West Side Story at JCC

"West Side Story" is a classic musical and is being performed at Center Stage at Louisville's Jewish Community Center. West Side Story is a modern take on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Leonard Bernstein wrote the music with Stephen Sondheim writing the lyrics.

Leonard Bernstein also wrote the music for other classic works such as "On the Waterfront" and "Peter Pan." While Stephen Sondheim's list of works include "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Sweeney Todd," and "Into the Woods."

"West Side Story" tells the tale of rival gangs the Sharks and the Jets. The conflict comes when a form member of the Jets falls in love with the sister of the Shark's leader.

The original production was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two: Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design. A 2009 Broadway Revival also provided a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. A film version, in 1961, was the second highest grossing film of the year, behind One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, after being nominated for 11.

Center Stage is located at the Jewish Community Center, in Saint Matthews. Saint Matthews is a part of Louisville Metro Government, but is incorporated as a separate city. According to the 2000 census, Saint Matthews was listed as the state's 20th largest city in Kentucky. Saint Matthews is also known for its shopping, having the second and fifth largest shopping malls in the state, along with many other shopping centers along Shelbyville Rd.

West Side Story runs from July 7 through July 24, 2016 and tickets can be purchased online through the Jewish Community Center's website and are $20.00 a piece for the weekday shows and $22.00 a piece for the weekend shows. So for the next two weeks, come to Saint Matthews to enjoy a day of shopping and then an evening at the theater.