Students Find There's a Place For Themselves in "West Side Story"
The cast is ready and eager to show off their ‘Cool’ performances in this year's spring musical.
By Davis Jones
The cast is ready and eager to show off their ‘Cool’ performances in this year's spring musical.
By Davis Jones
Students from all sides of campus have come together in the drama department for this year's spring musical “West Side Story.”
The show is a modern retelling of the classic story “Romeo & Juliet,” following two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, fighting to earn a place for themselves in the streets of New York. One of the Jets former founders, Tony (Luke Jennings) and the sister of the Sharks’ leader, Maria (Rachel Kim) fall in love and attempt to end the conflict peacefully much to the dismay of the gangs and their leaders, Riff (Ezra McCelleis) and Bernardo (Donovan Collins)
Featured dancer Cali Lau, 10, enjoys working with other students to make this show the best it can be.
“It’s such a welcoming community everyone cares for each other. We all get to work together as a group to make one spectacular show and I feel like the bonds and family you make during a show are like no other,” said Lau. “We all get to work together as a group to make one spectacular show and I feel like the bonds and family you make during a show are like no other. Every show is different, every situation is different. Even if you hang out with the same people, each show is different. It's so much fun.”
Angel Laurence, 12, who plays Graziella, girlfriend to the leader of the Jets, appreciates how much effort is being put into the show.
“Everyone in the cast has been really supportive, we’ve been collaborating with each other throughout the play, and the creativity that everyone puts into their performances is a great strength among the cast that I have noticed,” said Laurence.
This year’s production stands out compared to previous shows due to the intricate ways it tells its story according to drama teacher and director Ashley Coleman.
“Obviously, the show is going to contain dance but the way that dance is used to represent all of the important acts on the stage is majorly important. The fact that the dancing of West Side Story has been parodied in such media as Family Guy is only a testament to its success,” said Coleman.
Students like Jennings have gotten to enjoy the energy and environment of the spring musical.
“I love participating in the spring musical because of the after-school commitment. It’s not something that happens during the school day and because of that it has a different energy. It feels very different at rehearsal compared to something we’d do in the drama class. It’s a big undertaking that brings a different fun energy,” said Jennings.
McCelleis is excited for audiences to see what makes this show special and how much work has gone into it.
“Audiences can expect some fantastic musical numbers, characters and a dramatic story all directed wonderfully by Mrs. Coleman as well as some fantastic tech work from Mrs. Bacon," said McCelleis. “It’s very fun and rewarding when all of our hard work pays off in front of an audience and we get to hear their applause, their laughter and their reactions to the story.”
Audiences can watch this dramatic conflict play out as “West Side Story” runs from Mar. 22 to Mar. 23 and Mar. 27 to Mar. 30.
“I hope our audiences leave impacted--not just by the artistic mastery of "West Side Story"--but also its universal message. It's the tale of the simmering forces of poverty, societal apathy, abandonment, prejudice, and resentment that can, when pressured to the right level, bring even the most innocent and peaceful people to violence. I would say it has the potential to convict and inspire every single audience member,” said Coleman.
The show is a modern retelling of the classic story “Romeo & Juliet,” following two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, fighting to earn a place for themselves in the streets of New York. One of the Jets former founders, Tony (Luke Jennings) and the sister of the Sharks’ leader, Maria (Rachel Kim) fall in love and attempt to end the conflict peacefully much to the dismay of the gangs and their leaders, Riff (Ezra McCelleis) and Bernardo (Donovan Collins)
Featured dancer Cali Lau, 10, enjoys working with other students to make this show the best it can be.
“It’s such a welcoming community everyone cares for each other. We all get to work together as a group to make one spectacular show and I feel like the bonds and family you make during a show are like no other,” said Lau. “We all get to work together as a group to make one spectacular show and I feel like the bonds and family you make during a show are like no other. Every show is different, every situation is different. Even if you hang out with the same people, each show is different. It's so much fun.”
Angel Laurence, 12, who plays Graziella, girlfriend to the leader of the Jets, appreciates how much effort is being put into the show.
“Everyone in the cast has been really supportive, we’ve been collaborating with each other throughout the play, and the creativity that everyone puts into their performances is a great strength among the cast that I have noticed,” said Laurence.
This year’s production stands out compared to previous shows due to the intricate ways it tells its story according to drama teacher and director Ashley Coleman.
“Obviously, the show is going to contain dance but the way that dance is used to represent all of the important acts on the stage is majorly important. The fact that the dancing of West Side Story has been parodied in such media as Family Guy is only a testament to its success,” said Coleman.
Students like Jennings have gotten to enjoy the energy and environment of the spring musical.
“I love participating in the spring musical because of the after-school commitment. It’s not something that happens during the school day and because of that it has a different energy. It feels very different at rehearsal compared to something we’d do in the drama class. It’s a big undertaking that brings a different fun energy,” said Jennings.
McCelleis is excited for audiences to see what makes this show special and how much work has gone into it.
“Audiences can expect some fantastic musical numbers, characters and a dramatic story all directed wonderfully by Mrs. Coleman as well as some fantastic tech work from Mrs. Bacon," said McCelleis. “It’s very fun and rewarding when all of our hard work pays off in front of an audience and we get to hear their applause, their laughter and their reactions to the story.”
Audiences can watch this dramatic conflict play out as “West Side Story” runs from Mar. 22 to Mar. 23 and Mar. 27 to Mar. 30.
“I hope our audiences leave impacted--not just by the artistic mastery of "West Side Story"--but also its universal message. It's the tale of the simmering forces of poverty, societal apathy, abandonment, prejudice, and resentment that can, when pressured to the right level, bring even the most innocent and peaceful people to violence. I would say it has the potential to convict and inspire every single audience member,” said Coleman.