Speculate on the mysterious West Side Story "concept"- Page 3

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 11:36am

All male cast, with women's part in drag. And the cast will all play instruments.

The show is closed down, because the insurance company drops them for breaking too many instruments while trying to dance with them.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 11:58am

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 3:39pm

In all seriousness, I'd like to see:

1 - Actual teenagers
2 - Actual Hispanics
3 - Talking like humans talk
4 - Choreography by Rennie Harris
5 - A couple black Jets (It's about immigration, not race)
6 - The Sharks are called "Los Tiburones" and speak Spanish to each other. Their part of the Quintet and "I Feel Pretty" are entirely in Spanish. "America" is sung in Spanish by the men and English by the ladies.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 6:53pm

Yes, but they're only playing Tony and Maria as a child.

[me2]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 8:46pm

It has to be something to do with the dance. Maybe Laurents and Sondheim are the ones to convince Robbins. As a person of a different generation, it seems to me too much like a ballet piece than a musical theatre piece.

okay, get the poisoned arrows ready . . .

By the way DrTheatre, very funny. :)
Broadway Blog: About the Longest-Running Shows List

[WaitingForKathy]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 8:49pm

It will be reset with the jocks vs the actors. There will be a sequel..WSS 2.

Posted: 12/20/07 at 8:59pm

its all done with lamb puppets.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 10:03pm

One word...





TURNTABLE.

And, in addition, Maria will be green.

Last edit I swear. I just thought about this. Anyone else have a feeling they might reconcieve it "Spring Awakening" style? It kind of fits the bill.

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 10:03 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:04pm

On this week's edition of NY1's On Stage, Carol Lawrence spilled the beans. Apparently in the new Laurents version, Tony and Maria will not be able to speak each other's language, so they'll have to struggle to understand and communicate with one another. Anita and Bernardo, however, will be bilingual.

Interesting.

Updated On: 12/23/07 at 12:04 PM

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:12pm

Would that mean she would sing in Spanish? Or that it would be in English, but just implicit that they don't understand each other?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:13pm

"On this week's edition of NY1's On Stage, Carol Lawrence spilled the beans. Apparently in the new Laurents version, Tony and Maria will not be able to speak each other's language, so they'll have to struggle to understand and communicate with one another. Anita and Bernardo, however, will be bilingual. "


So I guess we know Laurents is a fan of "The Light in the Piazza."

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:21pm

That really does make sense.

I'd love to hear Sondheim's alternate lyrics to "I Feel Pretty."

Has anyone ever heard it?

[jake6970]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:36pm

As much as I'd love to see it...I don't know how well this is going to go over with the general public. A lot of people will want to understand what they're hearing and get angry when they can't. I'd LOVE to see real teenagers used. I think that would be the best way to go about it. Go on both a nationwide and worldwide search to find the most talented teenagers.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:39pm

^Even have a TV show about it!! Let America decide!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:49pm

I think it is going to be the stage version of Bring It On: In It To Win It. The competing teams in the movie are The Sharks and the Jets. I know that's what he has up his sleeve!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:06pm

Compared to all the other ideas that have been thrown out on this thread, that is really disappointing.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:11pm

So Maria will have to sing in Spanish???

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:13pm

Am I the only one surprised that neddyfrank isn't trying to claim that he knew it all along, but didn't want to spoil it?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:14pm

I think the concept will work pretty well (it did fine with Piazza, and this show audiences already are familiar with, so they won't be lost even if they don't understand any Spanish). I still hope they hire actual teenagers to play the roles though. A 16 year-old Maria makes so much more sense, and rings so much truer that a 25-year old. And the talent is out there, for sure...they just have to look a little harder.

Akiva

[jbdc]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 9:53pm

Carol Lawrence didn't spill the beans. The casting breakdown went out several weeks ago. They have an opening date, too.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 11:22pm

What is the Opening Date?

My guess is they will take the St. James.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 12:45am

Yeah, when is the opening date???

[Brick]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 2:17am

The concept is extremely interesting - exciting even - but what about his remark the production will be contemporary? This concept doesn't solve the problem that the show's situation and book are quite dated.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 2:24am

I mean, Womb to Tomb screams DATED.
Updated On: 12/24/07 at 02:24 AM

[DaintyJack]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 2:45am

If you see WSS in any language in the universe and you don't know what's going on, you have no business even being a fan of musical theater.