West Side Story Revival Details - Page 2

[BJR]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 8:41am

Is every thread on this going to turn into an Amar thread? We get it, you're unhappy about it. Don't go.

I wondered about the sales being so strong early on and if they were indeed holding back tickets. I might want to catch a first preview of this one, just to see where this begins and where this lands.

They have 2 months (!) of previews, which says to me either they think they really need twice as much time to figure out this new interpretation (not implausible), or they want to take in as much as possible before reviews (ditto). Speaking practically, it's likely the former with the latter being a welcome bonus.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 9:21am

Apparently most of the book is being cut.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 10:06am

^ We don't know if this is true yet, but if so, is it still West Side Story? Isn't it just another modern version of Romeo and Juliet?

[musikman]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 1:29pm

ljay889 said: "Apparently most of the book is being cut."

So we’re just getting a concert version? Lol

[BJR]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 1:32pm

ljay889 said: "Apparently most of the book is being cut."

Most? As in a majority, almost all, or just more than your source thinks should?

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 1:48pm

FANtomFollies said: "If I didn't frequent BWW forums I would never have heard of Amar."

That's true for me, too, but I don't mind it. In the same way that--as the most recent post says (correctly)--if you are upset about him being involved, don't go, if this discussion bothers someone about BWW forums, they, too can go to other forums. Many commenters here want to discuss it, and have a strong objection to the production because of him, and they have the right to a forum for their views, too. I am, to put it mildly, not always crazy about the tactics they use on other forum members who disagree with them, but I think "If you don't like it, you don't have to go to there" holds true in many different venues.

[msmp]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 2:46pm

ljay889 said: "Apparently most of the book is being cut."

Kinda curious how they managed to get the Bernstein estate to sign off on all these changes (assuming the rumors are true) given how fiercely protective they are of his work. Unless there's been a significant change in who the trustee administering the estate is, that's the most surprising part of all of this.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 3:36pm

Re Amar, I never heard of him until I saw this thread. WSS is for all intentions an ensemble cast. I would doubt very much that 0.01% of the theatre going public would decide not to purchase tickets because one of the 30 cast members did something really vulgar / crude / Salacious.

I continue to feel that it is too soon to revive WSS again, which I am personally sick of; but if Van Hove does turn it on its side AND the critics live it, it could go through the roof. I have to admit that I can’t wait to find out what the vision of the show is when previews start.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 3:51pm

If you read the New York Times, follow NYC news, or are cultured in any way, pretty sure you would have read something about it. There was a huge thread a few months ago on this very website. People who love theater typically love similar things like dance. A LOT of people know about it, a LOT of people read the countless articles about it. And again, most of the comments about this show, on every single platform, is about Amar. And, once again, it's not selling well after the holidays. That may not have much to do with Amar, but with the awful advertising (or lack thereof). 

Cutting the book or songs no longer makes it West Side Story. So, people will skip it. 

Updated On: 10/27/19 at 03:51 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 5:39pm

Well, Amar is also just a really bad actor and singer. So.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 5:45pm

msmp said: "ljay889 said: "Apparently most of the book is being cut."

Kinda curious how they managed to get the Bernstein estate to sign off on all these changes (assuming the rumors are true) given how fiercely protective they are of his work. Unless there's been a significant change in who the trustee administering the estate is, that's the most surprising part of all of this."

If the cuts only pertain to the book wouldn’t they only need the permission from the Laurent estate? Or both?

 

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 6:42pm

SouthernCakes said: "Well, Amar is also just a really bad actor and singer. So."

Indeed. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 7:04pm

Whether this revival fails or succeeds will be largely independent of what the Twitteratti do or say or tweet. Twitter and similar social media engines like reddit don’t represent the general public as a whole. And while a lot of people may know about or had heard about the ballet scandal, they don’t remember the names involved (I didn’t). Also, even more people haven’t heard about the scandal. I have to say that while I know social media can be a force for good, I largely avoid Twitter (and completely avoid reddit) because they seem to often turn into mob mentality outrage machines. I don’t find that good for my mental health. I hope the moderators don’t allow that mentality to take over BWW here as well. It’s a nice place to be when people aren’t attacking each other.

