CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Monte Ralstin, a vocal director from the UA School of Theatre Arts, is one of the hosts for a charity performance of "West Side Story" where audience members can sing along with the movie. The show takes place at the Loft Cinema at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Are you a Jet or a Shark?

For those UA students who are drawing a blank when posed with this question, think back to the musical hit, "West Side Story" ÷ a modern-day Romeo and Juliet that will be coming to Tucson and starring · you!

Students are invited to experience the streets of New York as any number of characters from the musical by donning costumes and singing along with the film a la "Rocky Horror Picture Show" style.

The show will take place at The Loft Cinema on 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. and will feature a costume contest, prizes, surprises and of course, the sing-a-long.

Upon arrival, "West Side Story" hosts Brooke Davis and Monte Ralstina, will warm up the audience by giving them cues ÷ movements and actions to do at different times during the movie.

Also before the show begins there will be a costume parade where anyone in costume can cross the stage and announce any pertinent information regarding their character.

"I expect the range to be fun and some of the costumes quite creative," said Peggy Johnson, executive director of the Tucson Cinema Foundation, Inc. "During the ÎSound of Music' sing-a-long we had a flibbertygibbit, a brown paper package wrapped up in string, etc."

The audience will choose their favorites by a vote of applause.

Then let the show begin.

"The fun thing about sing-a-longs is that the audience can join in and sing at the top of their lungs," said Johnson. "Instead of having to sit quietly because no-one wants to hear your rendition of the well-known songs featured in the musical."

Words will be shown on the screen for those audience members without an expansive musical memory and there will be ample opportunities to interact with the characters through gestures and actions.

Six or seven pre-designated symbols will be used throughout the film, prompted by the appearance or sound of a certain character or melody.

For example, when the rival street gangs, the Jets or the Sharks, come onscreen audience members are prompted to snap, and when they hear the melody "Tonight" being played, they are encouraged to make the shape of a moon overhead and sway in their seats, according to Davis, co-master of ceremony and a local theatrical producer and performer.

"The music is just so wonderful and the film is so beautiful, so sweet and sad ÷ so innocent and yet so relevant," said Johnson.

"West Side Story was to its generation what Rent was to the 90's," said Davis, calling West Side Story a "groundbreaking musical" for its time.

"If you need an escape from the real world and love to sing, come on down!" said Ralstin, the UA musical director and vocal coach for the School of Theater Arts, as well as co-master of ceremony for the performance.

Following a trend started in London with a sing-a-long to "The Sound of Music," The Loft had a sellout show with their first sing-a-long ÷ also "The Sound of Music" ÷ and anticipates great success for "West Side Story" as well.

"It's kind of an extension of the interactive media explosion," said Johnson. "Using Îvintage' films to produce a more contemporary, user-friendly, audience-participation format."

Now operating as a nonprofit theater, "West Side Story" is functioning as a fundraiser to keep The Loft open and running.

The Loft also plans to have sing-a-long musicals regularly, along with their first run independent, foreign and alternative films.

Two shows will be held on Sunday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for children under 12, $12 for TFS members, senior citizens and students, and $18 for general admission.