A Familiar American Story Hits The Raleigh Stage
The story, set in New York in the mid-1950s, explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The young protagonist, Tony, who belongs to the Italian gang, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival Puerto Rican gang’s leader.
If you’re unfamiliar with this story line it is known as — West Side Story.
Being of Puerto Rican-Italian descent, I was introduced to the screen interpretation of the story as a little girl. I was told that the movie put Puerto Ricans “on the map.” I’m not sure if that is true, but I do know that rven though the story is over half a century old, I have always been able to identify with the classic musical depicting the cultural conflicts that exist between “us” and “them.”
Art imitates life in the film West Side Story mirroring the modern day story of ethnic groups, stereotypes, and racial bigotry that is all too familiar to anyone with multi-cultural roots.
West Side Story is a musical by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). The musical is based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
No matter how many times you’ve seen the musical, with its catchy and lyrical tunes by Leonard Bernstein, its clever and touching words by a young Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, there is still a pull at the heart strings when it’s effectively staged.
The film teaches a valuable lesson; a lesson about how hate can kill a person and destroy the lives of his or her loved ones.
I am thrilled to learn that this classic and moving tale of love, tragedy, and justice will come to Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium October 16-25.
THE NORTH CAROLINA THEATRE IS INVITING THE PUBLIC TO BE A PART OF A WEST SIDE STORY:
1. ATTEND THE DRESS REHEARSAL FOR FREE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 AT 8 PM! THERE ARE ONLY 150 SPOTS AVAILABLE. PLEASE EMAIL ALICE BECK AT ABECK@NCTHEATRE.COM. LIMIT TWO PER PERSON. REPLY BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 5.
2. COME TO TARGET STUDENT PREVIEW NIGHT ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 AT 7 PM. TICKETS ARE ONLY $10 FOR ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. MUST HAVE VALID STUDENT OR TEACHER I.D. TO PURCHASE TICKETS. CALL ALICE BECK AT 919-831-6941 X6941.
3. LEARN THE ‘MAMBO’ FROM WEST SIDE STORY – TAKE A FREE DANCE CLASS AT THE NORTH CAROLINA THEATRE CONSERVATORY (LOCATED AT 3043 BARROW DRIVE RALEIGH, NC 27616 NEAR TRIANGLE TOWNE CENTER IN NORTH RALEIGH) ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 FROM 6-7 PM. AGES 12 AND UP. OPEN TO FIRST 75 PEOPLE WHO RESPOND. PLEASE EMAIL ABECK@NCTHEATRE.COM.
I look forward to watching the local stage production.
If interested visit: www.nctheatre.com for more information.
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