National Post

nparts:

On The Town: the stars of West Side Story explore Graffiti Alley
Who  Michelle Aravena and Drew Foster, stars of the Broadway revival of West Side Story
Where  Rush Lane, known as Graffiti Alley (runs south of Queen Street West, from Spadina Avenue to Portland Street)
When  May 15, 11:30 a.m.

The actors have been on the road with the show for two years, visiting more than 50 cities, and have stopped in Toronto for a month before heading to Japan. This morning, Kucherawy of TourGuys.ca is leading them down Graffiti Alley in the fashion district.

The alley and the show share a similar look: it’s a marriage of vivid colours and dark, urban grit. Tucked behind store fronts on Queen Street, west of Spadina, the architecture is alive with colour. Garage doors and concrete walls are covered in names written in bubble letters. Random signatures, hearts and RIP messages are scrawled on existing graffiti. A black and red butterfly settles on the art. It looks at home. (Photo: Peter J. Thompson/National Post)