West Side Story Revival To Bow in DC prior to Broadway

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:22pm

"A revival of the classic American musical West Side Story — directed by its librettist, Arthur Laurents — will make its premiere at The National Theatre in Washington, DC, in December before arriving on Broadway in 2009.

About the revival, Laurents had previously said it would be "radically different from any production ever done and contemporary to boot."


Laurents-Directed West Side Story to Bow at the National in DC Prior to Broadway Updated On: 3/4/08 at 05:22 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:27pm

Hey David Miller! Still busy?

*snort*

[morosco]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:30pm

Exciting! Didn't the original production also try out at The National prior to Broadway?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:33pm

I thought Jerry Mitchell was going to re-create Robbins' choreography, oh well.
I can't wait to hear about casting and the "revolutionary" aspects of the show.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:40pm

Whoo-hoo! Joey McKneely is recreating Jerome Robbins' choreography! At least he learned it directly from the master himself when he was a cast member of JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY back in 1989.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:44pm

WEST SIDE STORY REVIVAL?!!!

Thank goodness!


I'm queasy about these revolutionary ideas...

[WestVillage]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:46pm

"I can't wait to hear about casting and the "revolutionary" aspects of the show."

I read or heard somewhere that some of the dialogue/songs were going to be in Spanish, to further distinguish the cultural differences and the prejudices.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:50pm

OH.

Love that.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:51pm

If AL is to pass away between now and 2009...then what happens?

[jv92]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 5:53pm

Or maybe Sondheim will be permitted to rewrite some of his awful lyrics. (It's alarming how charming I feel!)
But really, I can't wait! Despite the fact that he's an old, bitter prune, I hoe Laurents stays with us for this. I don't THINK he'll die anyway, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:21pm

Ok, LOOK jv. Maybe it really was alarming how charming she felt.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:24pm

But I think the world was just a little more than just an address, even in 1957...

I love Sondheim. He's brilliant. Something's Coming and the Jet Song are brilliant lyrics. America is fun, but hard to understand unless you're very familiar with it. Some of the other ones are okay too. They're just not up to his usual standard.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:24pm

I hope it is nothing like that god awful tour that is going around Europe nowadays with the modern costumes and flat shoes and bare feet and projections. ewwwww

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:30pm

west side story remixed lol

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:35pm

WSS remixed would make me scratch my eyes out.

Fair enough jv. But whenever I feel that way about Sondheim, I just remember some other composers...

[jv92]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:38pm

Oh God, I know. I Feel Pretty is work of genius compared to some of the stuff in The Phantom of the Opera.
I love Sondheim and West Side, just not some of the lyrics in that show. The only one I truly hate is One Hand, One Heart. I can take I Feel Pretty in small doses though.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:41pm

So excited for this!

[James885]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 6:47pm

Wow, I will definetly be there! It's not too often that shows try out around here. I think that last show that did a pre-Broadawy run in D.C. was HOT FEET.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:13pm

Yup, the original tryout was in DC.

Though I'm weary of any little change being made, all I have to say is not one note of Bernstein's score better be touched.

That out of the way, I'm so excited! I know what I'm gonna try to get as a holiday present next year!

[jv92]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:37pm

I doubt Arthur would ever allow one note of his beloved Lenny's score to be touched, but I second that. Plus the Bernstein estate wouldn't allow it.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:46pm

Oh, of course Arthur wouldn't change a note, look at my signature

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:58pm

Natalie Cortez!
Make it happen!

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 10:06pm

I'm happy there is a revival.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 10:11pm

I am a bit worried about how "contemporary" it'll be.

Mmmm, I do love Natalie Cortez.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:17pm

am i the only one who thinks karen olivo was born to play Maria?