WEST SIDE STORY by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  The original Broadway production was conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and produced by Robert E. Griffith and Harold Prince.    It was adapted into a film in 1961 and won ten Academy Awards.   The story is a modern creation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

           

 A wonderful production of West Side Story, playing at the Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Art Plaza, features a sterling cast of singers, dancers, musicians, and actors.  The story takes place in an upper west side neighborhood of New York City in the mid 1950’s where two teen-aged gangs rival for control of the streets. 

            

The Jets are American boys whose leader is Riff (Aleks Pevec).  Riff’s best friend is Tony (Brandon Keith Rogers) who once was a member alongside him and the rest of the gang.  The Sharks are Puerto Rican boys whose leader is Bernardo (Patrick Ortiz).  At a neighborhood dance, Tony meets Maria (Giselle Torris), Bernardo’s sister, and they fall in love.  This does not sit well with Bernardo and he makes it known, even though Tony, no longer a member of the Jets, tries to show him he has nothing against him or his friends.  This does not placate Bernardo at all.  This is a love story caught in a sordid social situation of intolerance and hate.            

            

As Tony’s and Maria’s love deepens, the story is augmented by outstanding voices, the beautiful  memorable songs, the wonderful dance scenes, and the all together phenomenal cast.  The musical is impeccably directed by Larry Raben, the wonderful dance scenes are choreographed by Karl Warden, and the musical direction is by Jeff Rizzo.  .

           

West Side Story is playing Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sunday, Aug. 4, the final show, at 1 PM, at the Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks.  Tickets are available online at www.5startheatricals.com, or by phone at (800)745-3000.  For further information, call (800) 449-2787.

            

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