West Side Story Revival?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:50pm

Does anyone else think it's odd that there has not been a full revival of the show since 1980? If "Into the Woods," "La Cage aux Folles" and "Les Miserables" can have revivals, why isn't there one for "West Side Story"?

[philcrosby]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:04pm

It's a HUGE production, requiring a big orchestra to do justice to the score. PLUS, either you recreate the Robbins production, or come up with something new (meaning "better.")

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:08pm

Even if it is a HUGE production, it doesn't really answer why there has yet to be one, and even if it is a re-staging of Robbins' work, it will clearly go over well, look at "A Chorus Line." The thing is, it's been 26 years since it appeared on a Broadway stage, which seems WAY to long for the show that created the need for singing dancers, and the carrer of Stephen Sondheim.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:11pm

isn't it in the contract that you MUST use the original staging. I know you have to for "Fiddler". I would imagine it is the same thing here.

[lucydee]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:13pm

Thank You!
I have been asking this question for the past several years.
Everytime I am with friends going to the theatre, this topic of conversation comes up. Everyone seems to think that it would not fit in todays world. I don't agree with them of course.
I think young and old would love to see a revival of this great show.

I for one will be the first one on line if this ever comes back to Broadway. I loved it then and think it would do very well if it came back now. There should be a post of who would you would like to see cast as Tony, Maria, Anita, Riff, Bernardo and all

Jerome Robbins the Choreographer is not alive, but Steven Soundheim is and why has he not brought this back to Broadway puzzles me.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:56pm

I think it is a beautiful show and should be done correctly. Unfortunately, I don't think Broadway has the ability to do it correctly. Furthermore, I don't think audiences deserve it. Can you imagine cellphones going off during "Somewhere"?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:26pm

"Can you imagine cell phones going off during "Somewhere""

Actually, yes...at at least two seperate performances of a rival high schools several years ago.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:31pm

Aren't they holding out for JLo?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:40pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=844682&boardname=bway

This thread about a revival that was posted a while back has some interesting casting ideas.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:42pm

>> I know you have to for "Fiddler".

If that were true, everyone involved with the recent revival of FIDDLER would be in big, big trouble.

I dont think the problem is the scale of WEST SIDE. IMHO, it makes demands on performers that these days are almost impossible to meet. You need an entire company of triple threats, and as much as we might hope to think otherwise, there aint a whole lot of those out there anymore.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:57pm

The Robbins estate typically requires his choreography to be used for any major revival of West Side Story, Gypsy (Jerry Mitchell recreated his choreography for the Peters revival) and Fiddler (Jonathan Buttrell recreated his choreography for the last revival by David Leveaux). And every Broadway King & I revival has used the Robbins choreography.

There was a lot of talk a year or two ago about a 50th Anniversary revival of West Side Story in 2007, to be helmed by Jerry Mitchell (who said that he planned on recreating the complete Robbins staging and choreography). I haven't heard any mention of it in quite a while, but perhaps after Mitchell is finished with Legally Blonde in the Spring, he would have time to turn his attention to WSS (if it is indeed still happening).

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:05pm

This might sound crazy but I would LOVE for Kelli O'Hara to play Maria. I know she looks like a lass from County Kerry but if you go to that other website that shall not be named there is an AMAZING clip of her singing "Tonight" and she sounds wonderful!!!

Aaron Lazar as Tony!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:06pm

And as for triple threats there are certainly a LOT more of them now then there were in 1957, due in part to the success of WSS, as well as shows like A Chorus Line, Chicago and Dreamgirls. In 1957, every show still had separate choruses for dancers and singers and WSS was the first major show to demand that the ensemble to be able to do both at a very high level and as a result, Robbins had a hard time finding triple threats to cast in the show. For the last generation, most young musical performers undergo extensive training in acting and multiple styles of singing and dancing, so casting WSS in 2007 will be a breeze compared to 50 years ago.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:08pm

delete

Updated On: 10/19/06 at 04:08 PM

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:08pm

I read recently where Sondheim and Laurents were approached with a concept of the show that would make it work for a contemporary audience. They were very hush-hush about what that concept was, but said that very surprised that no one had thought of it before. I'm very curious.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:10pm

Maybe they could actually cast real latinos this time.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:14pm

No Sh*t, mejusthavingfun! Kelli 0'Hara as Maria?

[lucydee]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:16pm

Oh Aaron Lazar as Tony YES!
I know this might sound wierd, but I recently thought that
Lauren Molina who played Joanna in Sweeney Todd most recently would make a good Maria. When I heard her sing I said to myself this talented young lady belongs in a starring role on Broadway.
What a beautiful voice she has.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:17pm

"Make it work for a contemporary audience?" *eyeroll*

Did I miss the memo? Does West Side Story no longer "work?"

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:17pm

Oh sorry. I forgot how Latin both Natalie Wood and the rest of the marias have been up until now.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:28pm

Exactly, Ciaron McCarthy! That is why casting a - I'm assuming irish - girl today for Maria is borderline insulting.

Kelli can do FINIAN'S RAINBOW and we will call it a day.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:33pm

It's not really a huge deal, most of Broadway is an insult to ethnic minorities in this country. Maybe some day they will learn.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:34pm

Kelli O'Hara and Lauren Molina? Seriously?

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:37pm

It is unavoidable that as time goes by, the existing number of shows will be higher and this means that the competition for a revival spot will be tougher. In a 100 years time there will be another 30 shows or so which can be considered the best show in it's decade (there is seldom one show that is the uncontested champion of a decade).

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:37pm

walk on, i think ciaron was being sarcastic...natalie wood was not latino, her parents were russian immigrants i believe. i think a blonde actress like kelli might be stretching it, but i don't think maria necessarily has to be played by someone of exactly the right nationality.