YOUR WEEKEND: Two plays opening this week

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” debuts at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive, at 8 p.m. July 10, and runs at 8 p.m. July 11, July 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25, and at 2 p.m. July 12, July 19 and 26.

The musical features six adolescent spellers who either won or placed in their district spelling bees to make it to the county competition. They stress, scream, pout and even sing and dance their way through the bee as they battle for the county title and the chance to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, visit www.lvlt.org or call 362-7996. Read more about the musical in the View.

“West Side Story” also opens this week at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 8000 Blue Diamond Road. The show begins at 8 p.m. July 9 and will continue at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through July 25.

“West Side Story” is the musical retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” through the story of two young lovers in the 1950s caught in the middle of two rival street gangs, the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Kids ages 5 and younger are free. Buy tickets at UNLV’s Performing Arts Box Office or online at www.unlvtickets.com. People are encouraged to buy tickets in advance as shows are expected to sell out. All Saturday shows are sold out. Read more about the musical in next week’s View.
 

— Laura Ludwick/View File Photos