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April 1, 2003
West Side Story in all its glory
With stunning singing, acting and dancing talent and sets worthy of the professional stage, Blair’s production of West Side Story is an emotional, engrossing experience that never fails to entertain.
Working with an impressively large ensemble, director Kelly Newman has forged together a colorful, vivacious production, utilizing the various talents of her cast, whether they be break-dancing or stage combat. Her use of costumes, blocking, and body language set the perfect tone for the rough story of two rival gangs in New York City.
West Side Story is a modern re-working of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York, it tells the tale of the Jets, a native gang, and the Sharks, their Puerto Rican nemesis. Tensions between the two gangs and their leaders, the intense Riff (junior Jesse Galef) and suave Bernardo (sophomore Anthony Coello), are running high as the Sharks intrude on the Jets hard-won turf. Angry at the influx of immigrants into the neighborhood, Riff challenges Bernardo to a rumble to settle the matter once and for all.
Meanwhile, Tony (junior Ben Martinez), a former Jet, and Maria (senior Febe Huezo), Bernardo’s younger sister, have fallen madly in love with each other. Determined to stop their friends and family from killing each other, the couple unknowingly sets in place the inevitable tragedy that follows from their love and the hate that surrounds them.
Particularly noteworthy in Blair’s production are the several fight scenes, which are breathtaking to watch. From the opening brawl to the knife fight between Riff and Bernardo, the choreography is realistic and interesting, and it is executed with a level of proficiency not often seen in teen theatre.
Both Martinez and Huezo are well up to the task of hitting both the emotional and vocal high notes of their characters. Martinez’s boyish innocence is particularly endearing. However, through no fault of the lead actors, the supporting cast steals the show; frankly, after their bazillioneth love duet, Tony and Maria become predictable and repetitive. Junior Jessica Lynn Favin, a veteran of both Blair and community theatre, plays Bernardo’s worldly girlfriend, Anita, with snap and flair. She acts, she dances, she sings, and she’s completely unstoppable in the spotlight. Galef’s agility and energy brings the wiry Riff to life, and he is perfectly offset by Coello’s more focused, controlled mannerisms. Both actors, though a little rough around the vocal edges, act, dance and fight skillfully and through it all still manage, of course, to die in their light.
This production would not have been the same without the sweeping sets and backdrops designed and built by the stage crew. Maria’s mammoth balcony is a structural wonder and one of the highlights of the show. Additionally, the highway backdrop for the rumble, designed by seniors Danielle Prados and Christine Wang, is a visual masterpiece that brings grungy realism to that scene, complimented by the dramatic lighting.
The pit orchestra under the direction of Kurt Lucas brought the challenging music of West Side Story up to the level of the production onstage. Their months of work has paid off tremendously, strengthening the overall appeal of the show.
Though much of West Side Story is mostly innovative and original, there are points strongly reminiscent of the movie, especially during the song “Officer Krupke," the comic highlight of the show, and the War Council between the Jets and the Sharks. However, the movie tidbits are well-used, and even a slight feeling of dejŕ vu and a few minor technical errors could not detract from the overall presentation. West Side Story is a show not to be missed.
West Side Story is playing Friday, Apr 4, and Saturday, Apr 5 in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are five dollars for students and eight dollars for adults. Tickets are now on sale at the attendence office.
Working with an impressively large ensemble, director Kelly Newman has forged together a colorful, vivacious production, utilizing the various talents of her cast, whether they be break-dancing or stage combat. Her use of costumes, blocking, and body language set the perfect tone for the rough story of two rival gangs in New York City.
West Side Story is a modern re-working of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York, it tells the tale of the Jets, a native gang, and the Sharks, their Puerto Rican nemesis. Tensions between the two gangs and their leaders, the intense Riff (junior Jesse Galef) and suave Bernardo (sophomore Anthony Coello), are running high as the Sharks intrude on the Jets hard-won turf. Angry at the influx of immigrants into the neighborhood, Riff challenges Bernardo to a rumble to settle the matter once and for all.
Meanwhile, Tony (junior Ben Martinez), a former Jet, and Maria (senior Febe Huezo), Bernardo’s younger sister, have fallen madly in love with each other. Determined to stop their friends and family from killing each other, the couple unknowingly sets in place the inevitable tragedy that follows from their love and the hate that surrounds them.
Particularly noteworthy in Blair’s production are the several fight scenes, which are breathtaking to watch. From the opening brawl to the knife fight between Riff and Bernardo, the choreography is realistic and interesting, and it is executed with a level of proficiency not often seen in teen theatre.
