Review Roundup: What Did The Critics Think OF WEST SIDE STORY at Encore Musical Theatre Company?

The Encore Musical Theatre Company proudly presents West Side Story, running June 21st through August 12th, 2018. West Side Story is directed by Daniel C. Cooney, music directed by Tyler Driskill, and choreographed by Matthew Brennan.

The Encore's production stars Conor Jordan (Tony), Aurora Penepacker (Maria), Eric Rivas (Bernardo), Marisa Rivera (Anita), and Spencer "Skip" Stewart (Riff); with Michael Szymanski, MD (Doc/Gladhand), Keith Kalinowski (Lt. Shrank), Dan Morrison (Officer Krupke), Dominic Dorset (Chino), Connor Giles (Action), Kaimana Neil (Diesel), Jessica DiForte (Anybodys), Josh England (Baby John), Jake Daley (A-Rab), Sebastian Gerstner (Big Deal), Xavier Bush (Pepe), José Martinez-Chavarria (Luis), Alex VIllaseñor (Indio), Emily Hadick (Velma/Somewhere Singer), Danielle "Dee Dee" Fattore (Graziella), Jalbelly Guzmán (Rosalia), Lexie Janda (Francisca), Kristina Bermudez (Consuela), Maeve Cosgriffe (Paula), and Anna Dreslinski Cooke (Minnie).

You can call (734-268-6200) or come in to our box office (3126 Broad Street, Dexter, MI), as well as purchase on our website: http://www.theencoretheatre.org.

Let's see what the critics have to say!

Ronan Narbor, A2View: It's hard to pull out specific performances when you have such an outstanding ensemble cast, correctly age-cast and diverse in nature. However, you will most likely never forget Conor Jordan as Tony and Aurora Penepacker as Maria. Individually they are remarkable, together they raise the production into the world of theater magic.

Jenn McKee, PULP: That said, the one qualm I had about Encore's production involves its somewhat muted emotional thrust. The young leads hit their marks and nailed their notes and steps, but I neither felt swept up in their romance nor did I feel gutted by the show's tragic ending. Yes, Penepacker's feral cry ("Don't touch him!") in the final scene was affecting, but much of what led us there was less so. Her rendition of "I Feel Pretty" and Jordan's "Maria," for example, both sounded lovely, but they didn't palpably convey the blissed-out euphoria of new love.