For immediate release April 10, 2008

Media contact: Jacquie Lucy 410-869-7168

Performing Arts celebrate CCBC’s 50 years with West Side Story
April 18, 19, 20, 25 and 28 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex

Baltimore County, Md. – The Community College of Baltimore County celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a Broadway classic, West Side Story. The theatre, dance and music programs in the Performing Arts and Humanities department at CCBC perform this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at 8 p.m. Friday April 18 and 25 and Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20 and at 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 28 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. Tickets are $8 general admission, $5 for students, senior adults, CCBC faculty, staff and alumni. For tickets and information, call the CCBC Box Office at 410-780-6369.

Conceived, choreographed and directed on Broadway by Jerome Robbins, West Side Story ushered in a new era of choreography, proving that dance could be fully integrated with storytelling. With a book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by a young Stephen Sondheim, the show’s gritty portrayal of rival gangs in New York driving apart the young lovers, Tony and Maria, was set to the music of Leonard Bernstein in 1957. As West Side Story celebrates its 50th year, so do the campuses of CCBC. This musical production features the CCBC Dance Company and serves as its spring concert.

Andrew Worthington of Towson stars as Tony, a white teenager growing up on the racially divided streets of New York, who is falling in love with Maria (Hyejin Park of Parkville), the beautiful young daughter of a Puerto Rican immigrant family. She is struggling under the overbearing protection of her brother, Bernardo, (Diego Tapia of Baltimore/Highlandtown) and relying on the friendship of Bernardo’s girlfriend, Anita (Heather Elswick of Dundalk).

Their love seems impossible, as Tony belongs to the Jets, an American gang led by his friend Riff (Phil Diedeman of Phoenix), and Maria’s brother Bernardo leads the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. The relationship between Tony and Maria leads these rival gangs into open conflict, ending in a tragedy unmatched in American musical theatre. Other actors in the cast include: Charlotte St. Pierre of Northwood (Officer Krupke), Scott Palmer of Glen Arm (Lt. Shrank), Saul Clark-Braverman of Westminster (Doc), Joe Tudor of Baltimore/Highlandtown (Arab), Nathan Boecker of Parkville (Baby John) and Chris Jehnert of Parkville (Action).

CCBC’s production of West Side Story is directed by James Hunnicutt (managing director, Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre) with musical direction by Patti Crossman (coordinator, CCBC Music program) and choreography by Christian Richards (artistic director, CCBC Dance Company) and Lori Yuill (dance faculty). Terri Raulie designed the set and lights and James J. Fasching did the costumes.

West Side Story performances are: 8 p.m. Friday April 18 and 25 and Saturday, April 19; 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, and 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 28 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. Tickets are $8 general admission, $5 for students, senior adults, CCBC faculty, staff and alumni. For tickets and information, call the CCBC Box Office at 410-780-6369.