By Staff
As a musical production, "West Side Story" is hard to beat.
The 1957 classic musical couples high-energy dancing with a gang warfare story line.
It will snap its way onto the Southwestern Michigan College" stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15, 16 and 17.
Curtain time for the Sunday, Feb. 18, matinee is 2 p.m.
All shows will be in the theater of the Dale A. Lyons Building on SMC's Dowagiac campus.
The shows centers upon two rival gangs, the Jets and Sharks, which harbor disdain for each other.
"West Side Story" features some of Broadway's all-time hits, such as "I Feel Pretty," "Cool," "Maria" and "Tonight."
Loosely based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," tragedy, action and humor are ever-present in the production.
Main characters Tony and Maria are played by SMC students Scot MacDonald and Jill Frey.
They fall in love and the world around them falls apart as they belong to opposing factions and their union seems increasingly impossible and ill-fated.
Things of great importance are both lost and discovered by each side of the conflict.
Tickets cost $7 for general admission, $5 for students and senior citizens and free for people 18 and younger.
Call the SMC box office at (269) 782-1280 for more information.
The Jets consist of: Riff, Jim Francis; Tony, Scot MacDonald; Action, Andrew Stuver; A-rab, Jacob Crowl, Baby John, David Farrell; Snowboy, Ryan Skinner; Big Deal, Jonny Reinhardt; Diesel, Casey True; Graziella, Jocelyne Tuszynski; Velma, Danielle Miller; Minnie, Stephanie Thorpe; Clarice, Lauren Westerhoven; Anybodys, Aislinn Frantz; and Pauline, Rebecca Hartong.
The Sharks include: Bernardo, Chris Scott; Maria, Jill Frey; Anita, Kaylee Magro; Chino, Steve R; Pepe, Brandon Pompey; Indio, Jose Granados; Luis, Caleb Aleman; Rosalia, Lisa Chilton; Francisca, Rose Middleton; Consuelo, Terra Jackson; Estella, Valerie Street; and Margarita, Monica Granados.