By AE Sarver
Two years ago, I started a graduate assistant ship at Olivet Nazarene University for the theatre department. In this role, I worked closely with Professor Cohagan, taught classes, and directed shows, honing my skills as a director and challenging my ability to fully embrace a work of art. It was at the beginning of this assistantship that I played the role of Anita for the first time.
I, of course, fell in love with the character and the show itself. But it wasn’t until after the show was over and after directing three shows at Olivet that I realized I didn’t fully grasp the importance and timeliness of West Side Story.
When we fully immerse ourselves into a show, we have the opportunity to experience a story that can expand worldviews and speak truth. West Side Story is no different. After finishing my graduate assistant-ship, I couldn’t help but hope that someday I would have an opportunity to play the role of Anita again. After gaining new insights on the power of theatre, I so wanted the chance to live the story of West Side Story in a new and truthful way.
Little did I know that I would still be in the Kankakee area and get the opportunity to not only play the role of Anita again, but also get to serve as vocal director. It is such an honor to work with a talented cast and get to work with my mentor and teacher Prof. Cohagan again.
West Side Story is a timely production. The show covers relevant and universal ideas of prejudice, loyalty, love, hate, abuse, strength, perseverance, and acceptance. What an incredible opportunity to delve into these universal truths while also experiencing the iconic and familiar tunes and dances of “The Jet Song,” “America,” “Officer Krupke,” “Maria,” and “I Feel Pretty.”
Yet if you strip away the dancing and the music, you’re left with a powerful story that has the potential to teach us. If these characters were alive and real in 2018, their struggles would look very similar to our current issues. With school shootings, the building of a wall in a country that used to encourage a “melting pot” society, movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, hurricanes and other natural disasters that devastate families but have the potential to bring communities together, and the other many issues facing our nation, the undertones of West Side Story can encourage us to seek truth and live that truth daily.
I am excited to take the journey of West Side Story again with new insights on the power of theatre. I have no doubt you will be entertained by the show. But I hope you also see the relevance, timeliness, and truth of this story.