Bienvenidos, Welcome!
It is an honor to invite you to our interpretation of “West Side Story,” which is first and foremost a story of love. When we hear of WSS, we often think of iconic moments- the Rome & Juliet balcony scene, snapping fingers, skirts whirling through endless dancing. What has proven true again and again, is the production’s unifying theme of love…love for a country, for opportunity, for brotherhood, for sisterhood, for “what could be…” The show then takes it a step further and shows us the manifestation of the absence of love…fear, othering, violence, ugly truths about humanity. There are moments in this piece that are uncomfortable to watch because of how honest they are. To be honest about our history, hurtful actions and beliefs is difficult work to do. Yet, it's absolutely critical we do. This is the doorway to conscious change and the return to love.
Taking this piece on as my directorial debut has been the BEST gift, wrapped in the most challenging packaging! There were times where people questioned how something of this magnitude would go up and I’m proud to say that we’ve done it. I first saw this production when I was 15 years old and it was the first time I knew there could be leading roles for the Latinx community. As a young Latina performer, words cannot properly capture what this did for me. In many ways, I am living a dream come true for both my young and current self! I cannot imagine a better way I could’ve embarked on this journey.
The show you are about to see is a community labor of love. The actors have willingly accepted the invitation to be part of something bigger than themselves. I told them from the beginning that this will be a show that is more than words on a page or dance steps. These are stories of real people in San Juan Hill, New York 1957. We have a responsibility to authentically honor those stories the best we can. Will we get it 100% correct? Maybe not, but we can certainly do our best to get it as close as possible while making appropriate modern-day adaptations. To say these actors have risen to the occasion would be an understatement. Their hard work, dedication, and readiness to learn is remarkable. Each of them is giving their very best and pouring their heart into this piece. They make my job easy and I am abundantly grateful for all of them.
It takes a village to raise a production and ours is outstanding. Joanne, Liam, Christian and Lilly - Thank you for your fierce commitment, and for your faith in me. You have uplifted me as well as our cast. Andrea, Jeff, & Courtney - Thank you for entrusting me and all the support along the way. Your work makes all this possible. Ian, Aaron, Lucas, Gonzo, Mary Caye, Caelyn, Kat, Joseph & crew - Your creative problem solving and help has meant the world- thank you. There were also countless mentors & loved ones checking in to ensure I was still standing - you know who you are. These are only some of the people who made this vision come to life!
And to you, dear audience member, thank YOU. You make being a performer and creative so much fun. There is nothing like your energy. You are just as important, and just as much a part of this family as everyone else. Welcome, get comfortable and enjoy the magic that is “West Side Story.”
Con cariño,
Lucía
