West Side Story Back to Broadway?!?

[theaterbuff]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 3:58pm

http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=29018&CT=38

Now here's a revival that I'd like to see!

[Rob]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 4:03pm

I'd love to see this one up on stage too...

Rob

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 4:03pm

I second that! Any casting ideas? I hope Matthew Morrison can be Tony. Maybe Matt Cavenaugh. I want those two to be involved, as well as Gavin Creel and Hunter Foster.

[lennybw]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 4:47pm

casting--LAURA BENANTI AS MARIA!!!!!!!!!!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 4:51pm

Maybe...she does seem a little bit too mature, I think. She seems like she's a lot older than 23. Maybe she could sing the part, but I think her acting wouldnt necessarily fit. I say Jessica Grove. She needs a leading role. Maybe Jennifer Gambatese. It would be nice to have a Puerto Rican in the role. Maybe even someone that looks Puerto Rican.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 6:04pm

Oh God no. I love West Side Story, but if it comes back, how much do you want to bet the Robbins estate will make them duplicate the original choreography??? As much as I love the staging, I want a new production to be a NEW production.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 8:47pm

is there a recording of the 1980 revial with debbie allen?? or are there any other recordings other than the orginal and the movie?? how was she as antia in the show??

Posted: 6/12/03 at 9:14pm

Oh Please, Please!

STOP ALREADY with this revival nonsense.

And Debbie Allen?!! Her name shouldn't be allowed in the same sentence with the musical under discussion....even if some lame brain director cast her in an earlier revival.

Your for a Better Broadway.

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/12/03 at 11:34pm

early on they wanted Jennifer Lopez for anita ha!

I'd say Marcy Harriell as Maria and Matt Morrison As Tony

Bernardo should go to... drum role... JASON RAYS cause he like vanished from bway and needs an excuse to return

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 12:33am

I think that there's a place for revivals. Classics should be revived from time to time so that new generations can see them. That's what keeps them classics. I'd love to see a revival of West Side Story.

However, I do think that there should be more original work in theatre.

~D Updated On: 6/13/03 at 12:33 AM

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:05am

Please, don't ever mention Jennifer Lopez and Broadway in the same year. LOL She's on the list with Susan Lucci.

How about Rosie Perez as Anita? I don't think I could handle that!

Spencer Kayden as Anybodies!

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 8:03am

spencer kayden hahaha!!!

i can't stand J-LO.. eeek.. lol...

i bet this will be far into the future though...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 8:14am

I love Jason Raize.

Can't stand JLO. The only time I can stand JLO is when someone says that Adam Fleming hs a male version of the JLO ass.

saskia Garel would be good for West Side. She played Mimi in the Canadian production of Rent.

[NotMeNotMe]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 12:26pm

Sebastian Arcelus for Tony!

I adore this guy...I know he got "demoted" in Rent for a reason, he's not "Roger", but he's an excellent talent and played Tony in a Guatemala production. He's a great actor, has a VERY endearing quality, and I'd love to hear him do "Something's Coming." Plus, he's just so cute :)

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 12:49pm

didnt sas do Lion King as well? I think shes so pretty!!!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:28pm

sas is playing Nala in the Toronto Lion king company now. But that will be closing, so....

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 3:28pm

Yes, Jason Raize would be great, and so would Spencer Kayden-hehe. Jason Raize has an awesome voice. The last time I saw him, I think he was doing a concert on the Disney Channel-lol. His music is a little pop-ish. I like him a lot better in the theater!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 6:48pm

Now I have "Something's Coming" stuck in my head.

I just keep picturing Barbra's rendition at her Timeless concert. That woulda been funny if she fell when doing that weird arm thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan (even if most of the people here aren't) of Barbra's; but that arms swaying and walking funny was strange.

[luluhed]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 7:31pm

My suggestion for Maria is Nastascia Diaz. She played Susan in Tick Tick Boom and is now (unless she left) in Man of La Mancha.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 9:02am

Re Arcelus - WSS producers are the same as "Rent"...will that help or hurt him in getting the role?

His Spanish-language WSS in Guatamala (there were two Americans in the cast) should help open the door for him. The question is now young they want to go...some are saying they want real teenagers ... but Sebastian can play young.

He is a spectacular performer and vocally the role of Tony would be right up his alley.

Re "Rent" - please remember, he was only ever scheduled to play "Roger" from December 30 through the end of June anyway and was always scheduled to go back as swing after that.

Because of the schedule of the assistant director and others, his replacement as Roger had to be put in several weeks earlier than originally planned, hence he started an early vacation after June 6th.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 2:50pm

Has the name Max von Essen come up yet here? He played Tony all over Europe.

[NotMeNotMe]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 6:24pm

(I think) I saw Max in The Fantasticks shortly before it closed...that's the only thing I saw him in, but he was great, I could definitely see him as Tony.

Ahhh, I didn't know that was the real reason for Sebastian leaving early...it's just too bad he couldn't finish the last three weeks! He is wonderful...Hmm, my favorite Broadway boy in my all-time favorite show...if he ends up in this show, I believe I'd be more excited than Sebastian himself :)

[KB]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 7:28pm

Max would be perfect for this part if he isn't tied up with Dorian.

KB

[JakeB]

Posted: 6/15/03 at 4:07am

It's funny how you're looking forward to a revival of West Side Story. Here in England it's a bit of a 'not again' show because it's been touring the UK almost continously over the past few years, occasionally stopping in the West End. The production is OK, nothing special or new. Of course though, a Broadway production is much better than a UK one anyway.