My name is Nick Onesko, and I'm a senior at Brownsville Area High School. My high school production this year is "West Side Story"! I must say...What a show!

It's very difficult, probably the most difficult show I have ever been in! From the music, to the dancing, down to the acting, it's nothing like I have ever experienced! I am a comedic actor, all of my past roles include something comedic! From Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, to Ali Hakim in Oklahoma. Now, I am portraying the role of Bernardo, the sexy, overprotective, puerto rican brother of Maria. Bernardo has to be taken very seriously, and that seems to be very challenging to me. I'm so used to the audience laughing with me, and me building of their joy. Now, I have to challenge that energy to a whole new part of me. Thanks to the wonderful cast, they make it much easier for me to have a strong impact on the entire audience.

Our Maria, Tony, and Anita are so talented, I couldn't have asked for anyone else to play "my sister", well maybe except for my real sister. But Jessie Medofer (Maria) brings the Bernardo out of me. Just as she did as Belle when I portrayed Lumiere. We have always worked magically on stage, and I think this show will be no exception. Her voice is perfect for Maria, so pure and loving, she sings completely into the audiences' hearts. As well as Jonathan Rohlf (Tony), the anger that I must have towards him sometimes takes a toll on me, because he is such a close friend. But he makes it look as if we've hated each other since birth. I know it has to be hard for both of us to completely bash each other on stage, but I think its the friendship that we share that makes it that much easier. And finally Katie Grahek (Anita), who's portrayal of Anita couldn't be more "dead on"! She is one of my closest friends, and I am more than thrilled to have her play my latin lover! The magical chemistry we share on stage can be not only seen from the audience, but felt.

As for me, its because of these performers that I can gain a better understanding on what true "theatre chemistry" feels like. Brownsville recieves alot of ridicule due to our small size, and our even smaller budget, but every year, we seem to come out on top! Alot of local schools have noticed that we succeeded in making Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" a hit, and they think that "Brownsville did it! We can too!". I plead with these schools, rethink your assumptions. It's the chemistry that we all share with each other that made that show truly magical. Not only the cast, but the directors as well. They play a HUGE part in not only the show, but our own personal lives. Tricia and Michael Rohlf make it so much easier for the whole cast to connect with each other and produce an incredible show!

So I think that's all for now! Thanks for listening!!