Theatre lovers, get ready to rumble! It’s time to get dressed up sweet and sharp, play it cool — and get on over to the Canyon Theatre Guild, which is primed to present the fabulous tour de force, West Side Story! This classic Tony Award Winning Musical is a starkly romantic musical modernization of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The love story of Romeo and Juliet becomes that of Maria and Tony.
The grudge between the houses of the Capulets and the Montagues is re-created as a feud between two teen-age gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. The famous balcony scene of the Shakespeare drama is enacted on the fire-escape of an ugly upper West Side New York tenement. The love between two from opposing sides leads to a “rumble” and consequences are… well you’ll just have to come see this riveting, toe-tapping production!
West Side Story is directed by the fabulous Patti Finley as her farewell production at CTG, after which she’ll be bringing down the curtain here and moving on to further adventures in the wilds of retirement. Finley has been an icon at the CTG for 20 years, serving as Artistic Director of CTG’s Family Season, Assistant Director of the Canyon Theatre Guild and a wonderful advocate for the arts in our community. She will be missed! With Ms. Finley’s direction, a breathtaking score, tender-to-satirical lyrics and spectacular dance numbers, West Side Story is an experience you won’t want to miss. Performances are Fridays: June 5, 12, 19, 26 at 8 pm; Saturdays, May 30 and June 6 at 8 pm, June 13, 20, 27 at 2 pm and 8 pm; Sundays: May 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 at 2 pm.
Call the CTG Box Office at 661-799-2702 for reservations and information.