For the first time, Warsaw Community High School will present "West Side Story."
The award-winning musical is Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets for reserved seating are available at the WCHS Performing Arts Center Box Office. Tickets are $5 for students, and $8 for adults. Call the box office at 574-371-5040.
"West Side Story" is set in Manhattan's West Side/Hell's Kitchen in the mid-1950s. The award-winning musical explores the rivalry between two gangs of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The young male lead, Tony, belongs to the white gang. He falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the rival Puerto Rican gang.
The original 1957 Broadway production marked Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran for 732 performances before going on tour. The production garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical in 1957. It won a Tony Award in 1957 for choreography. The show has enjoyed an even longer-running London production, a number of revivals and international success, and spawned an award-winning 1961 musical film of the same name.
Cast members of "West Side Story," in order of appearance, are:
Jets: Shay Dixon as Riff; Jamison Westerbeck, Action; Josh Savage, Diesel; Evan Watkins, Baby John; Antonio Mantey, A-Rab; Broxton Davis, Big Deal; Jake Kolton, Snowboy; and Thomas Wack as Gee-Tar.
Sharks: Max Heckert as Bernardo; Cameron Carter, Chino; Trey Kempton, Pepe; Zach Elder, Indio; Andy Johnson, Luis; Zach Collins, Anxious; and Oscar Thompson as Nibbles.
Malachi Vanier plays Officer Krupke; Shawn Bianchini as Lt. Schrank; Haley Owen, Anybodys; Reid Bishop, Tony; Britney Kent, Maria; and Cecilia Southworth as Anita.
Jets' Girls: Hannah Crane as Velma; Alex Deeter, Graziella; Tara Akers, Minnie; Susan Grothouse, Clarice; and Liz Watson as Pauline.Sharks' Girls: Ashley Skaggs as Rosalia; Ally Ferber, Consuela; Shanda Fredericks, Fransica; Kristen Schwenger, Teresita; Allison Tucker, Estella; and Kayley Herbruck as Margarita.
Extras and dancers include Kristin Allen, Natalie Bryan, Stefani Davis, Alex Floyd, Lawney Francis, Ryan Herman, Jesus Islas, Emily O'Daniels, Nicholle Potter, Emily Readle, Henry Robison, Hilary Shepherd, Cynthia Silvestre.
Gordon Blair plays Glad Hand, and Chris Priest is Doc.
Dana McAfee is directing "West Side Story," with Jean Beeson as assistant director/costumes. Thomas Hall is serving as music director; Scott Michaels, choreography; Shay Dixon, dance captain; Chris Thompson, rehearsal pianist; Ben Essick, pit rehearsal; Molly Lewis and Lauren Prater, stage managers.
Stage crew includes Gordon Blair, Natalie Bryan, Alex Floyd, Lawney Francis, Susan Grothouse, Celeste Harris, Ryan Herman, Brianne Johnson, James Lanham, Emily O'Daniels, Nicholle Potter, Emily Readle, Maxx Sell and Kara Warren.
Lights are being operated by Leonard Gagnon and Caitie Simpson; spotlights, Caleb Carter; sound, Corey Boschet; set design, Dana McAfee and Danielle Robertson; set construction, Rick Hall, Thomas Hall, cast and crew; program/poster design, Dave Beeson; and hairstylists, Chris and Derry Dillon.
The WCHS Welding Technologies class built the fire escape used in the musical.
