West Side Story performs at The Courtyard Theatre in Downtown Plano: 1509 H Ave, Plano, TX 75074

Because this is a different type of title than we normally produce, we are pulling back the curtain to let you in on some of the conversations that we have had behind the scenes:

We are producing West Side Story because we believe that it is an important story to tell. It will fill our hearts with gorgeous music and dance but also challenge us to wrestle with heavy themes, something that is not always presented at Shine. There is beauty and authenticity in acknowledging all aspects of the messy human experience. As theatre educators, mentors, and Christians, we always approach every piece with the utmost care to make sure that our students are both being challenged as developing actors and engaging with the show in a safe space. The love in West Side Story is balanced with hate which manifests in violence (the use of guns, knives) and racism (the use of racial slurs, hateful language, and attitudes towards specific cultures). For these reasons, West Side Story is PG-13.