The play is set in New York City. Two rival gangs are fighting for turf: the American gang, the Jets, led by Riff, and the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks, led by Bernardo.

The show opens with the two gangs fighting until it is broken up by the arrival of Krupke, a flat-foot beat cop and Shrank, an ill-tempered, bigoted detective. After the cops leave, the Jets decide the only way to solve the turf problem is to challenge the Sharks to a rumble. Riff decides to challenge Bernardo that night at the dance at the gym. Riff enlists the aid of his best friend, Tony. Tony, although a founder of the gang, has found the Jets' activities no longer interest him but agrees to come to the dance and help out the gang.

At the dance, the Jets and Sharks are competing again, only this time it is with wild dance steps. Tony spots a fresh, beautiful girl, with whom he ends up dancing. It is only when Bernardo angrily separates them he realizes he has been dancing with Maria, Bernardo's sister. Later that night, Tony secretly visits Maria and they pledge their love for each other in spite of their belonging to rival gangs.

Meanwhile, at Doc's drugstore, the gangs meet, and time and place for the rumble are set. Tony arrives late but manages to change the rumble from a pitched battle to a two-man fist fight.

The next day, Tony bounds into the Bridal Shop where Maria works with Bernardo's girlfriend, Anita. Anita is let in on the lovers' secret and agrees not to tell Bernardo.

The rumble is about to begin, but Tony arrives and tries to reconcile the two factions. Bernardo insults him and Riff leaps forward to defend his friend. Suddenly, knives appear and Riff is killed by Bernardo. Tony grabs Riff's blade and slays Bernardo.

Tony flees to tell Maria. She finds she cannot hate Tony, saying, "It's not us. It's everything around us." When Anita realizes Maria has forgiven Tony, she is furious with her. Shrank arrives suddenly and begins to question Maria. Anita, forgiving Maria, agrees to go to the drugstore to tell Tony that Maria will be delayed.

At the Drugstore, Anita is mauled by the Jets before she can even see Tony. In a rage, she tells them Chino found out about the lovers - and shot Maria. Doc relays this to Tony who then walks numbly into the streets screaming for Chino to come and get him too. He sees a figure in the dark: Maria. Just as the lovers reach each other, Tony is shot by Chino...

Director: Nancy Turner

Musical Director: Gary D. Morton

Choreographer: Susie Bregg