Both Martinez and Huezo are well up to the task of hitting both the emotional and vocal high notes of their characters. Martinez’s boyish innocence is particularly endearing. However, through no fault of the lead actors, the supporting cast steals the show; frankly, after their bazillioneth love duet, Tony and Maria become predictable and repetitive. Junior Jessica Lynn Favin, a veteran of both Blair and community theatre, plays Bernardo’s worldly girlfriend, Anita, with snap and flair. She acts, she dances, she sings, and she’s completely unstoppable in the spotlight. Galef’s agility and energy brings the wiry Riff to life, and he is perfectly offset by Coello’s more focused, controlled mannerisms. Both actors, though a little rough around the vocal edges, act, dance and fight skillfully and through it all still manage, of course, to die in their light.
This production would not have been the same without the sweeping sets and backdrops designed and built by the stage crew. Maria’s mammoth balcony is a structural wonder and one of the highlights of the show. Additionally, the highway backdrop for the rumble, designed by seniors Danielle Prados and Christine Wang, is a visual masterpiece that brings grungy realism to that scene, complimented by the dramatic lighting.
The pit orchestra under the direction of Kurt Lucas brought the challenging music of West Side Story up to the level of the production onstage. Their months of work has paid off tremendously, strengthening the overall appeal of the show.
Though much of West Side Story is mostly innovative and original, there are points strongly reminiscent of the movie, especially during the song “Officer Krupke," the comic highlight of the show, and the War Council between the Jets and the Sharks. However, the movie tidbits are well-used, and even a slight feeling of dejŕ vu and a few minor technical errors could not detract from the overall presentation. West Side Story is a show not to be missed.
West Side Story is playing Friday, Apr 4, and Saturday, Apr 5 in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are five dollars for students and eight dollars for adults. Tickets are now on sale at the attendence office.
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"wiry"...that's you all right
Febe has an AMAZINGLY beautiful voice and Tony is definetly a beautiful crooner. I mean, the leads are so awesome! Congratualtions guys! You were definetly casted well.
Anita is SO gorgeous and graceful and I want to meet her and take pictures with her. Riff and Bernardo are really HOT too and they make awesome action stars and I want to marry them.
ALL of the cast are really going places.
The cast and pit are great, too!
We only have two more shows left, so let's make them awesome!
Dear Miss Lynn was dead-on amazing.
Choreography was great, if not the dancing, then the skillful timing. The Pit rocked like the schnizzlebagher.
Regardless, we all know the true highlight of the show was the excellent lights work :)
Great show, everybody should watch it... twice!
I love WSS... I almost cried...
I went and downloaded a load of it as soon as I got home... I listened to "There's a Place for Us" this morning... and bawled my eyes out. Great stuff, what y'all did in yon mysterious realm of Blaar Haskull.
I'll see you at Les Mis, dearest.
(Walter Johnson HS, May 2nd, 3rd, 9th, and 10th)
Prepre to have thy minds blown ;)
I heard the sets looked wonderful. I hope your senior year is treating you well.
Good Luck with everything.
Mr. Vergari
The singing was fair. Projection, everyone! As usual, the dancing was amazing. The choreography of the fight scenes also looked very nice and professional.
The flats used as most of the set were not impressive. But the highway and balcony were very nicely done.
Overall grade: B+
For years I said that West Side Story was a show that Blair should do. I guess I was a victim of the success I knew it would have; Vic and I were 2 of many who were unable to get in. :^(
Knowing full well the talent that Blair has both on-stage and behind the scenes, I expected the show to be a smash, and the article above gave me some taste of it. And I appreciate that. :^)
Is there any chance that it will be extended another weekend? Or that there could be a video showing (a poor second choice to live theater a la Blair, but better than not seeing it at all). [What is the smiley for crossed fingers and hopeful expression?]
I'm so glad you met with such great success. My best to you all; many fond memories are wrapped up in the Blair theater program...the best in the county!
Love to you all.
Eve Church (mom of Daniel, Leah, and Andy)
Chito--you rock my world.
Riff--i'm on a high, on a high.
i bet its easy for you to sit at your computer now and say horrible things about the show and the actors, but if you actually had guts you would have been up there on that stage. from where i was sitting, phoebe had a spectacular voice and there was amazing emotion on the stage.
also, i don't believe any of the leads are in CAP, and so what if a good number of CAP kids were in the cast (it was a HUGE cast), there was also a large number of magnet kids. to thrash out at CAP shows you are truly desperate to find something horrible to say. how dare you pass judgements on the cast and
ms. newman. did you like try out for the play and get rejected or something, cause you really just sound bitter.
i think you were really the loser in all this, because the rest of us definitely got our money's worth and more, while you, just lost your money.
especially when you just finished building it...
like, two days ago...
haha.
good times.
I saw no other bboyz...
EXTEND WSS SO I CAN SEE IT AGAIN!
