For the Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News
— CUMBERLAND — Bishop Walsh School’s Spartan Theater has selected “West Side Story” to be presented on April 29 and 30 and May 1 as the spring production.
Caroline Hughes and Jared Mathews head a cast of 50 in the story of love and death on New York’s West Side. Maggie McGill, Kyle Rhodes and Alex Serrano appear in major supporting roles as Puerto Ricans struggling to find a place for themselves in New York City.
At present, “West Side Story” is on Broadway, playing to sell-out crowds, and was nominated for a Tony Award last season in the best revival area. “West Side Story” is considered a ground-breaking musical with its rival gangs fighting for supremacy against the background of a love story taken from the pages of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Members for the production staff of the musical are Kelli Allaway, choreographer; Marty Mathews, Charlie Lindelof and John McGill, set designers; Vonda Mathews, ticket sales; Patty McGill, production program; Debbie Hare, supervisor of the production staff; Gary Stein, music; Sam Hofacker, accompanist; and Jo Ann Stangel, production director.
Other adult supervisors are Cheryl Blake, Kerrey Rhodes and Greer Hughes. Student directors are Abbie Mathews, Charlotte Thomas and Sarah Feeney.
The Jet gang members are Jared Mathews, Kyle Rhodes, Jack Riley, Ryan Snyder, Mickey Burkett, Aaron O’Rourke, Jamie Nolan, Greg Hendershot and Hans Irvin.
Emily Nallin, Olivia Nallin, Paula Nolan, and Becca Winner portray Jet girls.
The Shark gang members are Alex Serrano, Caroline Hughes, Maggie McGill, Josh Tan, James Loffert, Dylan D’Atri, Billy Conroy, Matt Kelley and Ryan Ross.
Whitney Walker, who is also a solo ballerina, Bekkah Gomer and Chaise McCunn portray Shark girls.
Nick Cathell, Adam Martin and Michael Bartholomew are playing the Adults.
The dancers for the play are Paula Nolan, Amanda Clay, Abby Benjamin, Kelly Larkin, Jennifer Rogers, Allison Murphy, Katie Dignan, Ashley Peng, Jill Loffert, Leah Nolan, Brianna Klingler, Caitlin Strem and Brittany Coffman.
