Found on-line:
St. Andrew’s School Theater to Present
West Side Story
October 27-28, 30-31
posted at www.sasaustin.org, September 10
The St. Andrew’s Theatre Program is pleased announce this fall’s musical presentation of West Side Story. One of the most important musicals in American musical theatre history since it opened in 1957, the show has music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins.
West Side Story owes its inspiration to an ancient source. In Roman mythology, Pyramus and Thisbe were driven to desperation in their struggle to sustain a forbidden love. There have since been countless re-imaginings of their story, the most familiar being Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story is yet another interpretation. But in spite of its traditional theme, this story of young love achieves a startling modernity. Although the original show was set in 1950s New York City, the St. Andrew’s staging eschews the midcentury naiveté of prior productions in favor of a stark portrait of peril and passion. Its characters maneuver through an urban jungle, torn by tribal loyalties. In spite of this, two young lovers from clashing cultures attempt to cast off convention and achieve an ideal.
The principal leads began music rehearsals last June, shortly after school was out for the summer. Because dance is featured so strongly and is so important in plot development, the entire cast began dance rehearsals in early August so that they could learn the complicated choreography. We are delighted to have Natasha Davison, University of Texas Department of Theatre and Dance faculty member, as our choreographer.
Under the guidance of director Rick Garcia, musical director Warren Dickson, technical director Jason Kruger, and choreographer Natasha Davison, we are looking forward to an exciting production of West Side Story.
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