The Real Park Ridge

Top Menu

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Scene
    • Kid Zone
    • Park Ridge Insider
    • Recommendations
  • Eat. Drink. Shop
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • General Features
  • Interviews
  • Magazine
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • Around Town
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact Us

logo

Header Banner

The Real Park Ridge

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Scene
    • Kid Zone
    • Park Ridge Insider
    • Recommendations
  • Eat. Drink. Shop
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • General Features
  • Interviews
  • Magazine
  • Park Ridge Insider Aykut Imren on favorite dishes at Pazzi di Pizza, Beacon Tap and Boston Fish Market, shopping at Jerry’s Fruit & Garden, and escaping to Lake Geneva and Evanston Beach

  • Inside Scoop: Park Ridge Wine Walk May 1, headshots, cocktails and networking event May 10, Edie Boutique spring fashion show May 12, and Mother’s Day brunches

  • Park Ridge Insider Katie Podgorny on a fondness for Nonna Silvia’s, Sandlot burgers between Warriors baseball games, and anticipating the Park Ridge Farmers Market

  • Good Eats at Daniel’s Charcuterie: Beautiful charcuterie boards, creative sandwiches, sommelier-selected wines and more at this cozy Uptown bistro

  • Plan to make a splash this summer with the Park Ridge Park District — pool passes on sale April 1

General Features
Home›Featured-Blogs›General Features›First Look review: The Marriott Theatre’s version of West Side Story will remind audiences why the show is an all-time classic

First Look review: The Marriott Theatre’s version of West Side Story will remind audiences why the show is an all-time classic

By Trent Modglin
February 18, 2022
308
0
Share:

By Michael Dritto

Playing at: The Marriott Theatre (10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire) for a limited engagement through March 27. See the calendar and purchase tickets at MarriottTheatre.com

Basic storyline: It’s West Side Story. If this is your first introduction to the show, it is the modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of the Upper West Side of Manhattan during the 1950s. A musical tale of two star-crossed lovers caught in a turf war between two rival gangs — the Jets and the Sharks.

The cast delivered beautiful, powerful singing performances, even during and after some Olympic-level feats of athleticism.

What stood out: Quite a bit. It’s difficult for me to decide which aspect of the production was its most defining characteristic: the singing, the dancing or the set design.

I guess I will start with the set design, as it is the first thing you see when you walk in. The first thing I noticed, which surprised and excited me, was that it takes place in the round. Suspended above the street-painted stage floats the urban ornaments of streetlights, fire escapes, and apartment windows. Segments of the hanging décor drop down between scenes and become integrated as practical elements for the cast to jump on, through, or over. It really helps add a visual aspect to the space that is usually so difficult to encapsulate on stage.



The next aspect of the show that blew me away was the dancing and choreography. While I joked earlier that everyone already knows West Side Story, it dawned on me that I had never actually seen a stage production of it; only the 1961 film version.

All I can say is that Alex Sanchez’s choreography was an excellent indicator as to why the show is known for its dance numbers. In fact, had they decided to do a strictly dance version without the singing or the acting, I would have been completely fine with that.

But not to be outdone, the cast delivered beautiful, powerful singing performances, even during and after some Olympic-level feats of athleticism. I have trouble speaking after going up a flight of stairs, but Lauren Maria Medina as Maria, Jake David Smith as Tony, and Vanessa Aurora Sierra as Anita had no problem belting out some of the show’s classics while kicking their legs over their shoulders.

Final thoughts: West Side Story is a treasured musical that has engrained itself in American theater history, and the Marriott Theatre’s production will continue to solidify that legacy. It’s fun, aesthetically pleasing, and true to its source material. I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to experience the acclaimed story for the first time, or for those who value it as a paradigm for award-winning theater.

TagsJake David SmithLauren Maria MedinaMarriott TheatreShakespeareThe Real Park RidgeVanessa Aurora SierraWest Side Story
Previous Article

Q&A with Mel Thillens about his Mel’s ...

Next Article

Park Ridge Insider Liz O’Malley on Poke ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0

Trent Modglin

Related articles More from author

  • Around Town

    Create memories that last a lifetime this summer with the Park Ridge Park District

    June 18, 2021
    By Trent Modglin
  • General Features

    Get your coffee fix: Cozy spots to catch up on work or meet a friend for coffee, tea or a ...

    March 14, 2020
    By realadmin
  • Interviews

    Q&A with 2 Sisters Boutique owner Natalie Amabile about her new location, winter/spring styles and a new men’s department

    December 31, 2020
    By Trent Modglin
  • General Features

    Small-business spotlight: Like New Auto Spa & Detailing Center has been making Park Ridge cars shine for 35 years

    January 4, 2022
    By Trent Modglin
  • Park Ridge Insider

    Park Ridge Insider: Peter Dykas on dinner at Boston Fish Market and Hay Caramba, and exploring forest preserves with the ...

    September 15, 2020
    By Trent Modglin
  • Interviews

    Q&A with Andrew Nast and Adam Clabaugh, founders of the beautiful new Brick & Mortar co-working space in Park Ridge

    January 22, 2021
    By Trent Modglin

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You might be interested

  • General Features

    Small-business spotlight: Like New Auto Spa & Detailing Center has been making Park Ridge cars shine for 35 years

  • Around Town

    The Park Ridge Park District is here for all your recreational needs this fall

  • General Features

    Aerial yoga at The Sanctuary in Edison Park: Overcoming fears, making connections and feeling the zen

Let’s Connect

  • 366
    Followers
  • 1.6K
    Likes
  • 1,656
    Followers

E-mail newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )
Park Ridge e-mail list
logo

The Real Chicago — an eye-catching, family friendly entertainment magazine for active locals and tourists — originally launched in 2006. It now has a sister publication: The Real Park Ridge. Proud to be servicing our new home in Park Ridge, as well as the surrounding areas of Rosemont, Niles, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect and NW Chicago.

The Real Park Ridge is printed and distributed seasonally four times per year (December, March, June and September) to thousands of Park Ridge homes, as well as more than 150 area restaurants, bars, boutiques, coffee shops, salons, spas, offices and hotels. Make sure to sign up for our e-mail newsletter and download our new digital app for the latest events, deals and feature articles.

About us

info@therealparkridge.com
  • Latest Posts

  • Local charity spotlight: Diveheart.org uses scuba therapy to provide those with disabilities a chance to ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 17, 2022
  • Park Ridge Insider Aykut Imren on favorite dishes at Pazzi di Pizza, Beacon Tap and ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 16, 2022
  • Chicago Scene: The classic restaurant experience includes Gibsons, Gene & Georgetti, The Berghoff and Twin ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 10, 2022
  • Chicago Scene: Five Iron Golf opens two more locations and the Jurassic Oceans exhibit at ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 3, 2022

https://www.instagram.com/therealparkridge/

Follow us

© Copyright The Real Park Ridge. All rights reserved.
Cleantalk Pixel