NHS Student Group To Perform Charity Production of 'West Side Story'

Needham High School's Students Acting to Make a Difference (SAMD) are using their passion for theater to make a difference in the world.  

In their sixth annual production, more than 50 Needham High School students, under the direction of Paul Duprey, will be performing the musical "West Side Story" at the Pollard Middle School on Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2:30 p.m.  

All net proceeds from this production will be donated to the It Gets Better Project, a charity selected by the cast members. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered in advance at (NHSFriendsofMusic.org). Any tickets still available may be purchased at the door.  

This student activity was started in 2007 by a group of Needham High School students who wanted to use their love of musical theater to do good in the community. Each fall, more than 75 cast and crew members perform a musical and donate the proceeds to a charity selected by the students. To date, SAMD has donated more than $20,000 to charity.  

Last year, SAMD donated $8,000 to the Joplin, MO High School to help rebuild their theatre program after the tornado destroyed their school. 

NHS students are hoping that this year's production of "West Side Story" will enable them to donate even more to this year's charity "It Gets Better Project."