NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, May 6.
PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend High School students will present “West Side Story” today, Saturday and May 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., as well as Sunday, May 15, at 2:30 p.m.
All performances will be in the Port Townsend High School auditorium, 1500 Van Ness St.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and students, and $3 for children 12 and younger. There is also a special family rate of $25.
All proceeds will help fund future shows at the school.
Tickets are available at the door only. The box office opens one hour before curtain.
This year’s spring musical is directed by Jennifer Nielsen, with musical direction by Linda Dowdell.
Tomoki Sage, who was in the 2000 production, choreographed the dances and the stage combat.
The backstage crew is led by Jim Guthrie on set construction, Steve Arbuckle on lights and Angela Agnew on hair and makeup design as well as costumes with student costumer Cece Nielsen.
Countywide cast
The cast features more than 30 high school students from Jefferson County.
Featured as Tony and Maria are Port Townsend High School stage veterans Rowan Gallagher and Miranda McClave.
Senior Claire Forbes takes on the iconic role of Anita and Noah Phillips plays her love interest, the hot-headed Bernardo.
The leader of the Jets, Riff, is portrayed by Austin Krieg and Sadie Palatnik plays the “Jets-wanna-be” Anybodys.
Leading the Jets in “Gee, Officer Krupke” is Tyler Manthe as Action.
Other Jets include Stevie Reipe, Boden LaBrie, Alex Genaw, Caleb Lumbard and Jacob Pederson.
The quiet Puerto Rican Chino, played by Henry Veitenhans, is joined by the other Sharks played by Juan Lopez, Joey Gallagoes, Sophia Breithaupt, Jacob Massie and Rosanna Widner.
The Jets’ girlfriends are played by Mimi Grant, Cece Nielsen, Diana Bond, Taylor Tracer and Rita Sheldon-O’Neal.
The Sharks’ girls, who perform “America” with Anita, are played by Keira Matkins, Mahina Gelderloos, Daija Ross, Bethany Lynch, Shauna Lynch and Rosanna Widner.
Guthrie returns to the stage as the drugstore owner “Doc” while seniors Ben Cundiff and Mitchell Morris play Lt. Shrank and Officer Krupke.
Ian Coates portrays the earnest “Glad Hand” and plays bass with the band.
For more information, call 360-379-4520.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
