West Side Story
at Upper Darby High School

Reviewed on March 10, 2018

Katelyn Tuberosa
Cardinal O'Hara High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

"Tonight, tonight it all began tonight. I saw you and the world went away." The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center was transformed into New York's West Side for more than two hours, and the outside world disappeared. The immaculate sound, talented orchestra, and the masterful choreography of the production West Side Story proved that Upper Darby is a dominant force in high school theater.

West Side Story is a musical spin on the story of Romeo and Juliet. The Sharks and the Jets, two intimidating gangs in New York City, have been at "war" with each other over turf they believe belongs to them. Tony, a member of the Jets, meets Maria, the rival gang leader's sister, at a dance, and falls in love with her instantly. This situation proves to be disastrous for both the Sharks and the Jets. When tragedy struck, the audience could not help but be drawn into the spellbinding tale of love and hate.

Tom Geiger (Tony) and Sofia Vizzarri (Maria) had undeniable chemistry. Their voices were not only melodic as soloists, but also blended together perfectly. Their passion for performing is clearly shown when they delivered lines—emoting joy, hope, infatuation, and agony. Rain Diaz (Bernardo) kept a consistent accent throughout the show and perfectly portrayed the overprotective brother who takes pride in his heritage.

Genevieve Bruce (Anybodys) was perfectly cast in a role that demonstrated that she is a triple threat. Her lines were timed perfectly; her voice in "Somewhere" was haunting, which left the audience in tears, and her ballet skills were graceful and elegant. Mike Weir (Riff), Mark La Vecchio (Action), Jayson Brown (Baby John), and the rest of the Jets showed off their impeccable choreography in songs such as "Cool" and "Gee, Officer Krupke."

Other standouts included the Shark girls in their performance of "America." Rylee Curry (Anita) and Emma Speck (Rosalia) played off each other's energy in this show-stopping number. The other Shark Girls supported them with soulful vocals and swift dance moves in this breathtaking number.

The Upper Darby High School Pit Orchestra worked well with the performers on stage, especially since the orchestra was in the band room behind the stage. The sound, managed by C'mone Smith, was fluid, consistent, and filled the theater. The stage crew moved sets and props with seamless precision.

Upper Darby's production of West Side Story was certainly wild, bright, riveting, and memorable, all the while sending the message that there is no room for hate in our world.

Phoebe Barr
Episcopal Academy
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

The iconic tale of West Side Story, based on the even more iconic Romeo and Juliet, is an extraordinarily difficult production for any group to put on. It includes many different styles of dancing, stage combat, sweeping musical numbers, comedy, tragedy, and depictions of prejudice. Upper Darby High School met the challenge of such an ambitious musical head-on, and it delivered magnificently.

On the streets of 1950s New York City, the two rival gangs - the Jets and the Sharks - fight over territory. Riff (Mike Weir), the confident and charismatic leader of the Jets, decides to challenge the Puerto Rican Sharks to a "rumble," determining which gang is the best once and for all. But Riff's best friend, Tony (Tom Geiger), falls in love with Maria (Sofia Vizzarri), the sister of the Sharks' leader Bernardo (Rain Diaz). As the two of them struggle to stop the rumble from taking place and make peace between the Jets and the Sharks, tensions mount on both sides, careening toward the story's inevitable tragic conclusion. Tom Geiger and Sofia Vizzarri present a beautifully believable romance, emphasizing the wonder and confusion of two teenagers in love for the first time. Meanwhile, the secondary couple, Bernardo and Anita (Rylee Curry), provide social commentary, as well as some much-needed comic relief.

The show's music was its most impressive feature, from the solos and duets sung by the principal characters to the long stretches of orchestration done by the show's student orchestra. It was an impressive feat to fill such a large theater with sound, but everything was clearly audible throughout. Even during large and difficult dance numbers, the performers were always singing out, a particularly spectacular example being Rylee Curry as Anita during her song "America." The sets, costumes, and lighting were also very well done, at a tier which resembled professional work.

