Redoing ‘West Side Story’
Gary Moskowitz
LA CRESCENTA -- Seong Park is putting a new twist on the character of
“Tony” in “West Side Story.”
Seong, 15, a sophomore at Crescenta Valley High School, will portray
the lead character in the school’s production of “West Side Story” as
“Tony Ambroziak.”
Performances begin tonight at 7 in the school’s auditorium.
“I made up the name ‘Ambroziak’ because of ambrosia, which is like an
aphrodisiac,” Seong said. “But the unique aspect of our play is that we
are representing many ethnicities. No matter what the original characters
were, we are doing it our own way.”
About 100 Crescenta Valley High students are participating in the
school production of “West Side Story,” as actors, stage crew and
orchestra musicians.
The play is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” tragedy
set in the upper west side of New York City in the late 1950s.
Crescenta Valley High drama instructor Brent Beerman said actors in
the play have been learning Brooklyn accents just for the play.
“This is a very complicated play to do because the music is
challenging,” Beerman said. “Very little is realistic in our production.
The staging is more symbolic and suggestive, but we have kept it to the
period of the 1950s.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Crescenta Valley High School Drama Department’s production of
“West Side Story.”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, and at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.
WHERE: Crescenta Valley High School’s auditorium, 4400 Ramsdell Ave.,
La Crescenta.
HOW MUCH: $8 for adults, $5 for students and children.
INFO: For more information, call 249-5871.