The world’s greatest love story, West Side Story, takes to the stage of the Charlotte Performing Arts Center just in time for Valentine’s Day. The landmark Broadway musical, performed by Charlotte High’s award-winning Performing Arts Department, runs from Feb. 2 to Feb. 10.

More than fifty years ago this musical changed theater forever. It still has the power to mesmerize audiences today. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time. It’s exciting, sophisticated score by Bernstein and Sondheim is often considered Broadway’s finest and such songs as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere” are part of the nation’s musical heritage.