L-R: Chris Brennan (Chino), Ben Martin (Indio), Andrew Marino (Diesel), Emily McDonald (Maria) and Kaylee Steck (Anita)

March 17, 2010 - A beloved theatrical classic is coming to Shaker High School. Some of your favorite characters including, Tony, Riff, Maria, Bernardo and Chino, to name a few, will be donning the stage for a weekend showcase of the Broadway spectacular, West Side Story.

“It is one of my favorite musicals,” Shaker High School Senior Ben Martin said. Martin will be playing the role of Indio. “It is really a thrill to be able to be a part of this performance.”

Students began rehearsing for the play months ago and immediately encountered a few difficulties attempting to get into character. The show, which was debuted in 1957, is filled with racial overtones and it was not easy to adapt to those roles.

“There are a lot of racial dynamics that take place,” Senior Kaylee Steck, who is playing the role of Anita, said. “You do not get the chance to explore these types of themes in other plays. It is had to come out of your being. Personalities have to mix with the personalities of the characters.”

The cast relied heavily on Director Mrs. Carrie Jackson to help harness those feelings and get into the proper state.

“Mrs. Jackson had the gang members (Jets and Sharks) rehearse separately, so when we finally rehearsed together, the tensions are high and we were ready to go,” Andrew Marino, who is playing the role of Diesel, said.

Steck (Anita) and Emily McDonald (Maria) shared a challenging, but light-hearted moment when rehearsing one of the most famous scenes from the play. In this scene, Anita and Maria are discussing the supposed dangers of Maria dating Tony.

“It is a gut-wrenching scene,” Steck said. “She (McDonald) is supposed to grab my arm and spin me around while trying to make her point.”

“I almost tore her arm off,” McDonald quipped, as the two girls shared a laugh.

“I had to tell her to use my shoulder instead,” Steck said. “It’s such a taxing piece that you get caught in the moment.”

Of course not every scene in West Side Story is dramatic. There are a few that are very light in nature, one being the humorous “Officer Krupke” song. In the scene, the Jets try to get their minds off the death of Riff by poking fun at all of the adults who try to make sense of what they do.

“It is my favorite scene,” Steck said. “The boys are so funny in it. It makes me crack up every time.”

It is moments such as these that drive the cast to not only meet, but exceed expectations of the community coming to see the performance.

“People know what happens in this play,” Junior Chris Brennan (Chino) said. “We know the challenge that lies ahead of us. We want to leave the audience feeling as if they just saw this for the first time.”