When it comes to the Romeo and Juliet-inspired West Side Story musical, an Olds actor is making it easier to choose sides: he's playing both lead characters.
When it comes to the Romeo and Juliet-inspired West Side Story musical, an Olds actor is making it easier to choose sides: he's playing both lead characters.
Local triple threat Ryan Maschke, who graduated from Olds High School in June, was double-cast as the lead ex-Jet gang member Tony, as well as rival gang leader Bernardo in StoryBook Theatre's student production, which is now on stage in Calgary.
This is the second year that Maschke has participated in the theatre's summer student intensive, which included a February audition, and then workshops throughout the spring, leading up to casting in May.
"I've always wanted to be Bernardo, because West Side Story is the reason I started dancing," said Maschke. "Bernardo's role was the one that I was like, 'Damn, I want to be that role.'"
But with Bernado's Latino roots, and Tony's complex singing, Maschke said he didn't think either role was in the books for him.
"I actually went in auditioning for Riff, which is Tony's best friend, and new leader of the Jets," he said.
Last year he played the role of Danny in Grease, and was also double-cast in that ensemble. He was expecting something similar, but this year's role selection caught him off guard.
"I was completely taken by surprise," said Maschke about being cast into both roles, along with Ethan Taylor.
"I was a little intimidated, because they're both pretty big roles," he said.
It also made memorizing lines a little more complicated, because he had to learn Bernardo's accent, in addition to Tony's vocally-taxing role.
"When you're working by yourself doing your own lines then it gets complex," he said. "It's funny because we have scenes where Tony and Bernardo are in the same scene together, so we're, like, fighting with ourselves."
The performance run, which began with six shows a week on Aug. 19, hasn't been any less of a challenge.
"We alternate each night, because Tony is such a vocally taxing role," said Maschke. "We kinda have an off night with Bernardo, but we are still up there working, because Bernardo, when he is in a scene, he's IN a scene."
"It's very exhausting, but I love doing it, so I'm always excited to do it," he said. "I always have energy on stage, because I love doing it."
The recent OHS grad has his schedule filled for the upcoming year.
Maschke has been cast as the Tin Man in StoryBook's winter production of the Wizard of Oz, Nov. 24 to Dec. 30, and will also be part of the ensemble for the spring production of Mary Poppins, May 18 to June 9.
He nonchalantly tries to point out that these will be his first semi-professional roles, beyond his student productions, but it seems he can't help himself.
"I'm so excited!" he says gleefully. "I'm so ready."
After that, he plans to apply to Ontario's Sheridan College, one of Canada's best-known musical theatre schools. Eventually, Maschke has designs on the stages of West London and Broadway
"But that's a ways in the future," he said. "I hope to just be able to perform and make a living out of it."
For now, his enthusiasm for local theatre is contagious.
"I just really want everyone to see the show," said Mascke. "I'm so excited to be in it. It's a really good show – I'm very proud of it."
And if you want to see it twice, you've got good reason to.
MORE: StoryBook Theatre's production of West Side Story runs until Sept. 9, Wednesday to Saturday at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Beddington Theatre Arts Centre in Calgary.
