SANTA MARIA — Students with a passion for musical theater, from three Santa Maria Valley high schools, will come together to present “West Side Story” inside the PVHS Performing Arts Center Theater on February 27, 28, 29.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. They are available online at https://events.ticketprinting.com/event/West-Side-Story-36718 or at the schools business offices. The majority of the shows will be at 7 p.m., except for two matinee performances at 2 p.m.
Courtesy photos.
“West Side Story” is the modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” set in New York City in the 1960s. Instead of a family feud, as in the original, this adaptation involved a conflict between two teen gangs.
“When the students from Righetti and Santa Maria High Schools all arrive at the same time and walk through the doors of the drama room it really gives me a thrill,’ said Shawnah Van Gronigen, drama teacher at Pioneer Valley high and “West Side” director. “It has been the best part of the project, watching the relationships develop between the cast members.”
Pioneer sophomore, Odessa Laurie, will appear in the lead role of young immigrant Maria, who falls in love with the “American” Tony, co-lead Jorge Arthur Perez, a Righetti senior. The show features a cast of 45, along with students serving as technicians for sound, lights, sets, props and costumes.
Joining Van Gronigen in producing the show will be Elesa Carlson, drama teacher at Righetti, Merrie Oakie-Goldin, Santa Maria high drama teacher, and Selyn Harwin, choreographer. The teachers said the goal has been to produce a show in the district’s new Panther theater where drama students from all three schools could showcase their talents, while bridging school rivalries with a collaborative project.
The award-winning musical was composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and original choreography by Jerome Robbins.