Saratoga News
Education
Gangs to take over stage at Saratoga High
By Emilie Doolittle
Young lovers are caught on the opposite sides of feuding gangs; students can't date each other because they're associated with different cliques.
Segregation, gang violence, carnage ... all at Saratoga High School?
That's just what Saratogans can expect over the Feb. 7-9 weekend when the high school presents four performances of the musical West Side Story.
Saratoga High School students will take on the complicated story line and college-level music in performing Leonard Bernstein's classic musical that opens Feb. 7 at the McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Ave.
West Side Story is set in Manhattan's Upper West Side, where two teenage gangs of different cultural backgrounds battle. Tony, who is from the Jets, falls in love with Maria, who is associated with the rival Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. Paralleling Romeo and Juliet, the story has the gangs continue to fight until a tragedy forces them to understand the importance of peace. The original West Side Story debuted on Broadway 50 years ago.
The syncopated rhythms, unpredictable vocal ranges and sometimes dissonated chords are just some of the complexities that make West Side Story more difficult than most musicals.
In the school musical there will be two orchestras, consisting of 40 students each, playing in the pit at different times. Eight students will play multiple instruments.
"For instrumentalists, it's probably the most challenging musical," said music teacher Michael Boitz, who co-directs the play with choir teacher Jim Yowell. "You need at least five players to play all of the instruments on percussion. There's a high range for brass. The woodwinds are learning to double, or play more than one instrument. One senior student is playing alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone and clarinet.
"Students this age love intellectual challenges," added Boitz. "The students will embrace a more difficult piece with greater technical prowess rather than something at a more medium level. They're excited by the challenge."
Some of the students will sing and play instruments; others will participate in choreographed dances. Also, the high school color guard will perform on stage.
The auditions for the musical were open to all students, not just those already involved in the performing arts department. The singers auditioned for the musical in October and have been practicing for an hour after school every day. The orchestra members started working on the music four weeks prior to opening night.
"It's very edgy, aggressive music that reflects the anger between these gangs," said Yowell, who directs the singers. "It's pretty hard for us to relate to gang fights in Saratoga. The hard part for the students is to relate to this anger toward another person."
Sophomore Jennifer Nelson connected the musical with the social scene on campus. "The characters are from different cliques," she said. "That's kind of how it is here. You wouldn't find the cheerleader dating someone from the chess team, typically."
"The musical teaches us tolerance and how to see things from other people's point of view," said sophomore Eleanor Davis.
"Sometimes, when there are two cliques and two people who are together, it brings the groups together like the gangs were brought together in the end of West Side Story," said sophomore Victor Wong.
Enriched by the music and the story, the students hope to convey their understanding to the audience. West Side Story is not like most musicals with an easy score and simple meaning. But with 80 students in the pit and 60 students on stage, the cast and crew are eager to take on the challenge.
Performances are Feb. 7 and 8, 8 p.m., and Feb. 9, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for general admission. Contact Janet Verson at jverson@lgsuhsd.org for tickets.
