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WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009 — Page 2

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#26

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 5:57pm

YEAH!!!! This is very exciting!!!

I've heard the 1980 revival wasn't that good.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#27

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 7:16pm

I'd love it if Diana Degarmo was a candidate to play Maria. She can sing the score beautifully, she's played the role before and that was before she really had any theater experience at all (pre-Hairspray). Maybe she wouldn't be considered a "name" by the producers definition since she's only done a supporting role.
#28

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 9:35pm

you're kidding right?? Even though I thought she was great in Hairspray, I don't think WSS is the right show for her. I'd love to see Natalie Cortez(ACL's Diana) as Maria.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#32

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 11:38pm

The 1980 revival was actually exciting. if you were born in the early 50's, ahem, late 40's and didn't have sophisticated parents, you didn't get to see the choreography live on Broadway with A class dancers.
The recreation and difficulty of it were done proud.
The leads were uneven, but interesting.
Josie DeGuzman was a sweet, well acted, plaintifully sung Maria.
She was later fired from Laurent's NICK AND NORA, like she was whar was wrong with that.
Debbie Allen. who has become like a director? was a fiery and hot Anita, Hector Mercado was a sizzling Bernado.
I don't even remember Tony.
It was a mixed bag, but seeing the dancing and hearing that score live, after only really knowing the movie and the records was mind blowing.

Updated On: 5/23/08 at 11:38 PM

#33

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 11:52pm

The Tony was Ken Marshall, who went on to play Marco Polo in a 1980s TV miniseries.

His understudies were spectacular: Steven Bogardus, before Falsettos, and Brent Barrett, who was just a baby and far from the buff stud he's become. Their voices were superb.

And the 3rd Maria understudy was a very young Harolyn Blackwell, now an opera star.

The dancing was extraordinary, and the staging was Mr Robbins at his perfectionist peak.

But Jerry (we could call him that ONLY behind his back) insisted that the jets look "all-American," which with the rainbow-colored Irene Sharaff denim costumes, left the Jets looking like a gay Boy Scout troupe, while the Sharks looked HOT!
#34

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/23/08 at 11:53pm

There will be Spanish speaking and I guess singing
He wants the gang members to act and sing like actual gang members
No music, dialogue/lyrics, or choreography will be changed.

How much Spanish does Mr. Laurents intend to include? Who will translate his dialogue and Sondheim's lyrics?

What does Mr. Laurents know about gangs? What first hand knowledge does he have about gangs? What's the time period for the revival? Do gangs in the 1950s and gangs in 2008 act the same way?

Laurents' made-up gang slang is awful. Today, his book is the weakest part of the show.

Credits for the Bernadette Peters Gypsy lists Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Additional Choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Mitchell was Assistant to the Choreographer for Jerome Robbins' Broadway.
#39

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/25/08 at 10:25pm

>>>The production, according to a casting notice, will feature Jerome Robbins' original choreography, re-created by Joey McKneely (Tony nominee for The Life and Smokey Joe's Café). Patrick Vaccariello will be the production's musical director. <<<

Joey and Patrick have worked together before -- Joey was the choreographer while Patrick was the musical director for THE BOY FROM OZ.

#41

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/26/08 at 11:06am

Speaking of hopefully having a full size orchestra, ala SOUTH PACIFIC and GYPSY, when the OBC of WEST SIDE STORY played the Winter Garden, the pit orchestra was so large that the Timpani were situated in an orchestra level box. The sound of Bernstein's score was great. It deserves a similar sound next season. And sound men, please be careful with the miking of the orchestra. Don't amplify where it isn't needed, like the timpani, for example.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
#43

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/26/08 at 6:31pm

I agree Diana DeGarmo would be a good candidate. She did the lead Maria for the AMTSJ , in 2005, Lead as Brooklyn in Brooklyn the Musical for the National tour in 2006 and of course you know her best as Penny in Hairspray. Can she pull it off ? Yep She was good three years ago but really good now. Hope she gets a crack.She definitely is worthy of the lead.
Here is a post regarding Brooklyn

re: A Standing O in the middle of a show?
Posted On: 5/12/08 at 06:13 PM

Funny enough the only time I had experienced a standing ovation in the middle of the show was when I was at a performance of the National Tour of Brooklyn starring Diana Degarmo in San Jose. It was crazy, I believe she received one during Once Upon A time and the largest one during Streetsinger which almost stopped the show cold. It was so crazy and she was hella good.

Updated On: 5/26/08 at 06:31 PM

#45

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/26/08 at 6:34pm

Diana DeGarmo is white.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#48

re: WEST SIDE STORY Revival Begins Previews On Broadway February 13, 2009

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:00pm

This is Broadway, not community theatre.

Let's employ Latina actresses in the few roles that have been written exclusively for Latinas.

There are numerous roles available to someone from Diana's background.

Not to mention that Laurents said he wanted to go with unknowns.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

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