These lines from lead character Tony are ringing in the air at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School as preparations are in the final swing for this year’s musical, the ever-popular West Side Story.
Following last year’s sell-out success of Les Misérables, staff and students are pulling out all the stops to deliver just as strong a performance.
To house the 70 plus cast, and huge dance numbers, this year’s musical is being performed in-the-round style, offering the audience an immersion into the New York setting, where two rival gangs of ‘Americans’ and ‘Puerto Rican’ immigrants play out Bernstein, Sondheim and Laurents’ take on Shakespeare’s beloved Romeo and Juliet.
The whole cast have had to learn to dance: choreographer Victoria Pellant said, “Taking on West Side Story has not been the easiest of tasks – the amount of dance within this show can be daunting for any professional company, let alone a huge cast which have not danced very much at all; the cast have been absolutely brilliant and taken all my crazy ideas within their stride.
“I am extremely proud of them and all of their hard work as they have ended up with a fantastic show.”
Performing West Side Story is a huge undertaking for any company, but the complexity of the music, dancing and story staging all contribute to the long-standing beauty of the show.
Musical director, Chris Eastman, said, “Ground-breaking in its time, the emotional depth and technical complexity of West Side Story’s score make it incredibly difficult to perform, even for adults.
“It was an unfulfilled ambition of mine to play Tony in my time at TBGS, but now I get to go one better and conduct this exceptionally talented and energetic cast and orchestra in what remains the musical pinnacle of Musical Theatre repertoire.”
As usual, students from Torquay Girls’ Grammar School are joining the boys, the combined cast offering many talented performers on and off stage.
Director, James Hunt said, “The cast seems to grow in confidence and skill year on year; there are some familiar and new faces but everyone has risen to the challenge of bringing the world of the disaffected rivalling gangs to life.
“I can’t wait to see it all come together for our first performance on Monday 2 March for local primary schools.”
West Side Story is being staged 3-6 March at TBGS; tickets are available via the what’s on tab at www.tbgs.co.uk
