Dayton Students Prep “West Side Story”

This week, Jets face off against Sharks at the home of the Bulldogs.

Dayton theater students have been hard at work putting rehearsing the iconic musical “West Side Story,” which will be performed at the school on Thursday, March 31, Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2.  

The play’s director Ashley Madison said she expects audiences to be familiar with the play and to arrive with high expectations.

“We have a lot to live up to,” Madison, who teaches music at both Dayton and Florence Gaudineer Middle School, said. “People come to ‘West Side’ expecting something magical.”

Madison was attracted to the play for its iconic nature and its large scale. Thirty four students will take the stage to act out the Romeo and Juliet derived plot line, belt out famous songs like “Maria” and perform the musical’s show stopping dance numbers.

The backstage production is just as much of an undertaking. Madison said part of the challenge of mounting the show was its required meticulous attention to detail in make-up and costuming.

“It’s so much bigger than anything we’ve done before,” Dayton student Vesna Stoicivici, who plays Maria, said.

It’s also a sharp right turn from the musical fare offered by Dayton in the last three years. The recent slate of plays, including “Footloose” and “Little Shop of Horrors” has had a much different energy.

“I’m a rock ‘n’ roll girl,” Madison said. “I like doing rock shows and comedy.”

The cast's rock 'n' roll energy and comedic chops will still be utilized, as the play includes songs like the staccato call and response of "America" and the broad comedy of "Officer Krupke."

Madison said she was very impressed by the cast’s ability to handle the show’s serious themes and tragic undertones. The cast-members said they have enjoyed the challenge of portraying the show’s emotions, a gamut that Tony portrayer Max Webb said ran from “love” to “devastation” to “euphoria.”

Cast members noted that the play's cast and crew were especially tight during the production, with many actors and tech crewmembers veterans of Dayton's theater.  

“We’re basically all really close friends,” Vesna said. 

The cast’s joy of performance and confidence in their hard work was evident, and they urged Springfield residents to come out to see the show.

“It’s going to be lengendary,” Webb said. 

Show times are at 7:30pm.  Jonathan Dayton HS is located at 139 Mountain Avenue.  Admission is $12 adults and $8 students and senior citizens.  (Due to mature nature, children under 13 must be accompanied by an parent.  Tickets for West Side Story are now on sale. Mrs. LoSchiavo, Secretary to the Assistant Principal, will be pre-selling tickets in the main office on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 3:15 and 3:45.   The April 1 show is a special performance, with the JDHS Restaurant club will be providing a menu for the night's "Dinner and a Show" promotion.  An additional admission ticket is required for the dinner and is $10 general admission.