West Side Story: Who will become a musical star?

It was 28 years ago when Joey, then 19, auditioned for West Side Story himself - with none other than Jerome Robbins (1918-1998), who in 1949 brought the idea for the musical to its composer Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) - and then created the choreography for the worldwide musical success.

Ever since McKneely took part in the show, the musical has stayed with him. He staged it himself for the first time in 2000 and has been known as Mr. West Side Story ever since.

Nathalie applies to be one of the Jet Girls, who are now cast together with the Shark Boys - the story is about rival street gangs in New York in the 1950s. The Jet gang is made up of Americans, while the Sharks are Puerto Rican immigrants.

For McKneely, the almost 60-year-old West Side Story is a timeless tale: "The theme of racial conflict is at least as relevant today as it was at the premiere in 1957," says McKneely. "Current events show that humanity hasn't learned anything since then. But it's also a love story. Everyone remembers their first love fondly."

Talent isn't everything, appearance is also important

He also has an emotional connection to the play, says McKneely: "West Side Story changed my life. I treat it with great respect and don't change anything about the original production. "Well," he adds, "maybe my production is more emotional and realistic than the original 1957 version." In any case, he wants to maintain creator Bernstein's high standards: "First comes the dancing: The performers have to be way above average," he knows. "Then comes the voice. Difficult! Because what 18-year-old Spanish girl can sing like an opera singer? And then I look at the type, the character of the candidates: do I find Maria's innocence? Do I recognize Tony's optimism?"

First round of the audition: Joey McKneely stands in front of the mirror in a black tank top and shows which steps and jumps he wants to see from the young women.

Nathalie is now fully in her element. As the daughter of a choreographer and a director, she was born into this vocation. "At first I wanted to be a fitness instructor," she says, "but then my parents founded a dance school and my brother and I had to fill every class because we didn't have enough students." By the time she was 21, she had already appeared in several musicals, played Diana Morales in a Florida production of "A ChorusLine", was Marty in Grease, "... and I was a gorilla in the musical Tarzan. It was fun".

Audition, part 2: singing. First individually, then in groups. Now Donald Chan is in charge. He, the musical director, conducted West Side Story over 1000 times and still knew Bernstein personally.

No "You're on!" note like Dieter Bohlen's

Now Andrès Acosta can show what he can do vocally. He has already proven this in dance, and Joey McKneely actually knows what Andrès can do, as he chose him for the last national tour three years ago. Back then he was just a simple gang member. But for the upcoming tour, he is applying for the even more demanding role of Bernardo. Maestro Chan wants to know exactly what to do - and has Andrès perform some particularly difficult vocal parts. Sitting next to him is Joey McKneely, who has taken off his tank top and is sitting at the table in a shirt and tie.

Poker faces Joey McKneely and Donald Chan have nothing to say about whether the candidates were good or not. This professional world has nothing in common with casting shows and Dieter Bohlen: the talents here are neither harshly belittled nor cheered to the skies from a standing start. There is also no "You're through!" note. The final decisions will only be made in a few days or weeks.

Joey McKneely now sends Andrès to the next room, where he is measured for the costumes. That's already a good sign. The next candidate is Christian Elan Ortiz - the 28-year-old is no stranger to McKneely and Chan, as he was already on the last tour. He is not surprised that he now has to audition again, as he says: "Joey McKneely doesn't give you anything for free, I have to apply here just like the newcomers. I think that's fair, correct and clever."

Candidate Christian: "This is my life story."

For Christian, the musical is more than just a show: "West Side Story is also my story - as the son of Mexican immigrants, I grew up in Pittsburgh PA. I experienced discrimination myself." West Side Story is physically very challenging, he says: "You perform it eight times a week, it's a drama, it's about emotions. It's draining, but I've also learned a lot, it's been the greatest experience of my life so far."

The inquisitive reporter wants to know whether there were also love stories "in real life" behind the scenes. Christian smiles at this. "Absolutely, and it happened to me myself. But I won't go into details now."

We meet Nathalie again in the corridor, beaming with joy. She has just completed the third part of this "audition triathlon". She had to play one of the scenes. It went well, and she is now also allowed to be measured.

But that doesn't actually mean anything, as Joey McKneely tells us at dinner after two days of auditions. How many of the people who took part today will we see again in Zurich and Basel? Which of them will also be allowed to take part in the other venues in Europe and Asia? "Maybe none at all," says McKneely, "we'll be looking at more people over the next few days and weeks."

Isn't it tedious having to search for the right people for so long? Is it fun? What's so fascinating about it?

"It's fascinating to see how the young talent develops - and to be able to contribute to it myself," says Joey McKneely, adding:

"Yes, I have a very special job. I change lives."