"WEST SIDE STORY"
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

SPRING MUSICAL 2009

• Director: Barbara Ridenour
• Music Director: Rick Murphy
• Choreographers: Kim Alexander, Alicia Cross Engelhardt
• Costume Design: Mary Stasheff
• Performances: 7 p.m. Thursday;
  7:30 p.m. Friday; 2:30, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, North Attic Playhouse
• Tickets: All shows are sold out

URBANA — Weeks of dancing, singing, painting, sweating, and graffiti-ing will soon come to a rousing finish as the North Attic Playhouse comes alive this weekend with the sounds of "West Side Story," Uni's latest theatrical endeavor.

Uni's talented actors, singers, and dancers have been working hard for the past two months to bring to life one of the most difficult shows the school has ever put on.

They have been led by director Barbara Ridenour and music director Rick Murphy. Kim Alexander and Alicia Cross Engelhardt have been in charge of choreography.

Starring seniors Daniel Borup and Sheri Grill in the famed roles of Tony and Maria, whose fates become tragically entwined in the deadly gang rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, "West Side Story" will be performed 7 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as 2:30 Saturday.

Tickets to the performances are now on sale. They can be purchased in person in the office at $8 for adults and $7 for students, staff, and seniors.

Not only is "West Side Story" quite a change from the shows of previous years in terms of mood and subject matter, but the music is hard to play. The songs are hard to sing. The dances are not only confusing, but they require skills many of the actors didn't know they had.

With all that on top of a shortened rehearsal time, interrupted by spring break falling right before tech week, "West Side Story" presented a challenge that has been known to be difficult for even professional actors to meet.

Nevertheless, you can be sure that the show that is presented this weekend will be on par with everything you've come to expect from Uni theater, and yet will be like nothing you've seen before.

"I'm really impressed with the way things are coming together at the last minute," said senior Teddy Zamora-Mills, who plays Bernardo, leader of the Sharks. "The set and costumes help everyone get focused."

With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, "West Side Story" features songs that have become Broadway classics — indeed, part of the American popular consciousness — such as "Tonight, "America," "Somewhere," and "I Feel Pretty."

"All of the actors are definitely trying their best and giving their utmost energy to pull this off," said junior Brittany Scheid, who plays Velma, one of the Jet girls. "The audience always fills up for musicals so people are going to have to get their tickets soon — you won't want to miss this one!"

"WEST SIDE STORY" CAST, Orchestra, and Crew MEMBERS

The Jets

• Tony: Daniel Borup (sr)
• Riff: Zack Goldberg (jr)
• Action: Jared Doyle (jr)
• Diesel: Will Erickson (fr)
• A-Rab: Ben Zehr (so)
• Baby John: Charlie Newman-Johnson (so)
• Snowboy: Johnny Shapley (fr)

Their Girls

• Velma: Brittany Scheid (jr)
• Graziella: Anna Gooler (jr)
• Anybodys: Stefanie Senior (so)
• Minnie: Erin Berl (su)
• Clarice: Sierra Marcum (sr)
• Pauline: Vivian Robison (jr)
• Jet Girls: Brianna Hajek (su), Ella Lubienski (su), Juliana Trach (su)

The Sharks

• Bernardo: Miguel Zamora-Mills (sr)
• Chino: Aramael Pena-Alcantera (fr)
• Pepe: Rodney LeNoir (fr)
• Luis: Stirling Lemme (su)
• Toro: Jack Gillette (su)
• Shark Members: Kaila Simpson (su), Alex Valdez (su)

Their Girls

• Maria: Sheri Grill (sr)
• Anita: Sarah Lake-Rayburn (sr)
• Rosalia: Karen Han (sr)
• Consuela: Lauren Piester (sr)
• Teresita: Kahlilah Cooke (so)
• Francisca: Martha Yoshida (so)
• Margarita: Maia Gersten (fr)
• Shark Girls: Melissa Rosas (su), Kaila Simpson (su), Alex Valdez (su)

The Adults

• Officer Krupke: Steve Rayburn (English teacher)
• Doc: Rob Diehl (sr)
• Lt. Schrank: Jeremy Kemball (sr)
• Glad Hand: Hannah Leskosky (sr)

Orchestra

• Percussion: Adam Joseph (so), Chris Mathy (so)
• Clarinet: Jacob Druker (sr), Katherine Floess (so), Leif Hague (su)
• Saxophone: Clement Dossin (sr)
• Tuba: Hannah Johlas (fr)
• Bass: Carl Pearson (sr)
• Violin: Chelsea Edwards (su), Annie Rong (fr), Joey Smith (fr), Chae Won Park (su)
• Trombone: Aaron Wilson (su), Lisa Sproat (so)
• Trumpet: Robbie McMillen (fr), Ian Slauch (so)
• Flute: Francois Dossin (fr), Marie Lilly (fr)
• Cello: Petra Rantanen (su)

Production Staff

• Directing Assistance: Steve Rayburn
• Stage Manager: Tianna Pittenger
• Lighting Design & Board Operator: Natsuki Nakamura
• Sound: Natsuki Nakamura
• Set Design: Sierra Marcum
• Poster: Margarita Mouschovias
• Program: Lauren Piester
• T-Shirt Design: Lauren Piester