Most revivals struggle (as do a large percentage of new productions) so we’ll see what happens with WSS. I mean I know Kiss Ne, Kate was a Roundabout production, but neither it or Oklahoma! had/have had awesome box office receipts. Ditto for Once on This Island. All likely closed/will have closed without recoupment. Even Dolly had to run quite a while to recoup. Twitter wasn’t the deciding factor in any of those cases.

Updated On: 10/27/19 at 07:04 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 7:30pm

If I had a dollar for every piece of fake news in this thread, I could buy a ticket to the show. 

But it's amusing.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 7:37pm

HogansHero said: "If I had a dollar for every piece of fake news in this thread, I could buy a ticket to the show.

But it's amusing. "

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 8:14pm

You don't live in New York, it was major news here. And tourists don't know what the hell this revival is so....

Also, calling it the ballet scandal is very poor taste. Her name is Alexandra Waterbury. Thanks.

The "mob mentality outrage" that you contributed to in the Harvey Weinstein thread? Right...Your vague  insinuations directed at me but too afraid to actually direct them at me are sad and transparent.

Updated On: 10/27/19 at 08:14 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 9:13pm

This show will be an epic failure. Can’t wait for the reviews that are going to tear it apart. I hope I’m wrong. But so far this reeks of bad everything. It’s not West Side Story when you’ve gutted what most people have come to love about the movie, which is what they’ll connect to first. It’s not fresh when it stinks this bad. And this will struggle to find an audience and then die off. And Beetlejuice will still be at the Winter Garden long after WSS prematurely closes (like Gary did). I’d rather had seen King Kong than this.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 9:35pm

You won't be wrong. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 10:02pm

@Miles bless you!

[Owen22]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 10:11pm

dmwnc1959 said: "This show will be an epic failure. Can’t wait for the reviews that are going to tear it apart. I hope I’m wrong."

I somehow really don't think you do...

 

 

[LuPita2]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 10:19pm

Besides the negative stuff on social media, there's been virtually no buzz about this production. Are people here genuinely excited to see this? 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 10:40pm

LuPita2 said: "Besides the negative stuff on social media, there's been virtually no buzz about this production. Are people here genuinely excited to see this?"

Excited might be too strong a word. I am intrigued. I’ve never seen a live production of WSS so there’s that. I think this could be exciting or go horribly wrong. I’ve only seen one Ivo Van Hove production (Network) which I liked more than I thought, but some of his “normal tricks” (as I understand them) made some sense with Network. If he uses them here, I’m not so sure they’ll merge well...they’d seem to be the opposite of what this show needs. So I’m intrigued...a bit worried, but intrigued. This could be a vital reimagining like Oklahoma! or a hot mess (or more likely some combo of the two).  

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 11:04pm

LuPita2 said: "Besides the negative stuff on social media, there's been virtually no buzz about this production. Are people here genuinely excited to see this?"

I am. Will be getting my ticket for late January. There are some great $79 tickets in the mid side orchestra (you have to choose regular seats on Telecharge to see them). I've never seen any other West Side Story production and I am always curious about modern interpretations of revivals. I'm most excited for the choreography. 

 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 10/27/19 at 11:15pm

LuPita2 said: "Besides the negative stuff on social media, there's been virtually no buzz about this production. Are people here genuinely excited to see this?"

 

Not sure I can make it to NYC, but I very much would like to see this production.  I don't buy into the general negativity of many of the comments here. 

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/28/19 at 12:05am

God, this production probably isn’t a good choice for your first West Side Story.
I remember ten years, some acted like the last revival was blasphemous for adding some Spanish, simplifying some of Anita’s choreography, and cutting the Nightmare section of the ballet.
Now this new revival, this is definitely NOT going to be West Side Story. I have a feeling it’ll make the Oklahoma revival look traditional.

Updated On: 10/28/19 at 12:05 AM