West Side Story @ Knockdown

[Relevance81491]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 4:58am

Not sure why there are no reports from tonight's performance, but here are some video highlights courtesy of Playbill 

http://m.playbill.com/video/highlights-from-carnegie-hall-production-of-west-side-story

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 7:14am

I hope Maria used her last remaining bullet for the costume designer. 

 

But everyone sounds fabulous! Are they recreating the original choreography? The video doesn't share much of that element.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 7:51am

I think it looks good, but the level of excellence of Josefina Scaglione and Karen Olivo is hard to beat in my point of view. It seems completely sold out. I guess I won't be seeing it. Happy for its success though.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 9:11am

The choreography is derived from the original, but by no means a recreation. The show is choreographed for a proscenium stage, which this is not. The picture in the NYTimes of "Cool" features very different dancer placement than the Robbins staging even if it looks to be the same movement, for one.

to my perspective,nit would be QUITE easy to surpass Scaglione, who was serviceable, not a stand out, and Olivo, who was a fine actress, but a walking disaster in the dance department as far as 'Anita is concerned in any other version of the show, but first rate in THAT version of Anita since He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named commanded the choreography be decimated.

[krristinnnicolee]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 10:06am

Anyone looking for tickets for tonight?! Something came up last minute..

2 tickets, in Bleacher E $30 each

 

[wicked4l]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 11:19am

PM SENT! :)

[MadViolist]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 12:27pm

Skylar is really great, I wouldn't expect him to do so well while singing standard repertoire, but what the hell is that Anita? I won't comment much on Maria, since this girl is really young and I've seen only this video (I mean, she's not bad, but she has a REAL problem with upper register and changing all of them - that "I feel pretty" wasn't good - it's not her mistake, since she's still too young to sing roles like this, that's mistake of producers) ... but "A Boy like that" was really horrific - Anita sounds like a hundred years old opera singer.

[matty159]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 12:40pm

Wow!  Don't base judgement on the video (which I haven't watched).  I was there last night and it was true magic.  It is what the last revival should have been.  It is immersive in a good way and should not be missed if you can snag a ticket.  Don't knock the casting until you see what these folks are doing at the Knockdown.  It was also great to be sitting right behind Chita, who the cast brought up on stage after the curtain call.  If I wasn't on my phone, I'd write more, but this was a truly beautiful night of theater that I will never forget.

[MadViolist]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 12:44pm

matty159: I'm so glad to hear that, I believe that these takes in the video were just badly done. However, this is not really good promotion then.

[Jamminman]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 4:32pm

Skylar's voice sounds great, and the Maria is beautiful and can definitely sing

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 5:55pm

Not gonna lie, after seeing the absolutely mind-blowing, deeply emotional production of the show at Signature Theatre in D.C. this past winter (which I maintain was one of the most cathartic theatre experiences I've ever had), this just... doesn't look up to par. No longer all that sad that I wasn't able to score a ticket.

[GetUp&LiveIt]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 8:30pm

MAYBE it was because I most recently saw the production at Signature Theatre but this was truly one of the worst things I've ever seen on a stage. The direction is god awful, the mix of Robbins and more contemporary styles of dance was confusing and just flat out BAD, Maria is one of the WORST actresses I've ever seen, Skylar is fine but nothing in comparison to the actor at Signature. Signature was more immersive then this production and I expected even more of this since it's not even in a theatre space. Terribly disappointing.

[GetUp&LiveIt]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 8:34pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF2T69hVOB0

Just so you all can see the SIGNIFICANTLY better production that happened at Signature Theatre. It was chilling, powerful, contemporary... one of the most remarkable evenings I've ever spent in a theatre.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/5/16 at 10:25pm

GetUp&LiveIt, I certainly can't speak for the Knockdown production, but I truly feel like it's (almost sadly) impossible for anyone who saw the Signature production to find another West Side Story that even remotely lives up to it. It was one of the most extraordinary pieces of theatre I've ever had the honor of experiencing.

[Relevance81491]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 2:40pm

Charles Isherwood is very kind http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/07/theater/review-carnegie-halls-west-side-story-at-the-knockdown-center.html?ref=theater. 

as is Broadway.comhttp://www.broadway.com/buzz/184050/carnegie-halls-west-side-story-staged-in-a-queens-warehouse-with-skylar-astin-and-newcomer-morgan-hernandez-is-a-musical-miracle/, Calls it a "must see"

 While i enjoyed the production, I liked it a tad less than Isherwood did because as Tony was dying, all I could see was the huge pillar in my way!!!  

Updated On: 3/6/16 at 02:40 PM

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 2:47pm

I saw this last night and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not see the Signature production, but I did see the last West Side Story revival on Broadway and was not a fan. I thought last night's show improved a lot on the last revival. There was a thrilling energy in this production that I thought the last Broadway revival sorely lacked. 

A note about the space. Knockdown is a warehouse so far out on the L train that walking over (or taking the bus) you actually cross over into Queens! Definitely and adventure to get out to, but an easy one. Its a beautiful space, but it isn't very conducive to theater. The bleacher seats should be market partial view as they were set back a bit from the floor seats and pillars all around made it difficult to see everything. Still, I doubt much theater will be staged here in the future. It seems more suited for art installations.

Once I adjusted though I really enjoyed this production. Think BIG. The cast and choir were simply massive and the sound they produced was amazing. The dance scenes were very impressive with the sheer number of people onstage. 

I thought the cast was quite strong. Skylar Astin was a huge surprise for me. He has a fantastic voice and carried the show well. Morgan Hernandez was a find and in great voice. Manny Stark was excellent as Riff and I really enjoyed Bianca Marroquin as Anita. 

Musically it was really wonderful. When they used the choir, it was truly stunning and the 40 piece orchestra sounded wonderful. This is a highlight for me of things I have seen this year and I wish it was running longer so more people could see it. 

 

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 9:47pm

I'm sorry you didn't see the Signature Theatre production. I was fortunate to see it a couple times. This was one of the best musical productions I have ever seen and I lived in NYC most of my life. It was truly outstanding.

Updated On: 3/7/16 at 09:47 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 11:30pm

I forget how stunning Skylar's voice is. Damn.

[Doody Fisher]

Posted: 3/7/16 at 3:31am

agree with gypsy101 ... in love with Skylar's voice.