Review: Music Theater Works' WEST SIDE STORY at North Shore Center For The Performing Arts

The Jets and the Sharks take the stage at the North Shore for Performing Arts in Skokie. Directed by Sasha Gerritson and choreographed by Clayton Cross and Isa Ramirez, Music Theater Works’ production of West Side Story combines stirring vocals with striking choreography to tell this passionate story of love, humanity, hope, and belonging. 

As a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the timeless tale of love caught in the crosshairs of rivalry and division is set in 1950s New York City. The Jets and the Sharks, recent migrants from Puerto Rico, are rival gangs fighting over dominance of the neighborhood. Tony (Luke Nowakowski) and Maria (Isabella Ruano) meet at a dance and are instantly smitten with each other, but Tony is a former member of the Jets and best friends with Jets leader Riff (Connor Ripperger) while Maria is the sister of Sharks leader Bernardo (Emmanuel Ramirez). As they try to imagine a life together, they must also navigate the mounting tension and petty violence that result in avoidable tragedy.

The chemistry between Nowakowski and Ruano really grounds this show about love at first sight and sells the innocent and ignorant bliss that sets the story in motion. Ruano perfectly captures Maria’s sweet naïveté in her earnest love, youthful desire for freedom, and sincere belief in the good in the world and in people. She has an angelic voice and beautiful vibrato that really shines in “I Have a Love.” Nowakowski’s rendition of “Something’s Coming” is simultaneously soft yet powerful, and you can feel his desperate infatuation in “Maria” with his hypnotic falsettos. Between Nowakowski’s charm and Ruano’s warmth, these star-crossed lovers pull at your heart as they yearn for a future beyond division and hate.

Ripperger and Ramirez play off each other well as the rival gang leaders. While Riff’s authoritative presence stems from his desire to maintain the status quo of (white) power, Bernardo’s need to assert dominance in the neighborhood comes from the need to prove he and his community belong. The American Dream is a fantasy sold under capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism — but it is a fantasy that has been successfully sold. Even among immigrant communities, there are conflicting views on the ideas of belonging and opportunity, as seen in the classic song “America” where the strong-willed Anita (Pauleth Jauregui) defends her new home on the mainland United States of America, while Rosalia (Harmony Rose) aches for her motherland, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. 

The show’s choreography is a beautiful reminder of the power of dance to process feelings and release emotions. Particularly with the large ensemble, the stage was often filled to the brim with movement. From the start with the “Rumble” and “Jet Song”, we can feel the lively conversation happening across the stage not through words, but with motion, just as the iconic West Side Story snaps echo through our bones. The Ballet Sequence in Act 2 was ethereal, with beautiful singing from Consuelo (MJ Bueno) and Baby John (Jaxson Smith) in “Somewhere.” Music directed by Linda Madonia and conducted by Justin Kono, the vibrancy of the 23-person orchestra brings the music of Leonard Bernstein to life as the cast executes Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics with passion and precision.

The scenic design from Bob Knuth takes us from the streets of New York to an immigrant bedroom to a neutral ground drugstore. The decorative paper chains that came down from the ceiling during the dance was a simple yet effective set piece that reminded us of the youth of these characters. Bob Kuhn’s costume design also captures both the era of the story and the rich culture of each gang, notably the Shark Girls’ dresses in “America.”

Just like the paper chains, the comedy number “Gee, Officer Krupke” (poking fun at Office Krupke, played by Eric Desnoyers who is a bit over-the-top caricature of the unspoken common enemy that unites the gangs) drives home the point that these characters are just kids — misunderstood kids discarded by society, whether for race or class or gender, and left to their own devices to find themselves. The fierce loyalty within each gang is respectable, but when that obstinate loyalty creates an “us vs. them” mentality that results in misplaced violence, it closes our minds and keeps us from opening our hearts. West Side Story is ultimately a story of love against loyalty, but these values should not be mutually exclusive. You should be able to find true love without betraying those you call your own, and that is where Tony and Maria’s story of choosing compassion over hatred for other groups and communities remains as relevant as ever. 

During a time where our country remains divided and immigrant communities continue to face attacks from every level, this energetic and thoughtful piece of art reminds us of the beauty that can be found when we come together across our differences, no matter what language we speak or where we call home. In this production that's pretty close to the original, Music Theater Works does a powerful job of warning us of what can happen when we fail to recognize each other’s humanity and dignity — and reminding us that love, acceptance, and peace can, and should, overcome hate. 

West Side Story runs at The George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore for Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie) through August 30. All performances include Spanish supertitles during the musical numbers. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106, with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half price. 

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