West Side Story is an ambitious musical, and Upper Darby High School was ambitious in its performance. It is a credit to all involved that they were able to display such polished and masterly work. The show was funny, tragic, musical, and beautiful.

Harleigh Myerovich
Harriton High School
Submitted for publication to The Acorn

"One Hand, One Heart," and one talented cast brought West Side Story to life on the Upper Darby High School stage. This classic Broadway musical, based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, follows star-crossed lovers Maria and Tony. Each is affiliated with rival New York gangs (the Sharks and the Jets), the two are forbidden to meet, even as they attempt to break down the racial divides that perpetuate the violence around them. Upper Darby delivered a sensitive and compelling performance, anchored in the cast's skillful and expressive choreography. With a large cast and multiple ensembles, Upper Darby's West Side Story proved a demanding undertaking; the cast rose to the occasion, never failing to impress the audience from scene to scene.

As leading lady Maria, Sofia Vizzarri commanded the stage and ably embodied the gentle nature of her character. Through each of her solos in songs such as "I Feel Pretty" and "Tonight," Vizzarri sang with professionalism and composure in a vocally demanding role. Alongside her, Tom Geiger delivered a strong performance in the role of Tony, skillfully contributing to melodious duets and solos alike. As Bernardo, the decisive leader of The Sharks, Rain Diaz commanded the Sharks ensemble with theatrical tact. The Jets, too, not only displayed considerable dance ability, but also embraced the comedy of their roles. In numbers like "Gee, Officer Krupke," the Jets ensemble left the audience roaring with their self-described "punk" antics. Featured Jets dancers Kenny Turner and Bryant Carter delivered the choreography to "Somewhere" with extraordinary grace and poise, contributing to a moving scene in which the gang divides are blurred.

Another element which anchored the success of the production was the work of The Upper Darby High School Pit Orchestra. The orchestra executed a demanding Leonard Bernstein score with aplomb, seamlessly matching the timing of the actors, despite playing from behind the stage. Behind the scenes, the UD Marketing Team created an engaging documentary which walked viewers through the rehearsal process for the production. This video also highlighted the work of the Upper Darby Sound and Props crews, whose contributions bolstered the overall polish of the production.

A skillful and sincere rendition of a timeless classic, West Side Story marks a triumphant performance for Upper Darby.

Jake Fittipaldi
Haverford High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 4

Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and perhaps one of the most well-known stories in the history of musical theatre, "West Side Story" tells the tale of two rival gangs that are thrown into shambles when two rivaling members fall in love. Popularized by Broadway, this show has found its way into the hearts of many families across the world, especially those in this year's production at Upper Darby High School.

Before even recognizing any of the individual aspects of the production, I must acknowledge the level of difficulty of the script, vocalist, and choreography itself. "West Side Story" is an extremely well-choreographed show that requires more than one well-trained dance ensemble. Not only is it a difficult dance show, but the orchestra must also perform at a very high level for high school theatre. This is why it is so amazing that Upper Darby Performing Arts was able to pull off such a seamless and incredible performance.

Both lead actor Tom Geiger and lead actress Sofia Vizzarri poured themselves into their roles completely, allowing the crowd to fall in love with them. Every intense scene was felt throughout the entire theatre. These two fit perfectly into the mold of the historic love story that is Tony and Maria.

In addition to the extremely talented lead actor and actress Tony and Maria, one particular actress stood out to me as the show stealer. Actress Rylee Curry played Anita, a female member of the Sharks and girlfriend to one of the main characters Bernardo. Rylee Curry fits into her role by not only singing and dancing like she was instructed but by actually becoming the character herself. Her accent was impeccable and believable, making it all the more fun to watch her perform. Any number she was in became one of the most memorable for the crowd to watch.

With such a large cast, choreography can often be extremely difficult to block and organize. Upper Darby proved to be up to the challenge with their almost perfect timing, chemistry, and ease throughout each and every large dance number. The students, especially those in the Sharks and Jets ensembles, are some of the most talented dancers I have ever witnessed in a high school production.

Upper Darby High School put on a perfect rendition of everyone's favorite tragic musical theatre love story in "West Side Story."