"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

THE NORTH ATTIC is quiet when I step out of the elevator, so I'm startled when I'm hit by a blast of noise when I reach the corridor that leads to the South Attic.

It soon becomes obvious why — play practice is in full swing, and it's the last one before spring break. The "West Side Story" cast is fully aware that only tech week stands in between them and opening night. The atmosphere crackles between budding excitement and hysterical apprehension.

I spot senior Sarah Lake-Rayburn amidst the chaos in full costume, a fiery concoction of well-fitted '50s swing dress and crimson red shawl. She's in control — she's got this.

The Uni theater veteran plays Anita in Uni's sold-out production of "West Side Story," which opens tonight and continues with performances Friday and Saturday night as well as Saturday afternoon.

"West Side Story" is the beloved Broadway musical chronicling the amorous and violent clash between Maria and Tony and their respective gangs. Saying that the Jets, co-founded by Tony, and the Sharks, led by Maria's brother, Bernardo, don't get along is to utter a bit of an understatement.

Anita, who is Bernardo's girlfriend and Maria's best friend, is no small role. Anita is also the leader of the Shark girls, but no sweat.

"Being a senior, I've been in more of a leadership position in theater and in chorus, so I've kind of gotten used to it," says Lake-Rayburn.

It's this senior's last Uni show, but she is bound to make it quite a show.

Becoming Sarah

Sarah Lake-Rayburn gets to display a variety of emotions as Anita. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Born into a theater-loving family, Lake-Rayburn grew up in a household where her father and three older siblings were all very involved in theater. It was inevitable that she would follow in their footsteps.

In fact, her father, Uni English teacher Steve Rayburn, notes that he was "directly responsible for making her a theater rat," as she was often carted along to the rehearsals of the community shows he directed.

"I did my first show the summer of 1999, when I was 6 years old," she explains, "and after that first show, I was hooked."

Since the early charms of her first performance in "Fiddler on the Roof," she was drawn into the world of theater. Lake-Rayburn performed in seven or eight more shows before coming to Uni.

Upon entering the school as a subbie, she promised herself that she would hit the 10-show mark before graduating. "West Side Story" will be the culmination of that illustrious journey.

"I was really happy when I heard we'd be doing 'WSS,'" says Sarah, who lists the musical as one of her favorites. "Also, there's just so much emotion in the show, I knew whatever role I got would be challenging and interesting."

Becoming Anita

Lake-Rayburn shows off her dance skills. Behind her are senior Lauren Piester (left) and subfreshman Alex Valdez. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Auditions have never been Lake-Rayburn's forte. Despite her experience with acting, she still tends to feel slightly flustered when it comes to being judged on the delivery of unfamiliar lines.

"I just had to keep saying to myself: 'These are people I've known for a long time. They can tell the difference between nervous and bad,'" she says.

Self-motivation and confidence eventually landed Sarah what could be considered the most nuanced, challenging role in "West Side Story" — a part that includes a difficult scene in which Anita is roughed up by angry Jets.

"The role of Anita may not be the first choice for a young actor, but it's the meatiest part in the musical," explains theater director Barbara Ridenour, who has worked with Lake-Rayburn for all of the actor's five years at Uni. "Most seasoned actresses would prefer that part over the ingenue role [of Maria]. Anita has to be able to carry the moment … [and] has great songs and dances."

Sarah agrees that Anita "is the really exciting character — she's so bright and energetic" and has "some really awesome songs in the show."

Her father concurs: "In many shows, the more complex character is not always the lead character. I must say, though, it is not easy seeing your daughter physically assaulted."

Anita's disposition is capricious. She's gay and laughing and singing "America," flirty and contemplative with Bernardo, outraged when she is attacked by the Jets, hysterical when Bernardo dies.

"A lot of the other shows I've done haven't had quite such a range of emotion," she says. "In 'WSS,' in one scene you'll be happy and carefree, and in the next scene you could be crying and yelling at someone."

Of course, she's up to this task.

"It's great," she concedes, spilling her acting secrets. "I usually just think about how I would actually feel if this was actually happening to me, and it kind of just comes naturally. I've always been a pretty dramatic person; when I'm happy, you can tell, and when I'm angry, it's really pronounced, just in everyday life. If that doesn't work, I think about something that has been irritating me, and that gets me more emotional."

This isn't to say that the show has been without obstacles for Lake-Rayburn.

"My dance skills are kind of regrettably bad. I really want to take at least some basic dance classes, so I don't have to focus so much on learning dances. I also want to develop my voice more, and learn how to breathe better when I'm singing. It takes a lot of practice to really get it down."

When she first received the musical score, there were worries that some vocal parts were too low for her voice. Luckily, that was smoothed out with music director Rick Murphy, who has worked with Lake-Rayburn in Mixed Chorus, Madrigals, and past Uni musicals.

"Sarah is very serious about being a performer," Murphy says, "both as an actress and as a musician. She treats every rehearsal as if it were an actual performance."

The girl you'll see on stage won't be Lake-Rayburn. She'll be Anita, but the change won't be all work and no games.

"I'm going to dye my hair," she says. "I keep thinking about how much I'm going to look like my sister [Hannah Lake-Rayburn, Class of 2008], because she's got dark hair."

Becoming even more

Anita and her boyfriend, Bernardo (senior Teddy Zamora-Mills), in a happier moment before events turn tragic. Gargoyle photo by (click to enlarge)

When the house lights come back on after Saturday night's show, Lake-Rayburn's prolific career as a Uni actress will draw to a sweetly melancholic end.

"I am quite proud of the job Sarah does — but, then, she is my baby! This may be her last show at Uni, but it will not be her last show!" reminds father Rayburn.

Lake-Rayburn has been offered an acting scholarship to pursue her passion after high school.

"In the fall, I plan on majoring in theater at Cornell College," she says. But she'll be missed back home.

"Sarah had it from the get-go," says Ridenour. "I've enjoyed working with her over the years and especially enjoyed watching her grow as an actor as well as a young adult."

"Her involvement in fine arts activities has been outstanding, and we will certainly miss her talents and her leadership abilities when she graduates later this spring," adds Murphy.

For now, though, Lake-Rayburn is going to enjoy her last Uni show to the fullest.

"The adrenaline rush of performing in front of an audience is the greatest feeling in the world," she says, smiling. "Opening night I'm going to feel like I'm on top of the world. There's something magical about it, in my opinion."

"West Side Story" marks the end of Lake-Rayburn's theatrical career at Uni, but she plans to be onstage in college. She has won an acting scholarship and will major in theater at Cornell College. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

"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