WEST SIDE STORY Tour

I saw it about 1 year ago. I was not impressed.

I can't speak for this year's tour but last yeah (same production) the reps from the Bernstein estate said it was the "best sounding production to date," so that's something.

the reps from the Bernstein estate said it was the "best sounding production to date," so that's something.

That sounds doubtful. Which reps?

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Saw this a couple years back---the non-eq. I absolutely hated it. The Tony was singing wrong intervals in "Maria". The orchestra was 9 members. For West Side Story? That's not acceptable to me. It sounded SO empty. I was disappointed.

My parents got us tickets for my birthday to see it in June. I also have never seen a production of it, so thanks for all of the comments!

Ugh. 9 musicians? NINE musicians? For West Side Story. Jesus. At that point, they'd be better piping in pre-recorded orchestras. These second, third, fourth, fifth national tours are such ****ing scams. They get to use the same branding/marketing campaigns as the original productions while dramatically reducing the production values, slotting in underpaid amateur actors and charging the same damn prices. I know not everyone has access to NY or a major regional theatre town like LA or Chicago, but I think you'd be better off seeing a regional theatre production than seeing one of these later-in-the-game national tours. And you'd have enough $$ left over for a nice post-theatre dinner.

Also, I'm calling total bull**** on this little doozy unless the poster has a source:
"I can't speak for this year's tour but last yeah (same production) the reps from the Bernstein estate said it was the "best sounding production to date," so that's something."

What "rep" from the Bernstein estate would say a 9-piece orchestra was producing the best sounding production of WSS to date?? Their temp receptionist, perhaps?

Updated On: 4/27/14 at 04:17 PM

The "Bernstein estate" doesn't speak.

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First of all...
It is INCREDIBLY insulting to every actor on that tour to call them amateur. They are all working professionals. Lack of a union card does not make them amateur. Frankly, every person on this current tour and the last leg who I have seen jn other productions have impressed me and I would be likely to see the show if given the chance simply on that.

As far orchestra size, is. 9 optimal? No. But touring a 24 piece band near impossible and when playing split weeks and one-nighters and often in less than ideal markets, there just is not the opportunity to hire and rehearse local musicians.
And YES, those nine talented and LIVE musicians DO play with digital augmentation to fill out the sound. In some houses, bad acoustics do not help matters, but there ya go.

As far as the tour marketing and prices, stop blaming the producers.. It is not their doing. Blame the booking presenter in each city. The producer says "here is the show we are sending out, this is the weekly guarantee we need." The local presenter sets the ticket price and markets the show as part of their season.

The two are mutually inclusive, at least to a large extent, don't you think?

This tour has been running non eq for close to three years now, and its BUSTED. Hopefully they hang up their hats after this leg.

I was using a rough number. The revival did have the original compliment, but they also had a cut list that they never implimented that would have taken it down to 25 had the chosen when sales fell,
I wont call 9 musicians a sham because of the nature of this tour, especially since it could have easily been a conductor, drummer and a single keyboard player operating a digital orchestra, as the last leg of the Wizard of Oz tour did,

"This tour has been running non eq for close to three years now.."

It opened in the fall of 2012 and had a long summer break. How does that math work out?

Updated On: 4/30/14 at 01:11 PM