Hanover Park Students Perform 'West Side Story'

A cast and crew of more than 50 students from Hanover Park High School have worked since December on their spring musical "West Side Story," and this week their work will finally pay off.

Freshman Julie Funesti will play Maria and junior Dante Pasquale will perform the role of Tony. Supporting cast members include sophomore Bonnie Zwigard as Anita and senior Jeevan Jacob as Bernardo.

The play, written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, premiers on Thursday at the Hanover Park High theatre.

Angelo DeFazio, the play's technical director and Stage Crew adviser, interviewed Helen Britez, the musical director at Hanover Park High for over 20 years. “Ordinary kids can’t do this show,” she said. “These kids—the cast, crew, and pit band—are no ordinary kids.”

Britez has produced many shows more than once at Hanover Park High, but this is her first production of "West Side Story" at the school.

Student and professional musicians will form the pit orchestra for this show. Joseph Spina, the Hanover Park Instrumental Music teacher and Music Department coordinator, will conduct. Amy Shera, an alumna of Hanover Park High, is the staging director and choreographer.

The cast encompasses more than fifty students of every grade with freshman Julie Funesti as Maria and junior Dante Pasquale as Tony. Supporting cast members include sophomore Bonnie Zwigard as Anita and senior Jeevan Jacob as Bernardo.

Cast members include junior Gabi Adamo as Consuela, senior Jackie Casolaro as Rosalia, freshman Brendan Duff as Chino, senior Julien Hohenleitner as Riff and sophomore Anthony DeSena as Action.

The stage crew is headed by co-stage managers junior Angela DaCosta and seniors April Galves, Sarah Magee, and Eric Wien. The pit band includes Matt Stolpe, Aidan Doyle, Cory Connelly, Amine Hosseini and Vincent Kiray.

Tickets to the play are $10, with advance student tickets selling for $8 by calling (201) 317-7650. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.