Summer Place Theatre to bring ‘West Side Story’ to the stage
Summer Place Theatre in Naperville will present the timeless classic, “West Side Story,” from July 19 to Aug. 4.
This landmark musical, with its unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, promises to captivate audiences with its powerful narrative and beloved melodies.
Based on a concept by Jerome Robbins and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story takes the world’s greatest love story to the streets of modern-day New York City. Two young lovers, Tony and Maria, find themselves caught in the crossfire between warring street gangs — the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their heart-wrenching struggle to survive amid hatred and prejudice is as poignant and relevant today as it was at its Broadway debut.
“West Side Story” features a talented cast led by Brian A. Cummins as Tony and Amelia Chavez as Maria.
The role of Riff is played by John H. Trygstad, Bernardo by Henry Cartaya, and Anita by Ericka Grace Pugliese.
Supporting cast members include Joseph M. Fatigante, Patrick Doorhy, Gabriel Bell, Zach Ulmer, Luke Brock, Kaitlin Taylor, Sarah Hunt, Lia Mulcahy, Lexi Grueneberg, Jenna Cima, Caspian Colbert, Preetish Chakraborty, Nikki Harris, Aiden Torres, Zachary C. Bulatek, Amanda Cima, Gabriella Longo, Erin Love, Jamie Kwon, Reed Pence, Rod Kelly, and Rick Love.
Mike Frale is the directed and scenic designer, with music direction by Kitty Karn, choreography by Maddie Shelton, and fight choreography by Andrew Trygstad. Bre Sakalis is the stage manager and Sam Dempsey is the production manager.
The production team is completed by technical director and master carpenters Timothy Lieb and Jeff Schmela, costume designer Kathleen Musselman, lighting designer Tyler Dawson, assistant stage manager Madalyn Quitter and sound designer Jeremy Lyon.
Produced by Nicole Grueneberg and Matt Whalen, this rendition of “West Side Story” promises to deliver a powerful and memorable theatrical experience.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays, July 19 to Aug. 4, at Naperville Central High School auditorium, 440 Aurora Ave.
Tickets are available online at www.summerplacetheatre.org. Online or over the phone prices are $17 for students and seniors, $22 for adults. Tickets are $3 more if purchased at the box office.
About Summer Place Theatre
Summer Place Theatre has been Naperville’s community theater since 1966, dedicated to bringing quality theatrical productions to the community and fostering a love of the arts in audiences of all ages.
“West Side Story” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.