Insider's Guide to the 2016 Mountain Play: West Side Story

One of Marin County's most beloved and unique events is the famous Mountain Play—an outdoor theatre experience high on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that's been going strong for over a century! This year's 103rd Mountain Play production is the Tony award winning musical West Side Story. Based on Shakespeare's play about two star-crossed young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story features unforgettable songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, and was made famous by its Oscar-winning 1961 film version. It all makes for fantastic family entertainment in the spectacular setting of Mt. Tam!

Featuring athletic choreography and one of the most beautiful scores in musical theatre history, West Side Story is directed by Jay Manley and stars Mindy Lym as Maria, Jerry Lee as Tony, Erica Lamkin as Anita, David Crane as Bernardo, and Zachary Isen as Riff. Musical direction is by David Möschler and choreography by Nicole Helfer.

Performances take place at 2 pm at Mt. Tam's Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on May 22 and 29, and June 5, 11, 12, and 19. General seating ticket prices range from $20–$40, and children 3 and under are free. Reserved seats start at $60. Order tickets online here or by phone at (415) 383-1100.

Make a day of it

Of course the Mountain Play isn't just about the play—it's about the complete Mountain Play experience. This includes taking in the pre- and post-show entertainment, with puppet shows by Fratello Marionettes (at 11:30 am and 1 pm daily), face painting, fantastic preshow entertainment, a raffle with amazing prizes, and more. You can even take advantage of the Mountain Play's unique location and take a hike before the show. Check the Mountain Play's website for details on related activities and events.

Each day has its own special theme with preshow entertainment starting at 12:30 pm. Opening Day is May 22 with preshow entertainment by Destiny Arts; May 29 is Tribute to Pat Sirianni with Vocal Rush; June 5 is LGBT Day with enterainment by the Lollipop Guild, an ensemble from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus; June 11 is Arts Education Day with Enriching Lives Through Music; June 12 is Musical Theater LIVE! Day with Marin Summer Theater; and closing day, June 19 celebrates Father's Day with entertainment by 'Til Dawn.

Another Mountain Play is to bring your picnic lunch, and playgoers can get pretty elaborate with their gourmet picnic meals. Just checking out the gourmet fare that people bring is half the fun! There will even be a picnic contest at the last performance on Sunday, June 19, with a celebrity judge: award-winning chef and TV personality Laurie Figone. If you think your picnic spread is a contender, make sure you check in when you arrive to enter the contest.

Don't want to pack your lunch? Don't worry, you can buy a wide range of food at the Mountain Play, including sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, ice cream, hot and cold drinks, and even beer and wine from the Rumble Bar.

If you go

The Mountain Play box office opens at 9 am on performance days. Very limited parking is available on the mountain, and lots usually fill up by 11 am. Lots closest to the theatre are reserved for members and patrons with disabilities who have reserved spots in advance. Parking is available at the old Air Force base ($10; $5 for hybrid and electric cars). A shuttle bus will take playgoers to and from the amphitheater from the Air Force base parking lots. Carpooling is encouraged!

The traditional way to get to the mountain play, however, is to take one of the free shuttle bus—otherwise known as the Mountain Play Express—up onto the mountain. The Mountain Play's fleet of eco-friendly yellow bueses will whisk you up to the Cushing Memorial Amphitheater from two locations in Mill Valley—the Manzanita Park-and-Ride Lot at the Highway 101 and Shoreline Highway junction (near the Buckeye restaurant) and at Tamalpais High School on Miller Avenue. The Mountain Play Express runs approximately every 15 minutes from 10 am to 12:45 pm, and will be there to take you back down the mountain after the play. Cars may be parked at both locations all day free of charge.

When you go, make sure you're prepared for any kind of weather. Even if it's foggy in Mill Valley, the Rock Spring area and the amphitheater can be sunny and hot. There are some areas of shade in the theater, but they're available on a first-come, first-served basis, or part of the reserved seating area. Hats, sunscreen, and layered clothing are a must at the Mountain Play. Make sure you bring plenty of drinking water, too. Amphitheater seats are all stone blocks, so stadium cushions, pillows, blankets, and other forms of padding are a good idea, too. Reserved seats have pads in place already, and you can rent them when you get there.

For the true Mountain Play experience, take the Mountain Play Express shuttle bus up the mountain, and then hike down after the show. The route down the Mt. Tamalpais is seven miles and takes about two to three hours to complete, so if you plan on hiking bring plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. You can get a route map and hiking directions on the Mountain Play's website.

If you choose to hike down from the theater, the Mountain Play will transport your ice chests, blankets, picnic baskets, and other bulky items down the mountain for you; pick them up at the Depot in downtown Mill Valley, and then hop a shuttle bus for the ride back to your car. Other transportation options include biking or hiking up to the amphitheater.

To order tickets or for more information on this year's production and the Mountain Play experience, visit www.mountainplay.org or call (415) 383-1100.

Photo by Ed Smith, courtesy of the Mountain Play.