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

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 - 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.

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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.

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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.

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

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'!)

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.

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.

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

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

I hope the revival makes the show good.

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.

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

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

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.

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