Jets and sharks to collide in Surf City

Tom Titus

The first time the Huntington Beach Playhouse produced “West Side

Story,” about two decades ago, the venue was a storefront of limited

dimensions in the Seacliff Village shopping center.

Cramped as it was, the production earned a “best community theater

show of the year” nod from this column, which gives the current

incarnation, opening next weekend, a rather tough act to follow --

even though it’ll be staged in the more spacious Central Library

Theater.

“West Side Story,” which debuted on Broadway in 1957 and earned a

best picture Oscar for the movie version four years later, is notable

for its high-powered Leonard Bernstein musical score (with a

youngster named Stephen Sondheim contributing the lyrics) and the

frenetic choreography of Jerome Robbins. The movie also earned acting

Oscars for George Chakiris (Bernardo) and Rita Moreno (Anita).

Over the last 40 years, the Jets and the Sharks have tangled

hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times on stages ranging from touring

professional productions to ambitious high school offerings. Still, a

production of “West Side Story” is an event to be anticipated.

“This version focuses on the story and the characters,

minimalizing the time period and setting,” said Kysa Cohen, who’s

directing the production, which features a huge cast of unfamiliar

faces.

Although Cohen is a skilled choreographer, she’s leaving the dance

direction to Stephen Agosto so she can concentrate on the overall

stage picture. Playhouse veteran Bill Wolfe is musical director.

“Stephen Agosto’s choreography is wild and exciting, and we have

some incredibly talented newcomers to the playhouse in the cast,”

Cohen said.

The Huntington Beach version will feature two dozen actors,

singers and dancers recreating the tensions and ethnic prejudices of

New York’s back alleys -- all the while featuring some time-honored

ballads such as “Tonight” and “Maria.”

Shortly before Kysa Cohen’s “West Side Story” hits the playhouse

boards, her husband, Gregory, will be conducting auditions for the

theater’s next production -- a bawdy farce titled “Don’t Dress for

Dinner.” The tryouts are at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 and at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 . The

comedy opens Feb. 21.

“West Side Story” will be on stage from Jan. 10 through Feb. 2,

with performances Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and

8 and Sundays at 2 and 7 in the Library Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. Ticket orders can be phoned to (714) 375-0696.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.