Fresh from the resounding success of their multi-award-winning production of the musical ‘RENT’, which won the coveted ‘Best Overall Show’ category at the National AIMS awards in Killarney this year, Muse Productions are returning to the stage with one of the most iconic musicals in theatre history, ‘West Side Story’.  The production will be staged at St. Patricks’ Comprehensive School, Shannon from 28th to 31^st October 2026.

Few works in musical theatre history have had the enduring cultural impact of West Side Story. When Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents first brought this musical to the stage, they reimagined Romeo and Juliet through the lens of 1950s New York—a city alive with possibility, tension, and profound cultural change. Although the setting may feel distant in time and place, the themes at the heart of this story remain powerfully immediate. Love and belonging. Identity and division. Fear of the “other.” The cycles of prejudice that can bind communities just as tightly as loyalty and pride.

Leonard Bernstein’s score is widely regarded as one of the finest ever written for the stage, blending classical composition with jazz, Latin rhythms, and popular music. Iconic numbers include 'Maria,' 'Tonight,' 'America,' 'I Feel Pretty,' and 'Somewhere.'

Rehearsals are ramping up, under the eye of Director Martin McNelis. Musical Direction is under the baton of Mary-Rose McNally, the show is choreographed by the talented Jay Molyneux, and Eoin Sheedy is the Production Manager.  Muse Productions has assembled a cast of more than 40 performers, with a particular focus on nurturing and developing young, local acting talent. The production promises to bring together the energy, ambition and talent that have become hallmarks of the company’s work.

Following the national recognition achieved by RENT, expectations are high as Muse Productions take on one of the most demanding and celebrated musicals in the theatrical repertoire.

Tickets are now on sale and can be booked through TicketSource at www.ticketsource.com/muse or by telephone on 087 413 6822.

Muse Productions are proud once again to be supported by Shannon Springs Hotel and EI Electronics, whose continued support plays an important role in promoting and sustaining the arts community in Shannon.