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The smoldering tension between rival gangs ignites in a stinging fury amidst a forbidden romance in West Side Story, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents' urban musicalization of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Presented by AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts, this production soars with ample amounts of searing passion and palpable fervor.

Nominated for five Tony awards upon opening on Broadway in 1957 and later adapted into a successful feature film in 1961, West Side Story chronicles the forbidden love between youths Tony and Maria, who stand at opposite sides of a brooding conflict between "American" gang The Jets (of which Tony is a part) and Puerto Rican gang The Sharks (headed by Maria's brother, Bernardo.) As the two pine for "somewhere" where they can be together with no consequences, the forces of their conflicting worlds begin to tear them apart, and as the likelihood of a happy ending looks increasingly grim, their romance takes on a whole new meaning of poignant tragedy.

Daniel Kopystanski possessed an exuberant charm as Tony, endearingly and earnestly delivering tender ballads such as "Maria" and "Something's Coming" with kinetic vibrancy. As Maria, Tessa Assari conveyed a sweetly hopeful demurity with graceful poise, infusing a crisp soprano into classic stage standards in "I Feel Pretty" and "I Have a Love."

Marina Pires utilized an undeniable self confidence that radiated throughout her performance as Anita, Maria's street-wise best friend. Pires's fiery rendition of "America," the legendary tour de force about the merits of stateside life, was delivered with pulsating power, bringing the show to a screeching halt. Elsewhere, Douglas Widick produced several moments of comedic relief as the stern Officer Krupke, while Derek Martin was brutally powerful as Riff.

Though the cast displayed universal talent, some actors struggled with the demands of their roles. Certain dance numbers lacked the requisite enthusiasm, while minor pitch and projection issues remained a consistent problem. The overall quality of the production, however, was stellar, and its many areas of success more than outweighed some facets of difficulty.

A set designed by student Bryce Cutler was utterly astonishing, depicting the urban grit of Manhattan with awe-inspiring truthfulness on a grand scale worthy of a Broadway stage. A dedicated stage crew executed seamless technical transitions, while lighting by Stephen Weeks gracefully illuminated the stage with stunning beauty.

AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts performed this classic piece of theatrical history with full commitment and unrestrained conviction, overcoming several difficulties to bring forth a first-rate presentation full of subtle mastery and admirable professionalism.