Transporting the star-crossed lovers of Romeo and Juliet to the mean streets of 1950s New York, ‘West Side Story’ is a musical masterpiece that challenges even experienced performers. 

In Term 2, across four performances in Aikman Hall at the Keysborough campus, Haileybury’s Senior School more than met this challenge, performing a high-energy production of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved classic. 

The production follows Maria, a member of the Sharks, and Tony, from the Jets, who meet at a dance and fall in love. Their meeting sparks a chain of events that lead to both joy and heartbreak. The storyline, along with the demands of Bernstein’s music and the high-energy choreography, sets the musical apart. 

Supported by a Haileybury staff orchestra and under the guidance of Director and Producer Ms Nicole Smith, Choreographer Mr Dylan Dickson and Musical Director | Conductor Mr Robert Latham, the cast and crew delivered a show that audiences loved. 

“Based on Romeo and Juliet, Bernstein’s music and rhythm prove every bit as challenging as Shakespeare’s metre and language. Yet there are clues in each harmony, time change and lyric,” Nicole explained.  

Robert agreed saying, “The strength, enthusiasm and passion with which our Haileybury students served this production far exceeded the expectations of conventional high-school musical benchmarks.” 

One of the most memorable scenes, the ‘Dance at the Gym,’ saw rival gangs face off in a whirlwind of high-energy dance. “The ‘Dance at the Gym’ is so energetic and I love how I can just dance in it,” said Scarlett, Year 11, who played Anita, one of Maria’s friends.  

Drama Captain, Tyler, played Action, a member of the Jets. He agreed that the scene was a personal highlight. “It’s one of my favourite scenes, with everyone dancing together. Even though there are two gangs there, they are unified by the dance, and it was just so much fun to do,” he said. 

Behind the scenes, a dedicated technical team backed up the performers and musicians. “The lighting here is like nothing else I have ever seen. We have some of the most incredible equipment,” explained Oliver, Year 11, Lighting Operator. He described working closely with the Lighting Director to keep the performers in the spotlight as they moved across the stage. 

It was truly a production that gave joy to those involved while also demonstrating how the Haileybury cast and crew can rise to a challenge.