Scenes from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY revival- Page 3

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 2:37pm

They were ALL dicks, ljay. Geniuses, but dicks. Especially Arthur and Jerry, both of whom prided themselves on how nasty they could be.

Here's the wording of the Robbins/Gennaro agreement (from the Deborah Jowitt biography):

I shall have the right freely and without compensation to you to copyright in my name in the initial and renewal terms, use or corporation that I may in my sole discretion select, your said choreographic material and conceptions created or suggested by you as fully as if your said choreographic material and conceptions had been originally created or suggested by me."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 3:08pm

Wow. I just noticed this in my copy of Deborah Jowitt's Robbins biography:

Peter Gennaro, who was adept at Latin rhythms, staged "America"--in which Anita quashes nostalgia for old San Juan--choreographing the vibrant dance that grew out of it for Shark men and women. Robbins took the men out of the number, thus giving the show a women's group to balance the dominant warring males and turning "America" in a dazzle of swishing skirts, rapidly flicking feet, and scornful female tongues.

So the structure was Robbins's and the steps were Gennaro's.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 3:30pm

Thanks for all the info, PJ! And thanks, morosco, for posting the links to those fantastic clips!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 3:47pm

Robbins must have had some spell over Gennaro to get him to sign something as outragous as that.

[That Groovy Guy]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 3:51pm

Very cool to see. I guess I'm in the minority though in that I reeeally didn't like Debbie Allen's performance.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 4:01pm

Pal Joey, that is great info. How do you know all this? Fascinating stuff!!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 4:10pm

Robbins had that same spell over everyone he worked with: Gennaro, Tommy Abbott, Lee Theodore (I think he also has an affair with her--he was bisexual for much of his life), Tony Mordente.

Even Chita speaks of him in glowing, godlike terms--and SHE was the one who told people Gennaro did the Sharks' choreography.

He was charismatic and could charming and there was something deeply, deeply sexy about him.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 5:50am

Did Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio ever go on as Maria?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 11:17am

I believe she played Maria in the international tour that followed the 80 revival. I never saw her do it.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 8:37am

Bumped for theaterkid1015

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 4:04pm

What are the clips on the Tube regarding the '89 Jerome Robbins Broadway? There is a clip of Charlotte D"Amboise doing a performance of Anita. I assume that wasn't a revival. Was it a tribute show?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 4:06pm

It was a "segment" from JR's B'Way, which was a revue.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 5:37pm

Thanks PG2.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:55am

Bump for N2N Nate

[Tink2]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 8:44pm

I actually saw this show, PJ. I thought Debbie Allen was wonderful. I still have my Playbill. Thank you for all of this information!

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 12:24am

The 1980 production of WSS was absolutely stunning. I was walking on air when I left the theater. I bought my first and only windowcard that day, and it hung on my bedroom wall until I moved to the city four years later.

Josie DeGuzman was wonderful—that voice! Funny thing to recall, but her feet looked so big, I thought she was wearing pointe shoes.

Debbie Allen was a force of nature on that stage. Her dancing was incredible, but what will always stick with me was her acting—without words. In the scene where Anita knocks on Maria's door after the rumble, and the realization that Tony is in there with her hits Anita, the change in the body and face of Allen, from panicked concern to livid disgust, as if she'd been slapped in the face, was so powerful it was scary. When Maria opened the door, the electric glare on Allen's face, and the way she stormed to the window to confirm her suspicion and whirled to face Maria, was heart-stopping. I knew the story, but I was suddenly convinced that maybe I didn't—that Anita might actually kill her. All without a single word.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 7:49am

YES!

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 8:15am

How much of that would you chalk up to natural talent, and how much to the book director and his assistant? :P

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 9:17am

Debbie Allen has always been a fantastic actress. She proved it to me on last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy. She still has what it takes!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 10:45am

I remember vividly Gerald Freedman working with Debbie on that moment before the scene with Anita, but I chalk it up to the force-of-nature that was Debbie at that point in her life.

Interestingly, in rehearsal, she was always eager to take bits of direction and choreographic flourishes from the multitudes of people who were there: not just Jerry Robbins (who seemed more at ease communicating with her than he was with any of the other performers) but also with Jerry Freedman and Peter Gennaro and Lee Theodore and Tommy Abbott. And then there was that day that Chita came by the rehearsal studio and gave Debbie the little attitude adjustments (like the pregnant stagger and the hurricane move) and dress flourishes. Another actress playing a role like that might have had an understandable diva attitude toward getting so much input from so many people, but Debbie was like a gracious sponge, always taking the input and making it her won, always excited and always appreciative.

By the time the Four Creators came by rehearsals, they disagreed with each other on virtually everything. But the one thing they all agreed on was that Debbie was perfect--even Arthur, who had nothing but scowls for everyone else involved.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 11:10am

Paljoey!! What incredible stories and information you've got on this production! A front row seat to all of these luminaries must've been incredible!

I missed this revival by several months. I didnt visit NYC for the first time until after it closed and always get mad at the idea that I was so close to seeing it! My first visit I saw Evita, Barnum, Pirates... and Woman of the Year...not bad, but this is one that slipped through my fingers.

I remember seeing the Tony Awards that year and being blown away by Ms. Allen. Who knew how well we'd all get to know her! I also remember her GLARE when she lost the Tony to Priscilla Lopez!

She still can hog a mike too...just watch her on So You Think You Can Dance!

What did you do in this production?!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 11:38am

PJ was assistant to Gerald Freeman. PJ you should tell them the Jerry Robbins story you related to me.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 12:01pm

Cool Beans!!

PJ, spill!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/27/17 at 4:23pm

Bumped for the 60th anniversary!

[cliffordbradshaw2]

Posted: 9/27/17 at 5:12pm

Some footage from the 1980 "West Side Story":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbtWwo2FSX0