New Proms ‘Maria’ after ‘whitewash’ controversy

The BBC Proms concert performance of West Side Story has a new Maria following complaints about “whitewashing”.

Broadway star Sierra Boggess announced earlier this year she was quitting the role of Maria, who is Puerto Rican, after a backlash in the US. BBC Proms has now announced that Mikaela Bennett will lead the cast as Maria alongside Ross Lekites who was named previously as Tony at the Royal Albert Hall.

The concerts mark the centenary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein, who composed the musical about rival gangs in New York.

The BBC Proms said: “She has been cast on her merit and suitability for the role.” 0 Mikaela Bennett will star as Maria in West Side Story

Bennett performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts in performances of West Side Story, as well as taking part in Bernstein On Broadway at the Kennedy Centre.

Steven Spielberg has been auditioning for a big-screen remake of the musical.