Wasn't there supposed to be a West Side Story Revival soon?- Page 2

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 2:06pm

a) tony doesn't dance, so i still support michael arden.
b) i sad sara ramirez for the sassy anita, not maria. i'm not that stupid.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 2:10pm

If Arthur Laurents ever dies (he's too mean to die), maybe they can finally switch "Krupke" and "Cool," the way the movie does. That way "Cool" would actually serve to keep the Jets cool when the plot is heating them up. It makes no sense where it comes in the script.

Also, it would be great to add the boys into the America number (also as in the movie). Same great choreography for Anita, but let those Shark boys kick up their heels some!

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 8:16pm

PalJoey - I couldn't agree more.
You know the reason it is the way it currently is though right?
Or at least the reason we are given?

Ernest Lehman is genius for the number reorder.

by the way - I am totally against Michael Arden for Tony.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 8:18pm

He's completely wrong for it.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:07pm

and I know it won't happen - but it would be SO nice if they cast the revival with age-appropriate, naive looking kids. It makes the show even more powerful than it already is.

So, if you have the West Side Story: special edition DVD you can read Ernest Lehman's letter and reasons for alteration. It's amazing. I believe that Krupke stays where it does in the stage version is because it serves as the 11 o'clock number and gives the show the comic boost that shows were given 50 years ago. My friend and I discussed the chronology difference for an hour a few months ago and realized that it's something the audience might need emotionally for the stage version. Does that make sense? Therefore, it TOTALLY works better for the movie as a whole. If you think about it, would the Jets really be that happy after Riff's death to do that type of number - no. "Cool" totally belongs where it does in the film, but unfortunately I don't know if it would ever switch for the stage version.


munk - I'm kinda over it how people mention Arden to play so many young roles these days. glad you agree against Tony.

[Kevo711]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:18pm

wow Cheyenne sounds amazing in the songs from West Side Story on his website!
http://www.freakymartian.com/cheyenne/media.php

[Plum]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:12pm

I don't think age-accurate casting should be made at the expense of getting people who can actually act. The "naive look" isn't going to cut it for me, especially for a show I love as much as West Side Story. So I'll be more than happy to settle for a "teenager" who looks twenty-something if it means getting real presence and acting ability.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 5:23pm

I know she couldn't sing it (or act it probably), but doesn't Jessica Alba look kind of Maria-esque in this pic?


Alba

Updated On: 9/24/05 at 05:23 PM

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 5:55pm

I don't think you have to sacrifice singing, dancing or acting ability in order to cast for age appropriateness.

And lots of women have a Maria look because Puerto Ricans have so many looks.
Updated On: 9/24/05 at 05:55 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 7:45pm

You guys have mentioned Sara Ramirez as Anita, but can she dance? I'm not sure I see her as Anita. Cheyenne Jackson would be awesome as Tony. I'm pretty sure the revival is coming for the 50th anniversary. Lea Salonga played Maria in a concert version, she'd be good on this role for Broadway.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 9:35pm

Oh I would be very very eager to see a revival of "West Side Story" in the future. That piece is always so socially and politically powerful, no matter what generation... especially during times of racial tension *ahem*

On a side note, San Francisco State University will be producing "West Side Story" next semester. SFSU productions are always stellar (thanks to our environment). Two years ago, we produced "Assassins" parallel to the Broadway revival and several critics claimed our show was better than the current Broadway show. I'm aware it sounds like a large claim, but SFSU is just awesome with staging and magic.

I, too, would rather have a newer cast of fresh-faces if a "West Side Story" revival comes around. However, there's always those special someones that hide in featured roles of current shows... like Julie Danao (Maria) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (think about comic-relief white boys like 'Action'!)

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 9:37pm

If only Karmine Alers was 20 years younger...

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:57pm

Uhh. Ramirez could never dance that.

I would want, Janine LaManna, Natascia Diaz, Roxane Carrasco, or Michelle DeJean for the role. The latter two aren't very famous, but are famous Chicago girls, Roxane has played Velma full time before, and Michelle is headlining the tour right now as Roxie.

I would kill for any of those 4 in the role.

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 12:46am

Isn't there a tour right now?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 11:11am

I like your choices ljay.

I'm sure there's probably a lot of talented unknowns out there who would be wonderful in a revival of WSS. It could probably cement the fame of several potential stars instantly.

Updated On: 9/25/05 at 11:11 AM

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 11:19am

Natascia Diaz did Anita on the National Tour which had Marcy Harriell as Maria. She was good.

I'd love to see Julie Danao as Maria.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 11:34am

Yep, I believe all the ladies I listed have played Anita before. So they obviously have the experience for the role. Well I checked for LaManna and she hasn't played it regionally or professionally, but she can obviously handle the role.

Paige Davis could be another good choice too, she too has played the role before - but she dosen't really strike me as puerto rican looking.
Updated On: 9/25/05 at 11:34 AM

[NightLaughs]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 11:42am

I hate to start a new thread since we are on the subject of revivals, but what about the A Chorus Line revival I heard bits and pieces about a while back? Is that still in the works? *crosses fingers*

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 3:35pm

I hope the revival makes the show good.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 4:46pm

"A Chorus Line" is still slated for next season, although the details have not been really decided on yet, but I think it's relatively definite, if there is such a thing.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 4:55pm

A Chorus Line is definite. Bob Avian is directing and he and Baayork Lee will be recreating the Bennett staging (he shared the Tony with Bennett for the choreography of the original production). John Breglio (superstar entertainment lawyer and executor of the Bennett estate) is producing. They've already had one casting call. The only issue is a theatre, but they don't open for a year, so that's hardly a huge problem right now.

Updated On: 9/25/05 at 04:55 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 4:58pm

I've some casting rumors for ACL. Specifically for Cassie. And it would be great.

I am excited for this revival. For the younger people who missed this the first time around, we are really lucky.

Posted: 9/25/05 at 4:59pm

Besides rehearsals, and knowing to design (size-wise), I don't see a problem with it at all.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:30pm

I agree 100% with the casting of young actors for the WSS revival. Despite what many people think, there are some incredibly talented young actors out there. People are just used to seeing really bad High School productions with miscast kids trying to play Mamma Rose or Sweeney Todd (Roles that should never be played by anyone under 40). However, West Side Story's characters are relatable to kids and I think that young people would do an incredible job with the show.

I am also really excited for A Chorus Line. I was only 2 when it closed on Broadway originally, so I never got to see it. I did see a really good regional production of it a few years ago and fell in love with the show.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:25pm

I definitely think the show should be cast with actors that are not real stars, as much as I'd like to see Lea Salonga as Maria, now that I think about it, this revival should do what the original Broadway production did for its original stars, like Chita Rivera.
On the ACL topic, I'm dying to see the revival when it opens since I was about 3 years old when the original closed. What rumors have you heard about who's playing Cassie ljay? I heard that they wanted to get unknown dancers just like the original production did. I wonder if this is actually gonna work because I love the OBCR but it is a little dated.