By Brittany Greer

For The Observer

The cast and crew of Northwest Mississippi Community College’s upcoming production of “West Side Story” is ready to start the show after several months of hard work and rehearsing.

Performance dates for the play are Thursday–Saturday, March 4-6, at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Saturday–Sunday, March 6-7, at 2:30 p.m., in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Senatobia campus.

The show is being directed by Jo Ellen Logan. Logan also serves as costume designer. Choreographer is Tiffany Harrison, and Melissa Hanson is lighting director. Northwest Technical Director Joel King will serve as set designer, fight choreographer and special effects designer.

The Musical and Vocal Director for “West Side Story” is Susanne Spencer Vandyke, director of choral activities at Northwest. Albert Sewell will be in charge of sound design. Stage managers are Kristin Wilson and Constance Prince. Elizabeth Sewell will serve as lobby designer with the Les Fauves Art Club serving as lobby crew. The house manager is Fine Arts instructor Tracy McLaughlin.

The crew also includes Karen Reeves and Brooklyn Reeves, makeup  design; Katie Kelly, props mistress; Paige Billings, lights; Ariana Nowell, hair design; Audrey Harris, hair decorations; Callie Fox and Emily Fox, costume crew; Amy Roberts, box office; Ruth McMullen and  Anna Mullinaux, seamstresses; Erika Lee and Josh Simmons, set crew; and Brittany Greer, publicity, poster design and program design.

Orchestra personnel include VanDyke, conductor; Anna Mullinaux, piano; Blake Walker, piano; Elizabeth Cole, piano; Donnie McGee, flute; Darius Lauderdale, saxophone; Daniel Shemwell, trombone; Chris White, percussion; Charles Wright, percussion; Justin Jusko, bass; and Wilson Harris, guitar.

Cast members playing the Jets are Derek Preusch of Memphis, Tenn., as Tony, Ryan Marshall of Senatobia as Riff, J.C. Martin of Senatobia as Action, Drew Carlton of Olive Branch as Diesel, Win Vance of Clarksdale as A-Rab, Josh Simmons of Coffeeville as Baby John, Daniel Diller of Senatobia as Snowboy and Oliver Harrison of Senatobia as Big Deal.

Playing their girls are Brittany Hill of Walls as Graziella, Mary Shannon O’Hara of Hernando as Velma, Laura Lea Williams of Senatobia as Minnie, Murphy Judd of Horn Lake as Pauline and Briana Patton of Senatobia as Anybodys.

Cast members playing the Sharks are Anthony Guy of Olive Branch as Bernardo, Casey Davis of Olive Branch as Chino, Cody Reynolds of Southaven as Indo, Joe Arndt of Coldwater as Pepe, Dameon Danford of Olive Branch as Luis, Samuel Williams of Irving, Texas, as Toro; and Billy Leishmann as Juan.

Playing their girls are Abbey Sewell of Walls as Maria, Roykeisha Rockette of Water Valley as Anita, Lauren Fore of Senatobia of Rosalia, Audrey Harris of Byhalia as Consuela, Stephanie Child of Southaven as Teresita and Allison Wroblewski of Southaven as Francisca.

Other cast members include Lindsey Belton of Olive Branch as Glad Hand, Lloyd Dixon of Batesville as Krupke, Harry Snelling of Batesville as Lt. Schrank, Jim Anderson of Hernando as Doc, Coby Anderson of Hernando as boy and Ryan Stroble as girl.

Logan would like to point out that blanks will be fired during the production.

Tickets may be purchased in advance through the Northwest Business Office, which is located in the basement of the James P. McCormick Administration Building. Tickets will also be available at the Box Office. General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and Northwest students.

For ticket information, contact 662-560-3207.

Roykeisha Rockette (left) of Water Valley and Anthony Guy of Olive Branch rehearse a scene on Feb. 9 for the opening of “West Side Story” in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Senatobia campus. (Photo by journalism major Beth Todd)