High school students from across Florida are working tirelessly to stage ‘West Side Story’ at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando as part of its inaugural musical theatre intensive. The production will feature three performances between Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, in Steinmetz Hall.

Director’s Insights

Tony Mata, the show’s director and head of musical theatre at the University of Florida, explained the program’s purpose and shared his observations on the students’ progress, tremendous talent, and dynamic stage presence.

Mata, who has worked around the world, was impressed by the students’ ability to learn the dialog, choreography, and fight choreography in a short amount of time. ‘The growth is every day, I see more growth, and I’m astonished again at how quickly they picked up the dialog, the choreography, the fight choreography, the cues,’ Mata said.

The students are working at a professional level, and their dedication and talent are evident in their performances. The production will be a great opportunity for the students to showcase their skills and for the community to come out and support them.

Tickets for the performances are on sale, and the public is encouraged to attend. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a beautiful venue, and the production promises to be an exciting and memorable experience.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.