ACTRESS PORTRAYING MARIA IN “WEST SIDE STORY” REFLECTS ON REPRESENTATION IN SHOW

Kanisha Felicano and Ryan McCartan. PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG
Kanisha Felicano and Ryan McCartan. PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

 ACTRESS PORTRAYING MARIA IN “WEST SIDE
STORY” REFLECTS ON REPRESENTATION IN SHOW

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Kanisha Marie Feliciano became interested in theater while
she was in high school. She got her first taste of what it
would be like to perform in a show her sophomore year. She caught the bug and never left the theater.

Feliciano is currently portraying Maria in “West Side Story” at the Lyric Opera House, located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, through Sunday, June 25th.

Feliciano wanted to audition for “West Side Story” because as someone who identifies as Puerto Rican and Black, the show for a long time was the only representation of Puerto Ricans on stage. “I’ve known the story for such a long time. This is my first time performing in the show. I love the show, it’s “Romeo & Juliet” but make it New York, make it Puerto Rican. It’s kind of always been a story that’s called to me,” she said.

 To prepare for the role, Feliciano learned the music and
learned her lines. Also, for Maria, because she doesn’t speak with a thick Puerto Rican accent, she listened to a podcast of native Puerto Rican people speaking in English. She would also call her grandmother and listen to her talk.

Feliciano wanted to pick up the distinct accent of Puerto
Rican speaking English for her portrayal. “It was really important for me not to just do a generic Spanish accent. I really wanted to show my people on stage and see if other people could recognize that in themselves, as well,” she said.

Feliciano’s favorite song to listen to in the show is “Maria.”
She gets to sit backstage, waiting for the balcony scene,
and hear Ryan McCarten who portrays Tony sing the song. She said he sings the song so beautifully that he stops the show every performance. Her favorite song to perform is the “Tonight Quintet.” All the musicians and performers are singing. She described it as a “giant wall of sound.”

“I have the best seat in the house, I’m on the raised
balcony and I am just looking out into the Lyric and
it’s just kind of like one of those, “oh my gosh,’ pinch
me moments,” she said. It is a dream come true for
Feliciano to be on the Lyric stage. She is fully aware
of the legacy of operatic performances who have
graced the stage, including Feliciano’s voice teacher,
Nova Thomas, who she credits with teaching her
everything she knows. To be able to be in the space
is incredible and sacred to Feliciano.

“The first time we walked out onto the stage, during the tour, I couldn’t help but sing out, just to hear what it was like. You dream about that for years and just to be here is incredible,” she said.

In 2022, Feliciano made history as the first Latina
Christine on Broadway in the “Phantom of the Opera” and
the second Black Christine was a fantastic experience for her. “Phantom of the Opera” was the second Broadway show she had ever seen and she loved the show. She would have families come up to her after the show and it was special for her.

Feliciano hopes that people who see the show are able
to leave with a message of change. “I hope people are able  to take in this story that premiered in 1957 ( I believe) and reflect on everything that is still going on today, with Puerto Rico, with race relations in this country, with gender relations in this country, with gun control in this country. We should be further along, in my opinion,” she said.

Feliciano said the responses from audience members
who have spoken to her after the show have been very positive. She said it means that there is a hunger for shows of this scale and sounds of the “West Side Story.”

For tickets to West Side Story, visit lyricopera.org/westsidestory or call 312-827-5600.

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