west side story springfield little theatre

West side story springfield little theatre how to#

The music is by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. “West Side Story” is based on a book by Arthur Laurents. Johnson, a junior theatre major, plays a member of the Jets named Big Deal. Other members of the cast include Mitch Johnson and Genevieve Fulks. There’s a reason it’s had so much success.” There’s knife fights, gun shots, kissing it’s got everything. If you can get the jocks to come out and love the theater, anybody can watch it. “I played on the baseball team last year, and half the team showed up this weekend. Johnson believes that this show has something in it for everyone. That story is always going to be relevant to people.” But it’s also a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and that story is hundreds of years old. “It’s about social injustice and violence, and that’s such a relevant issue right now,” said Johnson. Although the first performance of the musical was in 1957, its characters face discrimination, heartbreak and other conflicts that many face today. “West Side Story” celebrated its 60 th anniversary last September. You need some comedic relief, and nail it. “It’s so needed,” he said, “It might seem a little out of place, but the second act is a little dark. His favorite scene of the entire show features the song, “Gee, Officer Krupke.” The song “Tonight” is awesome, and it is one of the anthems of the show,” said Johnson. “My favorite scene that I am in has to be the balcony scene, where I am singing with Maria on her balcony. Johnson’s favorite songs from the production include the ballad “Maria” and the “Tonight” quintet. He’s a fun guy, very passionate and a little cheesy.” To put his own spin on the character, Johnson said, “I try to put myself in it and see how Tony relates to me.

West side story springfield little theatre how to#

Learning how to adjust the energy onstage is something that is difficult for me. Whenever there are these big, horrible, dramatic things happening onstage and I come in right after that, I have to be up and smiling. “The hardest part,” he said, “is a lot of times Tony isn’t on the same page with the rest of the cast with what is going on onstage.

However, Johnson, a singer at heart, had little acting experience going into the role. After eight weeks of rehearsal, he makes his Springfield Little Theatre debut as Tony.įor Johnson, performing in front of an audience is nothing new. The show stars Tanner Johnson, a sophomore arts administration and vocal performance major. The young lovers, Tony and Maria, try to keep their love alive amid prejudice, violence and hate. When a friend of the Jets falls in love with the sister of the leader of the Sharks, the two gangs decide to settle their war once and for all. 19, “West Side Story” opened at the Springfield Little Theatre and began its three-week run.ĭuring this show, Landers Theatre transforms into the streets of New York as two rival gangs, the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, fight for turf. Tanner Johnson, photograph by Tonya Forbes