Laurents to Direct Bway WEST SIDE STORY Revival- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:02am

Mandy Gonzalez or Karen Olivo?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:12am

Yay! I can't wait.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:15am

I hope he casts age appropriate. Maria is young and a legit soprano. No 30 year olds fresh out of Rent please.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:24am

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I just read this headline, and screamed at work. Oops.

It's about time...OMFG, my favorite show ever on Broadway, I finally get to see a professional production live on Broadway...AHHHHH!!!!!!

It's about damn time, took them long enough.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of what I'm pretty sure is gonna be done to make it more "contemporary," but I suppose as long as not one note is touched, I'll live.

I'm fairly certain they're gonna cast age-appropriate actors...that was one of their early difficulties in plans to bring the revival back three years ago. Let's hope.

But who cares? It's WEST SIDE STORY!!! On BROADWAY!!!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:33am

Was the Somewhere Ballet cut from the 1980 revival? I can't remember.

I *really* hope that it's not cut from this production, I'm dying to see it in its entirety.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:46am

Yes! I nominate Elena Shaddow for María!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:47am

YES!!

[Wild Roses]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:02am

Technically, 1980 is the considered the last year of the 1970s. (Just as 2001, NOT 2000, is the official beginning of the new millennium.) So Laurents in not wrong in referring to the earlier revival as one from the 1970s.

At any rate, I am very excited for this. Its one of my favorite shows and its overdue another revival on Broadway.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:35am

Thank God this finally happening! I can finally see my favorite musical on a Broadway stage.

This news makes my day!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:41am

I thought Jerry Mitchell was supposed to direct. And I agree that the book could use some tweaking if you are going to update it. Unless he "bookends" the show with contemporary scenes and the actual show is all a dream?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:43am

Ummm, Latino Pride Year on Broadway, anyone?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:47am

But you just know they will cast some white girls and make them up to look PR. Latina Pride?

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:53am

I saw Gypsy last night and when I was reading the Playbill and read Laurents bio, I turned to my friend and said "When on earth are they going to revive West Side Story?" That was just about the quickest turn around on a ponder I've ever had.

And the WSS/In the Heights comparisons are so inevitable.

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:07pm

Ali Ewoldt for maria anyone?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:19pm

So will this be a part of the 07-08 season or the 08-09 one?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:22pm

I wonder if Mitchell would choreograph it. Perhaps not since he's started directing...I wish it could be him, though, since he was the assistant for Jerome Robbins' Broadway and has to know the choreography at least as well as any current choreographer out there. I mean, thank goodness the Robbins' choreography HAS to be used, so as long as no one completely screws up instating it...

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:32pm

John Gallagher Jr. for Riff!

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:36pm

I hope this come out for the 07'-'08 season.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:47pm

finally!!!

[lawyerman]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:56pm

Karen Olivo would make the PERFECT Anita.

I dont know about Mandy Gonzalez's acting but she could sing the HELL out of Maria.

Its a shame that there will be inevitable WSS and InTheHeights comparisons- and its a shame that so much latino talent is caught up in In The Heights this year!

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:57pm

I thought Jerry Mitchell was doing a revival?

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 1:00pm

FINALLY.

I think Matt Scott from JERSEY BOYS would actually be a great Tony. And sopranobiz, I love that idea of Ali. She seems like a Maria to me.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 1:23pm

My big plea for this revival is to actually take the time to cast age appropriate, talented actors. I hate it when West Side is done with 25 year-olds. There is a certain energy and sensibility that this show adopts when done with real, talented teenagers. Their youth really brings the material to life and it heightens almost all parts of the show.

Akiva

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 1:39pm

I would rather see a 25 year old who can sing, dance and act the crap out of it 8 times a week than a 16 year old who looks "age appropriate". Not that there aren't talented teens out there, but this show is nothing BUT teens (almost) and to find that many young people with the talent and stamina to pull it off is a problem.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 3:51pm

So cool!