The Sharks and the Jets are preparing to do battle over their small piece of New York’s Upper West Side, while star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria are on a collision course towards tragedy. PinnWorth Productions presents West Side Story at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theater for three weekends: Fridays, Jan. 5, 12 and 19 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Jan. 6, 13 and 20 at 8 pm.; and Sundays, Jan. 7, 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.
Kelsey Theater is located on the college’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Jan. 5.
The show broke new ground when it premiered on Broadway in 1957. The Leonard Bernstein score, with lyrics by a young Stephen Sondheim, includes such unforgettable numbers as “Something’s Coming,” “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere,” “Tonight,” “I Feel Pretty,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “Officer Krupke,” and “Cool.” The production was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical. A film version followed in 1961 and was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won ten, including Best Picture.
The PinnWorth cast includes Mason Kugelman as Tony; Tara Keelen as Maria; Lorraine C. Perri as Anita; Evan Krug as Riff; Kevin Albanese as Bernardo; Erica Boyea as Anybodys; Peter Sauer as Doc; Joseph A. Zedeny as Lt. Schrank; David Walter as Krupke; and Diana Puertas as Gladhand.
The production team is led by co-producers Lou Stalsworth and Kate Pinner, director Lou Stalsworth, choreographer Koren Zander, music director François Suhr, costume and set designer Kate Pinner, lighting designer Robert Terrano, sound designer Evan Paine and stage manager Dennis Tolentino.
Tickets are $20 for all and may be purchased by calling the Kelsey box office at (609) 570-3333 or online at kelseytheatre.net.
The Sharks and the Jets will faceoff over their small piece of New York’s Upper West Side when Kelsey Theatre presents “West Side Story” weekends Jan. 5–21.,
