on set.  It's a deep dive into all things 'West Side Story' you won't want to miss!In addition to his work in the film, Jess LeProtto has performed on Broadway in Cats, Hello Dolly!, A Beautiful Noise, Carousel, On The Town, Newsies, Bye Bye Birdie, and more.  You can follow him on IG at the_jess_leprottoIf you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice.  This really helps us find new listeners and grow!Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpodSend us an email at [email protected] Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats