WEST SIDE STORY (2019 Revival) Preview Thread — Page 15

The original Bway WSS production had 31 musicians in the pit.

For today's revivial Tunick re-orchestrated the score for 25.

What's been cut: 1 violin, 2 cellos, the guitar, 2 percussionists.

I don't know what it is about Bway that makes people so conservative, but whether it be water, video or actor-musicians, these are all theatrical devices and vocabularies that have been used globally and in other genres 10x as much for decades, and in case of actor-musicians, even centuries.

It's only when it comes to Bway that somehow people think it's being invented, or can only be in one show every few years, etc. This from an artform that has 371 shows with tap numbers in them. It's a device. You can dislike video, you can dislike actor-musicians, you can dislike tap, but to act like they're a gimmick is silly.

(As for the safety of the water, you had better believe there are rules they're following.)

Irv Kostal, as quoted in Steven Suskin’s “The Sound of Broadway”:

“One of the first things Lenny, Sid, and I did was to visit the Winter Garden Theatre to study the acoustics and also to hear the orchestra we might have to use. At that time, the Musicians’ Union insisted that each theatre designate four housemen, who had to play any show booked in that theatre. When Lenny heard the housemen at the Winter Garden, he groaned in despair. In particular, he could not stand the two cellists in the orchestra. He immediately dubbed them ‘the Shuberts.’ Then he asked us if we could hear the violists. We said no. At our next meeting, Lenny asked us how we felt about eliminating the violas from the orchestra. Sid and I had many times used all kinds of different instrumentations, and we readily agreed to a two-part string section, celli and violins. Now Lenny said, ‘What are we going to do about the two Shuberts?’ Between us, we decided to have two very good cellists play the difficult parts, and use the two mediocre players only on the loud parts, the tuttis, and, of course, the more simple parts, the potatoes (whole notes). That’s how major decisions are made! We could never mention any of this because, according to union rules, one musician is as good as another and it’s a punishable offense to infer otherwise. And other lies!”

BJR said: "I don't know what it is about Bway that makes people so conservative, but whether it be water, video or actor-musicians, these are all theatrical devices and vocabularies that have been used globally and in other genres 10x as much for decades, and in case of actor-musicians, even centuries.

It's only when it comes to Bway that somehow people think it's being invented, or can only be in one show every few years, etc. This from an artform that has 371 shows with tap numbers in them. It's a device. You can dislike video, you can dislike actor-musicians, you can dislike tap, but to act like they're a gimmick is silly.

(As for the safety of the water, you had better believe there are rules they're following.)

"

I agree with you

Re: Wet performers

Yeah, it works in Vegas with performers and athletes who spend nearly 100% of their show in water, so why wouldn't it work in NYC?

I'm sure equity is more than on top of this.

Tell me this means they're making way for a new Bernardo!

http://www.playbill.com/article/new-west-side-story-pushes-back-broadway-opening

Updated On: 12/23/19 at 08:23 PM

Globefan said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Tell me this means they're making way for a new Bernardo!"

We can only hope that too."



Why would either of you want that?

Updated On: 12/23/19 at 08:57 PM

Globefan said: "Highland Guy said: "Globefan said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Tell me this means they're making way for a new Bernardo!"

We can only hope that too."



Why would either of you want that?

"

It's a long story that doesn't need to be re-litigated."



Then there was no reason for you to have brought it up, was there?

tombomb31 said: "I have tickets for January 18...is it likely he will still be out then? I’d rather wait and see it when he’s back!"

Based on the length of the delay, two weeks, and Rudin’s comment that he wants Powell to have as much preview experience as was originally planned, I would guess Powell will be out about two weeks, which would put him back performing roughly Saturday evening January 4th. I doubt they would have him do two shows on his first day back, so probably no matinee that day.


Then he can see how he does overnight and make the call Sunday morning if he is ready to give it a go again. Coming back for the Sunday matinee on the 5th is also a possibility.


I’m just making random guesses and assumptions lol, who knows ... maybe he’ll be back a lot sooner.

Updated On: 12/23/19 at 09:18 PM

Knee injuries (depending on how serious they are) are more than two weeks. I know Andy Karl wore a brace for the remainder of his Groundhog Day run when he injured his knee.

And his character didn't have to do all the running that Powell apparently has to do.