Drama Students Shine in Rendition of 'West Side Story'

Tony (Elliott Pierce ‘24) and Maria (Leandra Ramos ‘25) secretly meet on a balcony. *Photo: Nancy Lei*

By JERRY LI, NANCY LEI, DAVID SAMPSON, and ABDALLAH HUSSEIN

The harmonious sound of claps rang out through the auditorium as the cast of West Side Story took a bow. With the spring production returning to the stage for the second time since the pandemic, the crew came through with a crowd-pleasing rendition of the classic 1957 musical.

Led by drama director Mr. Conrad Boyd and Ms. Samantha Talavera, Ms. Melissa Manzi, and Ms. Alina Bernstein, the show was held in the auditorium May 17 and 18, with entry costing $5.

“West Side Story is a modern take on William Shakespere’s Romeo and Juliet,” explained Kristacia Scott ‘24, the director/producer. “I’ve been director for so many other things around the school, but this is different. It’s a classic, a staple in the musical community.”

The production, by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, tells the tale of two rival gangs, the Sharks and Jets, who are caught up in a dispute for control of the streets. The Sharks are Puerto Rican immigrants, and the Jets are Polish- and Irish-American.

“It’s an iconic historical piece,” said Meir Kalderon ‘24, who played Bernardo. “It brings some light to minorities and different communities.”

The performance started off with a fight between the two gangs. The police, led by Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke, arrive on scene to stop the quarrel, leading to a dance. Later, Maria, a Puerto Rican girl, and Tony, a former Jet, meet at a dance and fall in love at first sight. Their “forbidden” love prompts another fight between the gangs.

The musical features classic songs like “America,” “Tonight,” and “I Feel Pretty.”

“Each character has their own personality,” said Ashley Chen ‘25, who played Anita. “And each song has its own twist as the actors fully commit to their roles.”

“I came in with an advantage,” said Elliott Pierce ‘24, who played Tony. “I was familiar with West Side Story so I didn't have to take a long time memorizing the songs.”

Leandra Ramos ‘25, who played Maria, is Puerto Rican herself. “This is mainly what inspired me, as it's a very important part of Maria’s character,” she said.

Dancers swayed on stage, moving their hips and dancing in flowy Latin-inspired dresses and skirts. The Mambo scene, which features a dance-off between the Jets and Sharks while Tony and Maria meet for the first time, was cited by the cast as the most difficult scene to perform.

Kayleigh Mack ‘25, a Shark girl and the show’s choreographer, said that getting everyone dancing in sync with proper transitions was a big challenge. But the actors and faculty also called the scene engaging, with some considering it a personal favorite.

“My favorite scene in the show is when Maria and Tony meet during the Mambo scene,” said Ms. Talavera. “There's a moment during this big dance number where they lock eyes, they see each other for the first time, and they start to slowly gravitate towards each other.”

“Everyone is in the scene, and that elevates the energy,” said Kalderon. “I really feel like it was an accomplishment for all of us.”

“It felt like a movie!” said audience member Safa Hassan ‘25. “The song slowly fading out and back in really made me feel like I was there myself.”

“Tony and Maria were so passionate about their roles,” said Anastasia Ababiy ‘25.

“I felt like I was immersed in the show, the acting was so good,” said Meher Chowhury ‘25.

Not only did the production’s cast and crew rehearse after school from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and occasionally on Saturdays, they also dedicated their Spring Break to rehearsals from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to bring the musical to life. The cast was bigger this time than with last year’s High School Musical, and extra challenges came with that.

“A lot of the students were not as seasoned [as previous years],” said Mr. Boyd, “so we had to develop a sense of community. But through and through, we stuck through.”

“I've gotten the chance to work with these wonderful kids and see this show come to life,” said Ms. Talavera. “I've really been able to appreciate how beautiful not only the story is, but the music as well, and the students’ acting.”

“[Being in the play] is such a great way to make friends,” said Chen. “There’s so much acting, dancing, and choreographing, and it's a great way to have a fun experience.”

“The practices were thrilling, the people you work with are all amazing — just the whole show, the environment, it’s so fun," said Emmanuel Clarke ‘24, who played Officer Krupke. "If anyone is thinking of performing in any sort of theater production, I recommend getting out of your comfort zone and joining the crew.”

Next year’s show will be heavily anticipated after this year’s performance.

“I expect to see an even bigger cast with more diversity in not only ethnicity but personality — more athletes, shy kids, academics,” said Folasade Olosunde ‘25. “Being in a Midwood production can create such a great community, and the play will definitely achieve that.”