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

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:36pm

Okay..sorry to threadjack, but speaking of the Mark Hellinger Theater. I happened to have old photos of the theater. So for those who are not aware- This is what's "taken away" from us! ~the new generation of broadway-enthusiasts.

Mark Hellinger Theater











Updated On: 7/16/08 at 03:36 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:42pm

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

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:43pm

Oh really? I never been to the theater... Can a person just go there and pretend to worship? lol! I would go......

J*

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:44pm

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?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:45pm

Well... If I go there.. I am REALLY worshiping the theater, so I guess its a valid REASON?

J*

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:46pm

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.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:47pm

OK - so the next though - will the set be a Giant gold frame tilted back on an angle and costumes be all different types but all black with a few lights to set the mood? hahaha I hope they don't go for the less is more approach.

[anne3]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:48pm

>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?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:48pm

The Hilton not owned by the Nederlanders.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:50pm

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

[jagfkb]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:52pm

Another possibility to consider is a musical moving to another theater. For example, considerring the fact that it has already recouped, and it has been running a little low lately, Hairspray could infact be one to move to another theater, therefore allowing West Side Story to move there. Or, another possibility for switching theaters would be Legally Blonde moving to the Nederlander, therefore opening up the Palace. I'm sorry, but due to it's popularity of all of the shows currently running, especially Legally Blonde, I can't see any of them, save RENT, since it's already been announced, closing before February.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:53pm

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.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:53pm

Its definitely late 90's!

Now that you describe the poster I remember that tour. Late 90's.

EDIT: 1997 to be exact. Updated On: 7/16/08 at 03:53 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:56pm

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

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

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:59pm

>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?

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.<

The Brooks Atkinson, at 1,072 seats, is even smaller than the Nederlander, so it's not even an option. Plus, Grease just seems to keep selling, and currently has a really robust average ticket price hovering around $80, which means it still will get another year or so when it needs to discount more heavily.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:04pm

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*

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:05pm

How many Broadway theatres have a pit that can fit 30 musicians? (I hope they don't relegate the string section to some nearby office building and pipe them in.)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:05pm

>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.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:09pm

Here is an old thread about the Hellinger....sad. There are some recent pics of the inside there too.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=939627#3126927
Updated On: 7/16/08 at 04:09 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:09pm

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.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:13pm

When You're a Khaki

[morosco]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:15pm

When You're a Jean

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:16pm

I found the photo... I know I accidentally took a photo of it at my sister's place. I cropped it... Its a background of my photo...

Yeah..youre right! Its Alan Johnson production. I knew I had the photo somewhere! lol!



Updated On: 7/16/08 at 04:16 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:16pm

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?

[cello_dude]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 4:22pm

If it goes to the Nederlander where exactly will the 30 piece orchestra go?