This week, there are three good reasons for staying up late on a school night.

“West Side Story.”

The national Broadway tour of one of the greatest musicals of all time is playing only this week through Sunday. It’s totally worth a bag or two under your eyes.

And who knows, watching this riveting show with phenomenal dance numbers might actually help you at work. Imagine gliding through your office hallways with a lively step in your gait; could that be the song “America” dancing in your head?

“I like to be in America!

O.K. by me in America!

Ev’rything free in America

For a small fee in America!”

Yes. The fee for catching this show this week is a little less sleep but what in this world can compare to this group of beautiful talented men on stage dancing?

Their movements were blended ballet and modern steps and each number delivered a powerful punch.

There was a lot going on at any given time during each number, a dizzying amount of juking and jiving and possibly far two much hip thrusting. But for me, this type of choreography perfectly mimicked frenetic life on the city streets along with youthful male angst, anger and libido.

Watching these stage performers reminded me so much of choreographer Jerome Robbins’ film version of “West Side Story,” which won 10 Academy Awards.

“The Jet Song,” “Dance at the Gym,” and “Cool” were all pulsatingly entertaining.

One of my favorite numbers was “Gee, Officer Krupke,” a song poking fun at how society handles dysfunctional families. From the physicality of the actors to their hilarious antics during this number had me gob-smacked.

(I recall Officer Krupke from other West Side Story performances as a character who might come off somewhat befuddled. But here he is definitely a bigoted bastard, played with genuine grizzle by Wally Dunn.)

The dancing is truly a highlight in this performance. The charisma of the Romeo and Juliet-like coupling of Tony and Maria, played by Ross Lekites and Evy Ortiz, shines during the lovely ballads “Tonight” and “Somewhere.”

Leonard Bernstein did the music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim.

So kudos here to Joey McKneely for reproducing the choreography, librettist Arthur Laurents and director David Saint.

Note to readers: the Puerto Rican characters sometimes speak and sing in Spanish. Laurents, who wrote the book and brings this grittier version to us, said he wrote parts in Spanish to give the characters more authenticity and to reflect the streets of New York City today.

Because of the context of the story, it was easy enough to suss out what was going on without any translation.

The pairing of Tony and Maria was sweet enough but for me took a back seat to the drama of the rivaling gangs, the Puerta Rican gang of the Sharks and the white guys, the Jets.

The Sharks and the Jets, and to a certain extent the separate gang of girlfriends that surround them, take center stage in this production. Their movements are so explosive on stage, their anger so real, so emotional, that the rivalry between the white boys and the Puerto Ricans that culminates in the rumble was, for me, the compelling force.

The love story between Maria and Tony not as much.

Sure they are doomed lovers, but Maria’s recovery would be swifter. To me, the gang members, whose lives have truly been wasted, would feel their tragedy and loss for much longer, just as if a family member had been brutally taken away.

Riff, Action, Bernardo, Diesel – their families are the gangs. They have spent their young lives together as gang members. Their loss is much more permanent. That theme pierced my heart at the end.

“West Side Story” plays at various times through Jan. 15 at the Paramount, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets start at $25. Call 877-784-4849 or go to STG Presents.