Ben Is Adorable
Phoebe is an Angel
Lynn is going places
Tony is Suave
Chino is sexy
Riff is amazing
and the above people wouldn't be as fantastic as they are without the supercalifragilistic multi talented cast that supported them through out the entire experience( cast,crew, pit and teachers). Doing West side story was an experience I'll never forget. For a few weeks I got to live in a story i love and bring to life a timeless musical. Sure People aren't perfect, but we delivered an amazing show to the community and that can't be denied. West Side story Cast, pit and Crew I love you.
Maya
Stage crew simply amazed me with the backdrops, they looked beautiful. The hours of work and commitment are evident.
Mr Lucas and the pit- wonderful! Mr Lucas deserves enormous props for the feat he accomplished- if they are at all good, it's due to the man!
Snowboy, Geetar, Chino, Rico: Dahlings, you were hot!
This is an especially big compliment considering that 9 times out of 10 I hate musicals from the depths of my soul. Although I still didn't like the "musical" parts of this musical, they didn't detract enough from the play as a whole to make me not enjoy it.
Oh, and great job to everyone in cast/crew/pit/whoever else I might be forgetting!
Danny
Ben (Tony) Is Adorable...but his pop voice really didn't fit the role of tony. Sounded nice though. I doubt there's another guy that could sing so high
Phoebe (Maya) is an Angel that can't support the upper notes. Her performance in the love scenes lacked any sort of spark.
Lynn (Anita) is going places. I agree. She looked more Asian than Peurto Rican, but the acting was simply phenomenal. Nice broadway belting voice, too.
Tony (Bernardo) is Suave. But I couldn't hear him, and he didn't have the intensity I expect in the character.
Roberto (Chino) is sexy . Yes.
Jesse (Riff) is amazing. Have to agree with you. A little rough vocally, but a great actor/breakdancer.
So those are my conclusions.
PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE?!
First of all, you need to recognize that Gonzaga is a private school and has about 10 times the funding of Blair. They could probably hire a private vocal coach and could pay for much more expansive sets. Secondly, you have the right to criticize the play, no one's stopping you. However, stop trying to discredit other people's comments or speak for the school. When you say stuff like "I'm sorry to say this, but it's obvious everyone else is'nt saying this becuase they are polite," you make it seem like everybody is just euphemizing what they really thought of the show, when, judging from the play's reception at the box office and the comments posted here, you're in the minority. Also, though you claim that most of the people posting positively for the show were in it, there's no way you could know that, seeing as nobody is actually using their name and only a couple have admitted to being involved with the show. Share your opinion, but don't force it on others or use false information to back it up.
"Yeah a lot of famous people went to our school."
"Yeah, Goldie Hawn, Connie Chung, Ben Stein, Jessica Favin."
To Miss Favin, I wish you all the best.
and, although I admit I'm no musical critic, i did really enjoy the show. thanks to everyone involved!
That being said, I thought WSS was the best play I've ever seen at Blair. Ben did very well with acting and singing, and the rest of the cast was also great.
As for whoever this reality check person is, I'm sorry that your parents don't love you and can only suggest that you continue sitting alone and awaiting the cool release of death.
The play was awesome regardless of the cast composition, CAP, magnet whatever. Everyone did a fantastic job.
Entertainer of the Month measures talent, NOT how many shows someone has been in.
Outraged--you just sound extremely immature and jealous.
febe was nice, but she wasn't the best.
reality check- You contradict yourself several times. First you insult our show, then you get defensive, then you say you didn't even see our show, then you insult our show again. Make up your mind, please. Or at least recognize that putting a show together with 80 high schoolers is no easy job. The talent in this show was marvelous from roles and ensemble alike. You can critique, but do not make wild assumptions just meant to provoke people and 'cause heart attacks'
crew- the flats were just hard to manage, that's all. The major scenes (under the highway, the city) were gorgeous. Thank you, crew!
jennie- pit was amazing.
outraged- febe has the voice of an angel, and she deserves all the recognition in the world, and then some.
Febe deserves to be entertainer- I wrote where I've performed in my bio. Regardless, Febe has a gorgeous soprano voice. She is the talent at the school. Congratulations Febe! *hugs*
Great job to the jets, sharks, america dancers, cool dancers, adults, gym dancers, stage crew, pit, Mr. Kaluta, Mr. Lucas, Ms. Newman...everyone! I'd like to give a special thank you to Lilah for doing an amazing job of choreographing the America dance.
~Lynn Favin (anita)
get one yourself. gonzaga's theater can't do much on their own. THEY HAVE NO GIRLS. anything from gonzaga that's good is only due in little part to gonzaga. it's more like gonzaga can attract and hire the talent that blair has w/o trying.