WEST SIDE STORY Revival will have an Orchestra of 30 players... — Page 3

And amazingly... that theatre still looks like that!

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I saw a production of WEST SIDE STORY at the Colonial Theater in Boston in late 90's. I dont think its a Regional bec. it played at the Colonial. Does anyone know if they tour WSS in the late 90s? I even have the poster... I will post it later...

Could you be thinking of the 2002 tour that was directed by Alan Johnson?

This bilingual thing is his "big concept"? Boring!

It's his "big concept" now. First, he spoke in an interview about casting the revival very young, with kids who looked tough. That went out the window with the apparent casting of pretty-boy Matt Cavenaugh as Tony. So, now he's decided this is going to be his new concept.

Regarding a theater...are we very sure Grease is going to be playing into 2009? Will it still pack them in with a new cast of leads?

Also, who's to say the Hilton won't be available? I know Spiderman had their eyes on the theater, but that's a year or so away.

I'm just not convinced Legally Blonde is closing anytime soon.

I do agree that with the announcement that the cast will have 37 people and the orchestra 30, that pretty much eliminates the Nederlander, because of the size of the production.

>Probably from people making it up.<

Why would anyone make that up when until yesterdays announcement everyone assumed that West Side would be at the Marquis?

Could you be thinking of the 2002 tour that was directed by Alan Johnson?

No.. its late 90's, about the same time as TITANIC bec. i remember buying the window card and having it framed same time with Titanic. the production of WSS, I saw in Boston (I think) featured the choreography of Jerome Robbins~ not a 100% sure.

The window card is a photo of a guy wearing a black tank top (ala Fosse) and hugging the girl-it looks like they are "making out" by the ladder (stage ladder) The girl ( I guess..she's maria, her legs are wrapped around the guy's waist -very sexual photo...Unfortunately I gave the poster to my sister... I am still looking for the photo..Its definitely late 90's!

J*

Updated On: 7/16/08 at 03:50 PM

The Hellinger is too opulent for West Side Story. The director needs the audience to be looking at Tony & Maria, not at the beautiful angel-flanked crown hanging over the proscenium.

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"And amazingly... that theatre still looks like that!"

Did you think the church was going to rip out all that beauty?

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morosco- Is it just my imagination or the late 90's tour of WSS featured recreated Jerome Robbin's choreography? I think this one is the 40 yrs anniversary tour of WSS?

J*

>Did you think the church was going to rip out all that beauty?<

No, just that I didn't expect it to be maintained as well as it has been. The church has done a better job of maintaining that theatre than the Nederlander Organization ever did when they owned it. I remember staring up at the water damaged rococo ceiling during some of the boring parts of Grind.

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morosco- Is it just my imagination or the late 90's tour of WSS featured recreated Jerome Robbin's choreography? I think this one is the 40 yrs anniversary tour of WSS?

It did use Robbin's choreography. And I think Alan Johnson directed/recreated that tour as well. What I remember most about seeing the show was hearing the overture. For some reason I had always thought that WSS didn't have an overture. I think the show would play better without one.

When You're a Jean

For some reason I had always thought that WSS didn't have an overture

I think it didn't originally, but every professional production I've seen had one.

And don't all professional productions use the Jerome Robbin's choreography, or am I imagining that?