pixeltracker

BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival- Page 4

BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#75re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 5/23/08 at 10:55pm

When you're a Jet,
you're a Jet all the way,
From your first pirouette
To your last grand jete...


allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#76re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 5/24/08 at 1:03am

I saw the Debbie Allen version twice in 1980 and have directed it twice. One of my favorite shows. I have to admit, both times I directed it, I followed the lead of the OCR and added the 16 bars from "The Rumble" as a mini-overture to the opening. It is a very arresting gesture and actually draws the riveted attention of the audience so the fingersnaps are not missed when they begin.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
Updated On: 5/24/08 at 01:03 AM

Gypsy9 Profile Photo
Gypsy9
#77re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 5/24/08 at 8:30am

I am so glad I started to read this thread with posts beginning in 2005, and am grateful to Pal Joey for bumping it up through the years. My favorite bits of Pal Joey's contributions are describing production stage manager Ruth Mitchell using the first names of Larry(Kert), Carol(Lawrence) and Chita(Rivera) while blocking the 1980 cast members. Secondly, I loved hearing about Pal Joey's descriptions of Leonard Bernstein sighing loudly at the back of the house at the Miami orchestra's mistakes, going down the aisle with his jacket over his shoulders and whispering to the conductor, and finally his taking over the conducting of the orchestra, inspiring them, and the subsequent superior playing by the orchestra. This thread also motivates me to finally read the biography of Leonard Bernstein by Humphrey Burton(c.1993) which has been sittting on my bookshelf unread for all these years.


"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 5/24/08 at 08:30 AM

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#78re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 10/24/08 at 7:45am

Just came across this picture of Hector Mercado, who played Bernardo in the 1980 revival.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hillyblue/2615148342/in/set-72157600430945166/

He was amazing. Wonder where he is how?


PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#79re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 10/30/08 at 10:50pm

Could be...

Who knows?

Something's coming--something good?


#80re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:43am

I'd been quoting that When You're a Jet/pirouette "lyric" to friends for a while now and never could remember where I read it. Musta been this thread way back re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#81re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/2/08 at 8:11am

Brian Kaman was the Baby John who made that up.

Wonder whatever happened to him... ;-{


best12bars Profile Photo
best12bars
#82re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/2/08 at 9:59am

PJ, I met Hector out here in L.A. about 10 years ago. He was a friend of one of my coworkers at the foundation I used to work for.

He came by our offices one day, and I talked with him for a good long while. We had a mutual friend from "Cats," and I actually chatted with him briefly about the WSS revival.

He said it was a big thrill for him to play Bernardo, because he was actually in the movie, too. I questioned that, because I said he would have been a little kid when the film came out in '61. He said, "Yes, exactly right!"

Hector was one of the kids playing basketball on the court, during the opening shots filmed on the inner-city playground. So to have him go from that to Bernardo (almost 20 years later) in a WSS Broadway revival was a big thrill.

He was a very nice man, and I'm glad we had the chance to talk. He was living here in L.A. back then, but this conversation was a decade ago. I have no idea if he's still out here nor not.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#83re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/2/08 at 11:38am

I wonder where he is, and I hope he's well.


PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#84re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:35pm

Bump.

Even though Miss P didn't like this revival, it remains my one and only Broadway show.


Updated On: 5/16/16 at 04:35 PM

miss pennywise Profile Photo
miss pennywise
#85re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/21/08 at 6:52pm

I just read through this entire thread. PJ, your story Ivie Anderson had me grinning from ear to ear. Just think, you impressed Leonard Bernstein...and did a little duet with him. That's a memory I would never forget either!

I had no idea you worked on the WSS revival. Forgive me. As I said, I thought some of the casting was quite bad. I didn't want to name names, but everyone else has, so I may as well go for it! Ken Marshall couldn't sing and totally lacked charisma. I imagine him making every entrance hunched over, his pale, skinny arms dangling lifelessly at his side despite the excitement of his new-found love, witnessing the death of his best friend and murdering his lover's brother. I mean, when you're playing Tony, you have to show a little spark, at least. Mr. Marshall was just depressing! (I'm sure he's a very nice man though.re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival)

Nevertheless, I KNOW that whatever contributions you made improved the show exponentially! I think the title of your memoirs should be Scatting with the Maestro.


"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#86re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/21/08 at 7:41pm

I was just an assistant to the book director. Mostly I took notes.

And thanks for your suggestion for a memoir title, but don't you think scat references have an unfortunate double entente?


miss pennywise Profile Photo
miss pennywise
#87re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:43pm

So does the word maestro for that matter!


"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#88re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/29/08 at 11:09pm

Bumped, pathetically, for the scrapbook with the yellowed clips.


miss pennywise Profile Photo
miss pennywise
#89re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 12:06am

No apologies necessary, PJ. Your stories continue to entertain. re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival

Now, tell us why Arthur turned on you!


"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#90re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 12:22am

Too painful for a message board. You have to get me very drunk for that.


Updated On: 12/30/08 at 12:22 AM

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#91re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 12:24am

Aw, I knew there had to be a reason why you hate Arthur.

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#92re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 12:39am

"Hate" is an inaccurate description. I bear my scars with a mixture of anger, sadness and pride.


ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#93re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 12:46am

I would love to hear the stories!

miss pennywise Profile Photo
miss pennywise
#94re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 1:13am

PJ, it's a date!

(But sorry about its being painful.)

I basically thought Arthur was a big jerk while reading his autobiography, but his love, devotion and respect for his long-time partner won me over. I was very sad when I learned of his passing. So Arthur IS willing to admit he's wrong and show his vulnerability. It only took 90 years!


"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

B3TA07 Profile Photo
B3TA07
#95re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 3:26am

Why am I reading this?


-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#96re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 8:18am

Well, I don't know that he's showing any "vulnerability"...


miss pennywise Profile Photo
miss pennywise
#97re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 11:14am

Hey, Pal Joey, I'm trying to be NICE!


"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#98re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 1:52pm

Bump for LadyDramaturg2


Reginald Tresilian Profile Photo
Reginald Tresilian
#99re: BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival
Posted: 12/30/08 at 2:51pm

PalJoey, I don't believe you've included the coda to this story, which I love: the note from Bernstein.

PJ has a little note in his possession, written on one of Bernstein's correspondence cards. Lenny struck through the printed name and then wrote a short message, concluding with: "You're a fine lad, and a big spirit."

The funny part is that in Bernstein's scrawl, it looks as though he actually called PJ a "big sh!t."

(I'm not being mean; PJ is always the first to point this out.)


Videos