CODY GREEN on Playing Riff in West Side Story

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 3:46pm

Canadian-born dancer/actor/singer Cody Green is used to taking big risks. He left The Juilliard School to join the ensemble of the Mama Mia! national tour. Playing Eddie in the tour of Movin’ Out led to joining the Broadway cast in its last few months, and then the London cast. He took a leave of absence from the revival of Grease to compete in BRAVO’s “Step It Up and Dance” competition and came away the winner. Then he turned down a show for the chance he might get to work with Arthur Laurents in West Side Story. He landed the role of Riff, leader of the Jets, which recently ended its run at the National, and is getting ready for its Broadway opening. Read the interview here.


Cody Green on Playing Riff in West Side Story

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 3:53pm

I really, REALLY hate question and answer interviews. What is the point of having a reporter put his her name to it?

Arrggh.


Does anyone happen to know what show Greene turned down?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 4:08pm

Oh for crap's sake.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 4:23pm

"what is your big number JET SONG about?

Huh?

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 5:35pm

I don't expect everyone to like everything I write or record. I can take the heat. I have not agreed with many things posted on this site, but I never have called anyone a lousy writer or stupid or incompetent. I respect everyone's opinion, but what I don't respect is insulting one's skills and reputation. In fact, I always PM people first if I have a concern and never insult anyone publically. I can take the heat - and I appreciate the comments and constructive criticism when the tone is civil and not hateful. I've been running a social group for 19 years, and I know that you can't please everyone. That's life. I appreciate the comments and criticisms about the questions I asked. It was a good learning experience and I will use your suggestions for preparing future Q&As. "Shoulda. Coulda" is too late now, so can't we just move on please? I am very grateful that Karen and Cody took the time out of their busy schedule to sit down and send me their answers. Were they the best Q&A's I have ever submitted and received and published? No. And I hope Cody sees this and give us the answer about which show he passed on.



Updated On: 1/30/09 at 05:35 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 5:58pm

1. My point about the name was not that it was YOUR name. How was I suppose to know the "writer" of an article was the original poster. MY POINT IS.....you didn't actually WRITE/CREATE anything. I personally HATE reading an "interview", which this obviously wasnt', and have someone call it an article. I didn't mean to ruffle YOUR feathers, since I didn't know they WERE yours. I was just commenting on the LACK OF AN ARTICLE. My high school students would have written (gasp) paragraphs. I am allowed to have an opinion about your chosen format.

2. Since it WAS your work....you cannot expect to post anything on a discussion board and NOT HAVE IT BE DISCUSSED.
That, sir, is the risk you take with presenting something.

3. THe only CRITICISM this thread has created is about the article itself: not Cody Greene, not b'way, NOT West Side Story. So what damage did our comments bring? None.

4. RESEARCH???? Are you kidding me? What research? You provided NOTHING new, or certainly nothing I wouldn't have found in my own google search. I READ the article to get insight and didn't receive any.

5. As for my "responsibility" to b'way. I see 2 to 5 shows each and every month. I bring my children to b'way shows. I bring my students to b'way shows. I teach others the art of stage acting, stagecraft, and directing. I inspire their love of theater. I do PLENTY, thank you very much.

Updated On: 1/28/09 at 05:58 PM

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 6:04pm

Thank you for all you do for theatre. And, an extra thank you for bringing your students to the theatre. That's fantastic.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 6:07pm

This whole thing is dumb.

The interview, this thread, the writer of the "article" and etc.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 7:53pm

Do yourself a favor.


The Art of the Interview: Lessons from a Master of the Craft

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 11:40pm

I don't mean to start rumors, but perhaps it was "Cry-Baby"? That seems like a dance heavy show, but I'm totally pulling that out of my a$$.

[bethnor]

Posted: 1/28/09 at 11:50pm

...

back when there was going to be a Brigadoon, I believe John Selya, Marty Lawson, and Cody were slated to be in it. There's a blog somewhere where someone stage door'ed Lawson after Cry-Baby.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:03am

Hockeynut
I apologize
For being snarkey
I just think there are maybe better questions
to address this production than what the Jet Song is about
You are a great champion of Theatre in the DC area and should be proud of that.
With the recent CHANGE going on in our country right now,
the question of how racism (whichever way it goes) compares to the time of WEST SIDE STORY now and the time it originated seems to me more interesting.
Gee, I might have just made a point about the JET SONG.

