‘West Side Story’ at LCC July 13-16
A tale about young romance on New York’s west side will unfold Thursday, July 13 on the Laredo stage on West End Washington Street at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater at Laredo Community College.
That’s when Laredo Musical Theatre International presents its summer musical “West Side Story” in association with the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts and LCC.
Loaded with an abundance of singers, dancers and mismatched lovers, “West Side Story” captures the drama of racial tension, gang violence and youthful romance between Puerto Rican (Sharks) and Anglo (Jets) youth in New York’s west side.
The classic musical, a hit on Broadway and on the big screen, features the music of Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. The libretto is by Arthur Laurents.
Stage veteran Sam Johnson, the show’s producer, said that this masterfully written tale of American big city life is just as profoundly moving today as it was in 1957 when it was first presented on Broadway.
“Generations of Americans can still identify with the characters of Tony and Maria, the ethnically and culturally opposite couple which finds no more family harmony than did Shakespeare’s Montagues and Capulets,” Johnson said.
Johnson, along with the successful artistic team which staged last year’s “Anything Goes” returns for this year’s production. Directing “West Side Story” is Vernon Carroll. Music is directed by Brendan Townsend, with choreography by Bede Leyendecker.
Dr. Mary Grace Carroll is the music coordinator and Dr. Joseph Crabtree is the coach for vocal production. Technical director/sound engineer is Zane Richter.
The cast of 33 actors is composed of students from LCC, Texas A&M International University and area high schools.
Musical accompaniment for the theatrical showcase will be live thanks to an ensemble of more than 30 student musicians from local middle and high schools. The group is known as the West Side Sounds Orchestra.
“This is a very rewarding experience for Laredo youth to expand their cultural horizons by participating in an amateur musical theatre performance of the highest artistic level, while at the same time provide a worthy venue for the community to enjoy the excitement of musical theatre,” Vernon Carroll said.
Show times for the summer musical are July 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and July 16 at 3 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 with a valid student ID card. Tickets will be available at the door.
For more information, call Sam Johnson at 724-3832.
Mismatched lovers: Ricardo Holguin and Cristina Elizabeth Flores, portraying the roles of Tony and Maria, are among the singers and dancers appearing in the Laredo Musical Theatre International production “West Side Story.” The summer musical will be staged in the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater at Laredo Community College. The show will be presented July 13-15 at 8 p.m. and July 16 at 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 with a valid student ID card.
Jets vs. Sharks: The bitter rivalry between the Jets and Sharks comes to life on the Laredo Community College stage with the summer musical presentation of “West Side Story.” Laredo Musical Theatre International, the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts and LCC are joining forces again to showcase the classic Stephen Sondheim musical.
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