The Palmetto Center for the Arts (PCA) Magnet Program is proud to present an original production of the Concert Version (Dance Only) of West Side Story. The performance will be held on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, 2009 at 7pm in the Richland School District Two Auditorium. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, the military and senior citizens with proper ID and will be available in the box office before the performance beginning at 6:15pm
The performance features an original production choreographed by PCA Dance Program Director, Dr. Anne S. Richardson and the PCA dance students and features salsa, jazz, and musical theatre dancing. Dancing the role of Maria is PCA Senior dance student, Alexis Whitten. Tony will be danced by Stephen Ferguson with Culture Splash. The role of Anita will be danced by PCA Senior dance student, London Knight, and Bernardo will be danced by former Richland Northeast High School student, Edgar Santos. Told only through dance in this staging, the story of West Side Story is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and looks at the conflict between the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans) in the West Side of New York City. Students have been learning about Civil Rights in the late 1950's and early 1960's, the time of the original Broadway stage show, and how the conflicts can be expressed through dance and pantomime.
In addition to the PCA dance students' performance, prior to the show, some of the Richland Northeast High School freshman English I students under the direction of their English teacher, Ms. Kim Johnston, will provide a tableaux from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the inspiration for West Side Story in the auditorium lobby and participate in preparing podcasts for the production. The PCA dance students will also be creating podcasts under the direction of Mrs. Susan McCarthy that will be incorporated into the actual performance. The English students will demonstrate staged sword fighting, make judicious use of Shakespearean insults, and still scenes (tableaux) from the original Shakespeare play. Ms. Johnston is a graduate of the Folger Shakespeare Library's Teacher Institute, and is excited to bring this co-curricular connection to the stage.
Under the direction of Anne S. Richardson, the performance will be appropriate for children and adults to enjoy. For more information, contact Anne S. Richardson at 699-2800, ext. 2832 or via email at arichard@richland2.org.
