West Side Story Officially Playing at Palace Theatre.

[BenKaye]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:18pm

From Playbill:



Link

[PSLove302]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:21pm

Really???

Didn't see THIS coming!!!!

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:21pm

Surprise, Surprise.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:23pm

So excited!

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:24pm

Now it makes sense...many of the same producers as Blonde.

Close a semi-struggling show to put in a classic "hit".

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:26pm

Worst-kept secret on Broadway, but nice to see it announced. I will definitely be there in either February or early March, I'm taking my parents to see it and my mom is giddy with excitement...but I am giddier

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:31pm

I have to admit...I didn't believe it when many of you were posting the rumors....but as soon as LB DID announce their closing, I made the assumption.

I hope to be there in March! Certainly going to try!!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:32pm

Close a semi-struggling show to put in a classic "hit".

I don't think WSS is going to be nearly as big a "hit" as people seem to think it will be.

[jake6970]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 7:37pm

Capacity wise, I think this theatre is far too big for the show. Yes it's a classic but West Side Story is a standard...it makes me wonder how many tourist know it hasn't been on Broadway in years before looking at it as just West Side Story on Broadway again.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:15pm

I'm seeing this in DC, so I'm sort of indifferent about where it plays in New York. I do feel bad for the cast and crew of LB, though. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be closing if Arthur Laurents wasn't bent on getting his way.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:16pm

It will, at the very least, be the biggest "hit" that the Palace has had in a long while, that's almost for certain.

Can't wait to buy my tickets right away on October 18th!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:32pm

See, I'm not even certain it's going to run as long as LB did, much less Aida.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:35pm

Really?! I think it will definitely run longer than LB did.

Even if it's not a huge hit. I mean AIDA and LB both kinda ran for a while with crappy sales because, I assume, a lot of shows are scared of the Palace much like they were of the Gershwin before WICKED took residence in that barn.

I think this should be a pretty big hit. It's one of the most recognizable shows in Broadway history.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:39pm

People are certainly underestimating the appeal of this revival. Not many thought SOUTH PACIFIC was going to be a smash sell-out.
Updated On: 9/28/08 at 08:39 PM

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:39pm

Hahaha, Adam! That's why I put the word "hit" in quotes.

But I do now understand why they are closing Blonde so quickly..many of the same money people involved. Furman, Nederlander, Luftig, etc.

Might as well keep the Palace. WSS will, in this current economic climate, probably be much easier to get investors on board with a classic, then to invest in a new show--or continue to pump more cash into Blonde.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:02pm

have they made an official casting announcement. I know cavenaugh and scaglione were offered it, but did they ever announce anita, riff or bernardo?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:14pm

Aida turned a $12 million profit for Disney, and closed when it became unprofitable. Disney is not a charity organization, they'll close shows when they're no longer making them money (see Tarzan).

Regarding West Side Story, the reason I don't think it's going to be this monster hit people think it's going to be is because we've seen West Side Story done this way at every high school and community theatre in America. There is nothing new or fresh about this production, which is even using the same old choreography. Integrating Spanish into the script is hardly innovative or revolutionary. I just think the general attitude of people will be "been there, done that, for a lot less money."

South Pacific was different, because it was a new production. Arthur Laurents' gigantic ego will never allow West Side Story to be re-imagined like that.

ETA...Sorry, Tom, didn't realize you were being sarcastic!
Updated On: 9/28/08 at 09:14 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:30pm

I'm not certain that I would snap to a judgment about what Arthur Laurents may or may not do with West Side Story. I was quite surprised by how his '89 Gypsy differed from his '08 Gypsy, which showed to me, at least, a willingness to keep examining the material. And he hasn't directed West Side Story before, at least not to my knowledge.

[Trish2]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:10pm

I'm with you on this one Adamgreer. I give it 6 months to a year in that cavern.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:15pm

This is like when people predicted GYPSY wouldn't make it until the summer in the St. James. And it looks like St. James has almost the amount of seats as the Palace. But Gypsy made 6 months in that barn, and it was just revived 5 eyars ago.
Updated On: 9/28/08 at 10:15 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:19pm

I don't think WSS is going to be nearly as big a "hit" as people seem to think it will be.

See, I'm not even certain it's going to run as long as LB did, much less Aida.

I'd give your opinion a little more clout were you not a bitter Legally Blonde fan who insisted all summer that this would never happen.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:20pm

I agree with Ljay on this one.

No one thought 'Gypsy' would have survived past this point, and it was just revived five years ago.

'South Pacific' is an incredible sell out, and it's still surviving.

Hell, even 'Sunday in the Park with George' extended, and no one's even heard of that

So sure, it could be a huge financial disaster, but I could definitely see it doing well.

Updated On: 9/28/08 at 10:20 PM

[James885]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:22pm

Well at least now it's official. I don't think West Side Story will have a problem filling the Palace. It's one of the most recognizable shows among the general public.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:33pm

I'd give your opinion a little more clout were you not a bitter Legally Blonde fan who insisted all summer that this would never happen.

Sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. A Legally Blonde fan, yes. Bitter, no. I predicted the show would close around the holidays. There was never a stitch of doubt in my mind that WSS would end up in the Palace. I had it closing on January 4, 2009.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:39pm

Orangeskittles, while i am mad at adamgreer for predicting that the brilliant WSS will have a shorter run than LB, he did say that LB would close by January 4, 2009. He is an LB fan...but not a bitter one.