30 Rock Actor To Attend West Side Story Opening Weekend

Glenbrook North alumnus, Scott Adsit, an actor on 30 Rock and numerous other TV shows, is expected to attend a performance of West Side Story, running through May 4 at Glenbrook South.

Adsit played Arab when the District 225 musical was West Side Story while he was a GBN student in 1984.

This year's musical will also be the last for Stevi Marks, a Glenbrook South music teacher, who is retiring after next year, according to the district.

After 20 years of theater productions, variety shows and choir performances, Marks, who is directing West Side Story this year, will give one of her final bows when the show ends its run on May 4.

"Right now, I feel the same about this show as I have about past shows because the goal is the same: that the kids have an outstanding time and accomplish the goals they set out to accomplish," Marks said in a district press release. "But I will miss being in rehearsals. Watching the kids take emotional risks because they feel safe in front of their peers is so inspiring."

Alex Kaplan, a GBN student in the musical said, "Mrs. Marks and our dance director Mrs. Lasky have made it their goal to live up to the play's original intent by making the dance choreography and individual dialogue as precise and emotional as possible."

Every year, students from both Glenbrooks collaborate on a District-wide musical. This year's "Night of Glenbrook Theater" is also the first annual benefit event for the Glenbrook Foundation, an organization that raises money to enrich and enhance the educational experience District 225 students.

To date, the foundation says they have offered more than 20 grants to support innovative teaching projects, leadership opportunities for low income students and college scholarships.

West Side Story first premiered on Broadway in 1957, with a score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, accoridng to the Northbrook Star. The musical eventually won a Tony Awards for Jerome Robbins’ iconic choreography, and later adapted to a motion picture.