What to Do? What to Do?

It’s easy to take a musical like West Side Story for granted. Since opening in 1957, the play has become a beloved cultural touchstone that practically everyone knows—or thinks they know. Because I fell into the latter category, the production currently running at the Hippodrome was an eye-opener for me. I caught Wednesday night’s show, and it was a welcome reminder that Bernstein’s music, Sondheim’s lyrics, and Robbins’s choreography are potent and irresistible. It’s been tweaked a bit for contemporary audiences—you may or may not like the added Spanish—but the play, which closes on the 24^th, holds up well after all these years. Don’t take it for granted.

Tonight, Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush screens at Strathmore with the BSO playing a live score. It'll show at the Meyerhoff on Saturday and Sunday. And SONiA, who’ll be touring Israel next month, plays at Faith Community United Methodist Church in Hamilton.  

Tomorrow is Record Store Day, so get out and support your favorite vinyl seller. Wye Oak celebrates the release of its excellent new CD, Civilian, with a show at 2640. And the CityLit Fest—with National Book Award winner Jaimy Gordon and poet Andrei Codrescu—takes place at the Pratt’s Central Library.

On Sunday, Concert Artists of Baltimore tackle classical and traditional Greek music during an afternoon concert at the Engineers Club. That night, Asleep at the Wheel brings its brand of Western Swing to Rams Head in Annapolis.