2010 REGIONAL DRAMA CLUB PRODUCTION FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WEST SIDE STORY May 20, 21 & 22, 2010 at 8:00pm
May 23, 2010 at 2:00pm
After the success of last year's Regional Drama Club production of LES MISÉRABLES, the logical choice for this year's production was WEST SIDE STORY. The world's greatest love story takes to the streets in this landmark Broadway musical that is one of the theatre's finest accomplishments. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is transported to modern-day New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.
Tickets: $12.00 Adults · $10.00 Seniors · $8.00 Students
 The Thomaston Opera House has contracted Mr. Rick Doyle as Director, with TJ Thompson as Music Director and Foster Evans Reese as Choreographer.
Mr. Doyle is currently a teacher at the Taft School in Watertown, CT of Video Production; Theater Director. Previous to that position he directed over 35 shows at the Forman School in Litchfield, CT. Mr. Doyle is well known on the community theater circuit, having directed shows for over 30 years including at the Warner in Torrington, CT for 15 years. He recently joined the Opera House directing Beauty and the Beast in July of 2008. He is familiar with the chosen work, having directed Les Miserables once before at Taft School. Mr. Doyle graduated Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor's in Arts Education.
SYNOPSIS
ACT ONE
In the opening, a danced Prologue, two
rival teenage gangs, the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto
Ricans) enact their conflict over who will control the neighborhood.
Accented by police whistles and taunting phrases, the Prologue
establishes the fierce rivalry between the two groups.
Following
a brief exchange with the ineffective policeman, Lt. Schrank and
Officer Krupke, Riff, the leader of the Jets, devises a plan to gain
control of the street (When You're A Jet"). The members of the gang
boast of their strength, restate their bond to one another and declare
their intention to protect their turf.
Riff has a harder time
getting his best friend Tony to re-join the gang. Riff convinces Tony
to join the Jets at the neighborhood dance where the Riff's plan will
be put into motion. Tony agrees out of a sense of loyalty to Riff, but
expresses his unhappiness with his current life. He feels himself
growing away from the gang and envisions a different and better future
("Something's Coming").
Maria, the sister of the Shark leader,
Bernardo, has only been in America a short time. She works with Anita,
Bernardo's girl friend, in the bridal shop. Anita is making Maria a
dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. Maria sees this dance as the
official beginning of her life in this country. Like Tony, she is full
of hope. Bernardo arrives with Chino, a quiet, intense member of the
Sharks. Maria's family has selected Chino to be her future husband.
A
social worker, Gladhand, introduces the rival gang members and their
girls; they dance sociably for about two minutes. Then a challenge
dance erupts. Tony and Maria, however, suddenly see one another. In a
moment of romantic suspension, they dance together, oblivious of the
tension around them. They fall in love. The romantic idyll is
interrupted when Bernardo roughly pulls Maria from Tony's arms. Maria
is sent home, as Riff and Bernardo arrange a War Council at the
drugstore.
Unaware of the plan between the two leaders, an
ecstatic Tony sings "Maria." As he sings, Maria appears on a fire
escape above him. They profess their love for each other ("Tonight").
Anita and her friends are gathered on a city rooftop, where they express conflicting views about their lives in "America."
At
the Drugstore, the proprietor, Doc, tries to convince the Jets not to
have a rumble (an all-out fight) with the Sharks. The gang expresses
their pent-up tension in "Cool." Ignoring Doc, Riff and Bernardo set up
the rumble for the next day and agree on weapons. Tony suggests a less
dangerous fist fight. After the others leave, Tony dismisses Doc's fear
with his conviction nothing can go wrong because he is love with Maria.
The next day, Maria learns about the rumble from Anita at the
Bridal Shop. When Tony arrives, Anita leaves. Maria begs Tony to stop
the rumble and he promises her he will. They enact a mock marriage
ceremony ("One Hand, One Heart") swearing that "even death can't part
us now."
Tony tries to stop the rumble in progress under a
highway. In the midst of insults, pushing, and shoving, Bernardo stabs
Riff. In blind fury, Tony stabs Bernardo. The sirens scream; everyone
runs except Tony, who stands transfixed. Anybodys, a tomboy whose dream
is to become a Jet, has followed the gang, and prods Tony to escape,
just in time. The curtain comes down on a stage which is empty except
for the bodies of Riff and Bernardo.
ACT TWO
Unaware
of the tragedy under the highway, Maria sings to her girl friends about
how beautiful she feels ("I Feel Pretty"). She speaks of marriage, and
her friends assume she is thinking about Chino. Chino enters with the
news Tony has killed Bernardo. Left alone, Maria is praying; Tony
enters through the window. He explains why he killed Bernardo in a
moment of anger over Riff's death. Maria forgives him, and they declare
their determination to be together. Shark and Jet couples dance
together in a dream-like, peaceful, sunlit world - the "Somewhere"
where Maria and Tony are allowed to love one another. At the end of the
dream, Tony and Maria are in her bed, in each other's arms.
In
an alley, the bumbling Office Krupke is questioning the Jets about the
murders. The gang ridicules him as they sing "Officer Krupke," a
put-down of the social workers, cops, psychiatrists, and judges who
fail to understand what motivates their behavior.
Anita arrives
at Maria's apartment. Tony escapes through the window, telling Maria to
meet him at the drugstore so they can run away together. Anita realizes
Tony has been with Maria and turns on Maria in fury for making love to
the boy who killed her brother ("A Boy Like That"). However, when Maria
explains ("I Have a Love"), Anita realizes Maria loves Tony as much as
she loved Bernardo. She warns Maria Chino has a gun and is planning to
kill Tony. When Shrank arrives to question Maria, Anita agrees to go to
the drugstore to tell Tony to wait for her.
Anita is prevented
from reaching Tony by the ethnic prejudice of the Jets. The gang's
verbal taunting of Anita gets physical and is turning into rape when
she is saved by Doc. In her fury and humiliation, Anita lies and tells
Tony's buddies Chino has killed Maria.
Doc tells Tony, who is
hiding in his cellar, Maria and his dreams for the future are dead
because she is dead. Tony runs out to find Chino. On the street, Tony
sees Maria. Chino appears and kills Tony. As Maria kneels over Tony's
body, the Jets and Sharks enter. Maria takes Chino's gun, but is unable
to bring herself to fire it. The cycle of violence ends with her.
Gradually,
members of both gangs assemble on either side of Tony's body. Maria
kisses him gently. The Jets and Sharks form a procession and together
they carry Tony offstage while the adults stand by, still helpless. The
lights fade. |