West Side Story Tickets

West Side Story, the musical that has been captivating international audiences for decades, has returned to the Palace Theater in Albany and New York, as well as the Progress Energy Center Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh, N.C.

The musical begins with a parody of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as two teenage gangs?the American Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks face off to control their neighborhood. The Jet's leader, Riff, plans on confronting the Shark's leader, Bernardo, at a local dance. Meanwhile, Riff convinces former Jet member and friend, Tony, to join them at the dance.

Maria, Bernardo's sister from Puerto Rico, moves to the neighborhood and her family chooses Chino, a member of the Sharks, to be her future husband. She finds a job at a bridal shop with Anita, Bernardo's boyfriend.

At the dance, Maria and Tony are drawn to each other across the room, dance, fall in love and start to kiss when Bernardo rips his sister from Tony's arms and send her home. However, they aren't separated for long, as he turns up outside her building and serenades her.

Members of the Sharks and Jets agree to meet at Doc's candy store?a neutral location? to discuss what weapons can be used in their "war." Tony suggests that they have a fair fight with fists only, which the leaders agree to.

Police Lt. Schrank begins to try to find out where the rumble will be, to no avail, and Tony confesses his love of Maria to the Doc, who is worried. The next day, Tony arrives at the bridal shop, where he and Maria talk of their wedding and Maria convinces him to stop the fight.

Tony arrives at the fight to stop it, but is punched by Bernardo, who is then punched by Riff. Then, Riff and Bernardo draw their switchblades. Tony holds Riff back in a moment when he could have stabbed Bernardo, and Bernardo stabs and kills Riff. In a fit of rage, Tony kills Bernardo, and the gang members go on a free-for-all.

Sirens approach and everyone scatters except Tony, who is in shock at what he has done. A tomboy who wishes she could be a member of the Jets, tells Tony to flee.

While daydreaming about being with Tony, Maria is told by Chino that Tony killed Bernardo. She doesn't want to believe it, and throws her fists at Tony when he arrives. When she calms down, they agree to run away together, and her bedroom disappears and they find themselves at peace.

News is spread that Chino plans to kill Tony, so the Jets spread out to protect him. A grieving Anita arrives at Maria's apartment and asks her how she can love the man who killed her brother.
Anita agrees to tell Tony to wait at the candy store when Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria. However, when she arrives to meet Tony, she is met with taunts, physical violence and nearly rape. She then tells Tony that Chino has killed Maria in a jealous rage. Tony finds Chino and asks to die, too. After a brief glimpse of Maria, Chino shoots Tony. The police arrive to arrest Chino and Maria realizes her true love is gone.