Retiring West Chicago teacher goes out big with 'West Side Story'
Mary Hafertepe has worked on a fair share of musicals during her 37-year teaching career.
But it wasn't until now that she's preparing for retirement that Hafertepe is bringing the musical classic "West Side Story" to the stage at West Chicago's Community High School. The production opens tonight and runs through Saturday, May 15.
"I maybe shied away from it ('West Side Story') in the past, partially because of the choreography and the instrumental music is very, very difficult," said Hafertepe, who is codirecting the show with Maggie Haas.
Hafertepe said she now believes she has the right group of students for the musical, which is a variation on the story of "Romeo and Juliet."
"It's still a huge challenge," Hafertepe said. "But this is the right school to do it in. We have been able to involve a whole new crop of kids, and that's great."
Haas said Community High traditionally ends the school year with a large production. With the musical exploring the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds in 1950s New York City, "West Side Story" has many roles for students.
"And especially because it's our director's last show," Haas said, "she really likes having a large cast and getting as many kids involved as possible."
However, with more than 100 students involved - including cast, crew and band members - bringing "West Side Story" to life on a high school stage is very complex.
"I think the students have really risen to the challenge," Hafertepe said. "In fact, I am feeling more calm now than I do about many musicals at this point in the production schedule."
One decision was to have the West Chicago production stay true to the original 1957 Broadway show. So audience members most familiar with the 1961 film will be in for some surprises.
"The movie took a lot of liberties with the script in terms of doing different things to some of the songs and changing the order of some of the songs," Haas said. "We've definitely been sticking to the original script."
Meanwhile, all the components that make "West Side Story" a frequently produced show remain, including the classic songs "Maria," "Tonight," and "Somewhere." The story also still connects with modern-day audiences.
"Everybody likes a good love story every now and then," Haas said.
'West Side Story' cast JetsRiff: Jeff PierpointTony: Nik KmiecikAction: Tony WondolkowskiA-Rab: Noah StrayveBaby John: Dan StomporSnowboy: T.J. HahsBig Deal: Steve BalmerDiesel: Will RichardsGee-Tar: Aaron MordenMouthpiece: Kevin HauberTiger: Braeden AustgenJet girlsGraziela: Emma RobertsVelma: Kelsey SkogsbergMinnie: Nikki SmithClarice: Ellen FitzgeraldPauline: Meghan ZiffraLinda: Chelsea RossBrenda: Sami Lauf Shirley: Carrie LiskaDonna: Lauren RussoAnybodys: Pilar BonillaSharksBernardo: Anthony SolivenChino: Louis BoersPepe: Emmanuel OrtizIndio: Edgar LomeliLuis: Abraham GarciaAnxious: Fidel HuertaNibbles: Erik EspinoJuano: Luis RamirezToro: Joe RamosMoose: James AlfaroShark girlsMaria: Anna DuranAnita: Jackie SalgadoRosalia: Nadia PelletierConsuela: Danielle PacelliTeresita: Isaamar ZarcoFrancisca: Annette SanchezEstella: Tori SnellMargarita: Suzanne MolinaroPaloma: Lily VillaEmilia: Ariel BerumenEstefan#237;a: Maria BarajasAdultsDoc: Tom SandersSchrank: Josh BrownKrupke: Tyler AustgenGlad Hand: Ryan LakicsFalse20001292The Sharks in rehearsal of "West Side Story" at West Chicago's Community High School.Bev Horne | Staff PhotographerFalse <p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p><p class="News"><b>What:</b> "West Side Story"</p><p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, May 13-15</p><p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Community High School, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago</p><p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $5 for adults, $3 for students</p><p class="News"><b>Info: </b>(630) 876-6459</p>