Photo Flash: The Heights Players' WEST SIDE STORY; Show Runs Thru 5/25

New York--The Heights Players ("Yentl," "Doubt"), a not-for-profit theater company based in Brooklyn, closes its 58th season with the seminal theatrical piece WEST SIDE STORY, which features book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and original direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Thomas N. Tyler ("A Chorus Line," "Finian's Rainbow") directs this production, which runs until Sunday, May 25, at 26 Willow Place, Brooklyn, N.Y. For tickets ($23-25), call 718-237-2752.

WEST SIDE STORY is often credited with the reinvention of the Broadway musical in the mid-50s. The musical's "dark theme, sophisticated music, electrifying integrated dance, and no-holds-barred reflection of social problems marked a turning point in American theater. What had once been termed 'musical comedy' became 'musical theater,' as directors and actors realized for the first time that the principles of serious drama should be applied to serious musical," wrote theater education practitioner Christina Weakland.

WEST SIDE STORY is a retelling of William Shakespeare's tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. It boasts classic show tunes such as "Tonight," "I Feel Pretty," "America," and "Somewhere."

Cast include Joe Bliss (Riff), John Mezzina Hannigan (Tony), Leo Contrino (Action), Michael Patrick Damato (A-Rab), Sean Dearing (Baby John), Joseph Lopez (Diesel), James David Dirck (Snowboy), Cole Tucker (Big Deal. Dream Tony), Adrea Bernardo (Anybodys), Kristen Keim (Velma), Bridget McFadden (Graziella), Nicole Naples (Minnie, "Somewhere" Soloist), Amanda Nicole Mendez (Clarice), Danielle Hillanbrand (Pauline), Julie Reed (Hotsie), Adrian Miranda (Bernardo), Lianne Gennaco (Maria), Lora Nicolas (Anita), Juan Gabriel Landreau (Chino), David Curry (Pepe), Tony Artiga (Indio), Matthew Saint Walker (Toro), Leoijie Estacio (Nibbles), Cait Farrell (Rosalia, "Somewhere" Soloist), Dina Grilli (Consuelo), Elizabeth Ukpe (Francisca), Alyson Ryan Fuchs (Teresita), Shary Cabrera (Estella, Dream Maria), Erika Brito (Margarita), Jim McNulty (Lt. Schrank), Steven Ackerman (Officer Krupke), Sam Greene (Glad Hand, Officer Flaherty), R.L. Schwartz (Doc), Ed Heal (Papa Luis), Mary-Powel Thomas (Mama Carmen), Doris Martir (Madame Lucia), and Maureen Vidal (Pilar).

Aurora Dreger is choreographer; Anne Rebold, musical director; Dina Grilli, costume designer; Leo Contrino, lighting designer; and Gary VanderPutten and Colleen Finn, set designers.