Upcoming: West Side Story, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, October 27-28 and 30-31

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.

Read more at www.sasaustin.org . . . .

Upcoming: Les Miserables, St. Andrew's Episcopal Upper School, October 29 & 31, November 1

Found on-line:


St. Andrews Episcopal Upper School
presents

Les Miserables

Thursday, October 29 at 8pm
Saturday, October 31 at 7pm
Sunday, November 1 at 3pm
St. Andrews Episcopal Upper School
5901 Southwest Parkway
Info Phone: 512.299.9729

Jean Valjean, released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the yellow ticket-of-leave he must, by law, display condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by police, and is astonished when the Bishop lies to the police to save him, also giving him two precious candlesticks. Valjean decides to start his life anew.

Article of October 7, from the website: When tryouts for the Fall 2009 musical began in May at the Upper School, Drama Director Rick Garcia and Musical Director Warren Dickson thought their students were trying out for either South Pacific or Kiss Me Kate. As the tryouts unfolded, however, they set their sites on an even bigger challenge: Les Miserables.

“'Les Miserables was the perfect choice for the 2009 Fall Musical," says Warren Dickson, Director of Vocal/Choral Music at St. Andrew’s. "It combines everything that the vocal program and the theatre program have been working toward since the Upper School opened in 1998. The singing is very demanding for all of the leading roles, and we just happen to have the vocal talent this year to produce this outstanding show. The music has a great deal of depth, emotionally, and the students are working hard to express what is demanded by their characters, both vocally and dramatically. It is going to be a powerful experience for the performers as well as for the audience."

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .