East Side Story

I like the Island Manhattan (you know I do!), but I am also fascinated by Stonington, ME which is right on the water and offers more than meets the eye. Along with a radiant warmth, some incredible seafood and stunning vistas, Stonington offers a wealth of interesting people, places and things.

Why am I here, you ask? Well, it's all thanks to Bernstein's "West Side Story." Or more appropriately, a concert version of the work that features four singers, a pianist, a narrator, and a goal to tell the story through song, dialogue and background information. I am fortunate to be working with some fantastic singers and a great conductor/pianist. The concept was thought up by Linda Nelson, Executive Director of Opera House Arts, a performing arts organization that produces standard plays, new operatic/musical theatre hybrids and quirky retellings of classic works. The company is celebrating 15 years and treating its supporters to the concert as part of their anniversary gala.



(Soprano Suzanne Nance, pianist Peter Szep, page turner Esther, mezzo Grace Valdes hiding behind the music stand, and tenor John McVeigh.)

This concert isn't your normal "grab a bunch of people and sing it." I get to play everything from Riff, Bernardo, Voice off-stage and even Rosalia! I am having a ton of fun using my voice in a whole variety of ways and am thankful for my technique.

The area is beautiful as evidenced from this view from the back deck of the summer home I am sharing with the mezzo.

What is interesting about this small town is the wealth of those who have moved here from larger urban areas and the folks who have lived here all their life and want to "keep things as they were." Interestingly enough, there is a great tale of the building of the first bridge that brought the "skunks" to the island (those who didn't live here) and how that affected the socio-economic culture. The conflict between the Sharks and Jets surely resonates even here.

But below are things "of the island." Lobster traps and boats lay in wait until the wee hours of the morning when fishers aim to increase their livelihood.

With most cities, there is also the quirky and the ironic. It appears that some public places have made use of "alternative" bathrooms as well as signs that are not so well-placed.

Performing "West Side Story" in a sleepy town seems counter intuitive and yet this musical addresses many of the issues of "us" vs. "them" found on the island. It also shows that the arts are celebrated and finally it says that this part of the country is "Somewhere" that represents the individual, the community, and the whole. Much like Bernstein's musical.

Peace,

Eric