More than 100 students at Charlottesville High School present their spring musical, “West Side Story,” this Wednesday, February 25, through Saturday, February 28, at CHS in the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center. The beloved musical tells the story of star-crossed lovers from two warring families. The CHS production explores how characters live in a world where suspicion and fear of the “other” drown out a sense of shared humanity. 

“Our cast is pouring heart and soul into every dance move, every note, every piece of the set,” said CHS Theater Director David Becker. “Our students have collaborated beautifully with one another to create this production, and I am incredibly proud of their achievement.”

Showtimes at MLK PAC are:

• Wednesday, Feb. 25: 7:30pm
• Thursday, Feb. 26: 7:30pm
• Friday, Feb. 27: 7:30pm
• Saturday, Feb 28. 2pm and 7:30pm

Tickets are $16.75, and free for Charlottesville City Schools students. Purchase tickets via GoFan.

The performance is starring students Levi Hofman, Brianni Aparicio-Suria, Chris Early, Bernadette Moran, Jack Wielar, Shay Pricket, Cyrus Candia, and Leela Valdez, plus staff Joshua O’Grady and David Wilkerson. The production is directed by David Becker. Music Direction: Calvin Hurst. Set Designer: Robert Cohen Johnson. Pit Director: Dr. Burton Hable. Choreography by Shania Thorpe-Freytiz. Assistant choreographer: Georgia Downey. Dance captains: Dahlia Becker, Jack Wielar, Olivia Ramirez Weaver. Projection design: Bernadette Moran.  Production advisor: Madeline Michel. Poster Design: Sil Leva. Photography by Emmet Leclere. The production also includes dozens of additional students on stage, in the orchestra, and behind the scenes. 

Photos by Emmet Leclere, Grade 10, CHS