From SKYSCRAPER:
"EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WRONG, AT LEAST ONCE"

[bostonthespian]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 1:22am

I think this is a terrific interview. One thing that wasn't mentioned here is that you never know what kind of answers you will receive. The questions were just fine. I'm sure if you sent him a PM, he would appreciate your recommendations and suggestions and criticism. I interviewed many actors when I was in college, and you wouldn't believe how many times I received lousy answers from many of them. I even had one actor answer his questions with "Yes" and "No." Some actors are shy and send in brief answers. Some are very outgoing, and send in more thorough answers. I listen to Joel's podcasts and they are wonderful and inciteful. This guy knows a lot about musical theatre, and I feel like I am right there when he records his interviews. Listen to his Alice Ripley podcast he just recorded. It's incredible! We need to be more respectful in this room. Calling people stupid and sending them Interview Handbooks is uncalled for, and is just plan low and disrespectful. We can do better than that.

[dapperchapper]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 1:40am

I'm with bostonthespian, people around here could at least try not to be rude.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 2:43am

bostonthespian, the only posts you have made in your short time on this board have been to defend your friend who asked you to join so you could defend him.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 2:57am

This is all so cute.

Updated On: 1/29/09 at 02:57 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 3:04am

I agree with Foster. Though I think hockeynut2 and bostonthespian are the same person.

[luceecool]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 8:35am

Ever thought the writer might not have the freedom/ability to put exactly what they wanted to put? Last time I did an interview that wasn't in Q&A format, my editor had a big go at me about how she had to put it all into Q&A style and why didn't I do that to start with?

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 9:34am

Forget the interviewer for a second.

Cody has the personality of a head of lettuce and adds absolutley nothing to the role of Riff.
That He would be expected to offer any insights at all is what has me perplexed!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 11:04am

sending them Interview Handbooks is uncalled for, and is just plan low and disrespectful

I beg to differ. Lawrence Grobel is one of the best celebrity interviewers out there. If you and hockeynut took my suggestion as "plan low" and disrespectful, you are both missing out on an opportunity to learn from a master and improve your skills.

You're welcome.

Updated On: 1/29/09 at 11:04 AM

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 11:33am

I did appreciate the suggestion Pal Joey and I will surely purchase a copy.
Podcasts of NYC, DC and Philly actors and directors on DCTS Updated On: 1/29/09 at 11:33 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:01pm

When you post something publicly, you invite responses. If you can't take positive and negative criticism, post to your friends only.

But there is a definite art to asking questions.

Part of the art of interviewing is drawing out your subjects. The goal is to make them seem even more interesting and intelligent and passionate and charming than they may actually be. That's what a good interviewer does. Dead-end questions elicit dead-end responses, which are what you got from both Karen Olivo and Cody Green.

If you don't know why your questions elicited such uninteresting responses, perhaps you will gain some insight from Lawrence Grobel's book.

Good luck!

Updated On: 1/29/09 at 12:01 PM

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:09pm

I agree..

If you can't handle the heat get out of the kitchen.

You'll get negative and positive remarks -- Not something you can control or stop.

you can't expect every person, who believes you do a poor job at interviews, to PM you instead. It's part of the process.

If you decide to post links to your bad interviews, be prepared to be scrutinized by the general public. Whether it be brutal or not.

[DrewBill]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:29pm

PalJoey: I respectfully disagree with your above post -- It's not good advice to make interview subjects seem more interesting/intelligent/charming than they actually are. That is a misrepresentation of the interview subject, especially if they are in fact boring, stupid, or charmless.

A good interview illuminates its subject truthfully -- the good and the bad -- providing insight into their work or life. The "art" of the interview is asking questions that illicit an original response, not just the same rote answers given to many others. It's definitely not about making the person look good -- that's his/her PR person's job.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:29pm

Oh for crap's sake.