Arts Entert y t, When You're A Jet West Side Story has danced in and out of Joshua Bergasse's career. Suzanne Chessler Special to the Jewish News F M9S AI RESTAURANT Free appeti r with purchase of an entree 501 MONROE DETROIT, MI OR 25% OFF 313.962.9366 any bottle of wine-- expires June 30, 2009 Not valid with any other offer, limit one coupon per table L All you can eat Pasta Station 5:30P.M-8:00P.M. um aws SUNDAY BRUNCH 10A.M.- 2P.M. 5 made to order styles of pasta, salad and garlic bread Great for the whole family!! Made to order Omelettes, breakfast items, salads, chicken and fish entrée's 4$9,95 per as uit $5,95c,thilciren 5-10 years did Free for chadren under .5 Adults $995 $5,95 children 5-10 years old Free for children under 5 HEY TREE FAMILY RESTAURANT Banquets Weddings eN7ii 33080 Northwestern Highway West Bloomfield, MI Phone: 248-539-8300 • Fax: 248-539-8303 Hours: Mon-Fri 10-9 • Sat & Sun 9-9 www.georgeshoneytree.com Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Showers Birthdays Reunions Anniversaries ttc. WE CATER AT MOST SYNAGOGUES, TEMPLES, HOTELS AND THE HALLS OFYOUR CHOICE V& '61 ptriC&: JEWEL CLASSIC CUISINE Approved by Council of Orthodox Rabbis P11112 TRH., food fi Beverage Director 1118-661-11050 Farmington Bills dlo June 4 e 2009 ormer Oak Parker Joshua Bergasse is the co-choreog- rapher of a production of the musical West Side Story at this year's Stratford Shakespeare Festival. The style of the show's original cho- reographer, Jerome Robbins, became familiar to Bergasse, 36, as he studied and worked early on at his mother's dance studio, Annette and Company in Farmington Hills. Some years ago, he performed in an international tour of the musical, appearing as Baby John, the young- est of the Jets, one of the rival New York City gangs at the center of the Romeo and Juliet update. After that, he assisted with the directing and chore- ography before moving on to choreog- rapher at the Barrington Stage Co. in Massachusetts and the Fulton Theatre in Pennsylvania. "The show is so beautiful that I don't get tired of it:' says Bergasse of the musical that officially opens June 5 at the Festival Theatre in Ontario. "I love the original choreography because it's such an integral part of the musical and really a part of me. "When I was on the national tour, I appeared in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary; and I also went into Canada as a performer in Movin' Out. I've enjoyed working in front of Canadian audiences." The Stratford production, which is directed by Gary Griffin, stars Chilina Kennedy and Paul Nolan in the lead roles. It also includes the choreography of Sergio Trujillo, who with Bergasse employs Robbins' original moves. Bergasse, who lived in Oak Park while training and teaching at his mom's studio, decided on his career while taking part in the summer arts program at Oakland Community College. He won short-term scholar- ships to dance centers in Los Angeles and New York and got the role of Baby John after his first series of profes- sional auditions. Since appearing on Broadway in Hairspray and The Life, Bergasse decided to move on to choreography. Joshua Bergasse He has worked on productions of La Cage Aux Folles, Smokey Joe's Cafe and Beehive and soon will be taking on Carousel at the Barrington. "I haven't done dance performances in two years',' he says. "I take classes to keep in shape." Work can keep Bergasse at a distance from his wife of four years, Kristine Bendul, a dancer who also tours. When Bergasse returns to the Detroit area, he often does master classes for Annette and Company. A graduate of Berkley High School, he was a bar mitzvah at Congregation B'nai Moshe and enjoys celebrating holidays with family. "My mom has special programs to celebrate the anniversaries of her studio, and I will be part of one at the beginning of next year," says Bergasse, who has not had a chance to see the new version of West Side Story, incor- porating more Spanish, now being staged in New York. "I believe the dancing in the show is more important than the singing and acting because Jerome Robbins saw it as a story told in dance," he says. "It was a ballet of sorts with all the expression and anger coming out through the choreography." ❑ West Side Story will be per- formed June 5-Oct. 31 at the Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario. Performance times, days and ticket prices, as well as information about the complete Stratford Shakespeare Festival schedule, can be found at www. stratfordfestival.ca . (800) 567- 1600.