WEST SIDE STORY to Play the Spencer, 3/31

With a pulsing persistence of rhythm, a show about rival juvenile street gangs in 1950s New York changed Broadway musical theatre forever. On March 31, the musical masterpiece "West Side Story" comes to the Spencer to make history once again.

From the first notes of the orchestra to the final breath of its characters, "West Side Story" is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. The tale centers two inner-city gangs of different ethnic backgrounds and the secret love affair between one of the gang leaders with the sister of the opposing gang's top thug, which sparks a west side war. All is shared through a mesmerizing blend of drama, dance, and music into a rich artistic whole.

The 2014 "West Side Story" is a groundbreaking new production directed by its legendary librettist, Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents, who first staged the tale in 1957. Mr. Laurents' book, inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliette," is as timely as ever. The potent score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (his Broadway debut) includes "Tonight," "America," "Maria," "I Feel Pretty" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" -- is widely regarded as one of the best ever written. And the extraordinary, Tony-winning choreography by Jerome Robbins completely changed the language of Broadway dance through its dazzling conveyence of the kids' wild, burning emotions of love, fear and revenge.

A cast of 30 professional singers, dancers, actors and musicians star in "West Side Story" at the Spencer Theater on Monday, March 31 at 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. The set is HUGE! Don't miss out. Excellent seats are available for $69-$63. Call the Spencer Theater Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go to www.spencertheater.com and treat yourself to a marvelous experience!

Get your season tickets now! Call the Spencer Theater at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com. (The site allows for secure ordering). You may also request a brochure with show descriptions to be mailed to your home or business.

The Spencer Theater is at 108 Spencer Road, Airport Highway 220, Alto, NM. Business hours are 9 a.m-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For tickets or information call (575) 336-4800 or toll free at 888.818.7872. BY E-MAIL: boxoffice@spencertheater.com. BY FAX: (575) 336-0055; BY MAIL: Donna Clarke, Box Office Manager, Spencer Theater, 108 Spencer Road, Alto, NM 88312.

Spencer Theater is a world-class performance hall located in the Sacramento Mountain settlement of Alto, about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso. Unique architecture, outstanding acoustics, intimate seating, and excellent artistry are the Spencer's celebrated features. The elegant, award-winning hall, which first raised its curtains in 1997, seats 514, with no seats farther than 67 feet from the 4,770 square-foot stage. The Spencer also has a 964 square-foot outdoor stage that can seat 1,500. From its Spanish mica-flecked limestone face to the crystal lobby, the building itself is a work of art. Free public tours are offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year. Donations are accepted!