The University Programming Board hosted a movie night showing of West Side Story, Tuesday night, Nov. 14. The event was held in support of the local food bank with a collection of canned foods, but did not have a big turn-out with only five people attending and 20 cans collected.

“It’s really disappointing that there wasn’t a bigger turn-out because it was for such a good cause,” Kirsten Durr, UPB member and sociology junior, said, “but hopefully next time we can get a better turn out.”

The movie night was free with snacks and refreshments provided but that wasn’t enough to draw in the crowd.

“The attendance has something to do with showing the movie at the same time as the basketball game, which is something we didn’t really think of.” Durr said.

However, for those in attendance, watching the modernized Romeo and Juliet set in the ’60s, was a new experience.

“I’ve never seen West Side Story but I really like musicals, so I thought I would try it out,” Abby Jetton, mass communication junior, said, “It was okay, a little slow for my taste. It wasn’t very flashy for a musical but I guess that’s something some people would like about it.”

West Side Story is a modern-day musical based on Romeo and Juliet with New York street gangs. It is considered one of the greatest musical films ever, ranking number two on the American Film Institutes list of Greatest Movies of All Time, second to Singing In the Rain.

“This is one of my favorite musicals, so I’m sad about the turn-out but I’ll take any chance to watch this film.” Durr said.

West Side Story

• Directed by: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
• Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris
• Release date: Oct. 18, 1961
• Ranked #2 in the American Film Institutes list of Greatest Movie Musicals of All Time