73.0°,
Mostly Cloudy West Side Story a hit in all directions!
St. Raymond YOUth Group puts on musical in East Rockaway
Audience members lucky enough to have gotten a ticket to one of the five sold-out performances of Saint Raymond’s YOUth Group production of West Side Story realized they witnessed “something great” — as the lyric of Stephen Sondheim’s song, “Something Coming” — states.
More than 75 young people from our community involved both onstage and offstage, are to be applauded for their hard work and dedication with such an emotional charged script, as well as the complex and challenging choreography. The youths attend Chaminade High School, East Rockaway public schools, Kellenberg, Lynbrook public schools, and Saint Raymond’s School.
One audience member said “I cannot stop crying. This show is so powerful. I felt that I was watching a Broadway show. It was that professional! These kids are so talented!”
Thomas Lynch’s rich tenor voice and Emma Harrington’s soaring soprano voice, coupled with their outstanding acting skills, were Broadway quality as the pair of star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, based on their Shakespearean counterparts, Romeo and Juliet. In particular, their passionate duets, “Tonight”, “One Hand, One Heart”, and “Somewhere” set the tone for their short-lived tragic love story. Alexei Candrevea’s vocal and dance expertise was evident in the show stopping number, “America” and the moving, “A Boy Like That.” As her suave fiancé, Zack Zaramatidis (Bernardo, the leader of the sharks) brought the right combination of sophistication, hostility, and honesty to his role. Riff, the leader of the Jets, deftly played by Teddy Sieban, shined in “The Jet’s Song” and the tension filled song, “Cool.” Bursting with energy, Matt Paris (Action), along with the other jets, claimed the stage in the comic rendition of, “Gee, Officer Krupke.”
The Backstage crew, led by Junior Assistant Stage Manager Brian Lynch, executed smooth and efficient set changes which added to the professional looking production.
Parishioner, Kevin F. Harrington, who also owns Plaza Theatrical’s Performing Arts Academy in Lynbrook, volunteered his time to direct this high energy swiftly flowing production. The musical director, Bill Holland, conducted the lush 26 piece professional orchestra, while choreographer Jeanie Nannarone taught all the amazing dance sequences.
