Rehearsals are currently underway for the 60-strong cast who acted, sang and danced their way into the coveted roles, following the strongly competitive rounds of auditions in June.

The starring roles of Tony and Maria have been deservedly filled by Dennis Grindle and Rachel Harkin. They will be ably supported onstage by Gary Crossan, Fergal Logue, Joe McClelland, Natalie Armstrong and a lengthy cast list of young actors who comprise the rival gangs of The Jets and The Sharks and the remaining characters.

Director Jonathan Burgess, Musical Director Trevor Burnside and Dance Tutor Carie Logue-Houston will continue to put the cast through their paces in the lead up to the three public performances at the Millennium Forum which will be staged nightly at 7.30pm from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th August.

Helen Quigley will put the finishing touches to this dazzling production by making sure the cast look the part for the fire-escape webbed stage, with the dax waxed working-class New York toughs and the passionate Puerto Ricans providing a pulsating feast of dance, costume, music and energy.

The recreated New York City street setting will emanate the jukebox feeling music of the classics ‘Maria,’ ‘America,’ ‘Somewhere,’ ‘Tonight,’ ‘I Feel Pretty,’ and ‘Cool’ while the choreography runs the gamut from jitterbugging to street fighting.

‘West Side Story’ changed the face of musical theatre with its groundbreaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The movie version went on to win an incredible 10 Academy Awards and further cemented the reputation of this undoubted masterpiece.

‘West Side Story’ remains true to its Shakespearean model. Things look good for the young lovers in the beginning, but when Tony - much like Romeo - accidentally kills his lover's brother while trying to break up a rumble, violence erupts.

Don’t miss ‘West Side Story’ at the Millennium Forum, Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th August at 7.30pm. Tickets £6, £7.50 (concessions available) are currently on sale at the Box Office on 028 7126 4455 and online at www.millenniumforum.co.uk The Millennium Forum’s Youth Theatre Group’s summer stage production of ‘West Side Story’ gratefully acknowledges support from Derry Credit Union and Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland.