West Side Story revival?- Page 7

Posted: 7/10/19 at 3:39pm

joevitus said: "It isn't wrong for me to have done that. Someone being a cretin (which I took him to be) isn't the same as being a criminal. It's an important distinction to make. Since he actually violated the law, and didn't just act abominably,it's an entirely different situation than what I imagined.

And yes, I agree he should be kept out of shows now that I know the actual situation."

Based on the facts available in the press, Ramasar (if that is who you're referring to) did not violate the law.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 3:40pm

Wick3 said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "This cast is a MESS.

I’m getting CAROUSEL revival vibes from this production already...and not in a good way."

I really liked the CAROUSEL production last year. I didn't think that production was miscast (this production was able to get all 4 leads Tony nominated!) Peck's choreography was amazing too (won the Tony!)

I think the issue a lot of people had with Carousel was with the direction.

Is anyone familiar with the WSS choreographerAnne Teresa De Keersmaeker. From IBDB, it looks like this will be her first time as a choreographer on Broadway."

AND her first time choreographing a musical period! Belgium-born Keersmaeker has an award-winning background in music, modern/contemporary dance and opera.

I would love to know the genesis of this creative collaboration. #gobsmacked

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 03:40 PM

[AADA81]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 3:47pm

I think it's too soon for another WSS revival on.  The last one recouped but got mixed reviews and turned some people off.  And the PC police have only gotten more strident in the past decade.  For a 62-year old show involving racial tensions, that's not good news.  Other harbingers of problems to come: the director, the cast of unknowns, the 'brand new' choreography....none of this bodes well for this production.

[NievesG]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 3:48pm

I was extremely excited about this production but now I'm... not. I was at performance of Carousel right after this all become public and Ramasar's entrance was met with total silence. Totally warranted and so uncomfortable, besides his Jigger being perhaps the worst acting I've seen recently.

Very happy for Powell and Pimentel, but aside from that, no other good news.

[Fetus]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 3:55pm

I hope the majority of responses here are echoed throughout the rest of the theatre community and lead to a replacement before previews start. Even if you choose to ignore the scandal there's still the issue of his acting. Make no mistake, I'm extremely excited for this production and super elated they're giving so many fresh faces the opportunity to bring this story to life in a new way, I just don't want this controversy to follow the show all the way to its opening.

Considering we are going to be getting reworkings of both WWS and Company this season, the revival category will surely be more exciting than this past season.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 4:01pm

Isaac is very talented, and I love his singing voice. He certainly has the attention-grabbing presence for a lead at the very least. Tony is also similar to Daniel’s lovestruck, wide-eyed character- in short, I think it’s an exciting casting choice. Most of the cast is filled with “who are they?” actors and dancers, but I think some of that fresh blood could help this (admittedly) stale show feel new again. If this is taking place in the present day or some sort of anachronistic mix- which all of the promotional pictures seem to be indicating- the mixed race Jets casting would make sense. Still not sure how I feel about that.

No surprise that Rudin would allow Ramasar cast, but it sure is disappointing. I don’t want to support a show that will willingly employ someone with such a vile track record; a shame since the rest of the cast is quite interesting.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 4:11pm

Ramasar aside, I'm very excited for this new cast, especially with so many debuts. It'll be great to see so many fresh faces, especially if many of them of are teenagers, to help make this production and new choreography feel more present and timely. 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 4:23pm

Re: Ramasar, I'm only vaguely familiar with the story.

My understanding is that Zachary Catazaro took pictures of his girlfriend without his consent. Was Ramasar's involvement that he received these pictures?

I'm inclined to believe victims, but I am want to make sure I understand the story first. From there I'll decide if I feel it's right for me to see this production of WSS. Which is a shame, because WSS is one of most favorite musicals.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 4:38pm

Kitsune said: "Re: Ramasar, I'm only vaguely familiar with the story.

My understanding is that Zachary Catazaro took pictures of his girlfriend without his consent. Was Ramasar's involvement that he received these pictures?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/arts/dance/city-ballet-fires-two-male-dancers-accused-of-sharing-photos.html

"In the suit, filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, Ms. Waterbury accused Mr. Finlay of sending nude photos of her to Mr. Ramasar, and said Mr. Ramasar had sent back an image of a bare-chested “female ballet member.”"

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/18/what-went-wrong-at-new-york-city-ballet

What she found on the screen was a series of photographs of women’s private parts, including her own, plus a brief clip of her having sex with Finlay.

According to the complaint in a lawsuit that she later filed, there were text messages, too. Finlay, sending someone a photograph of Waterbury naked, asked, “You have any pictures of girls you’ve f*cked? I’ll send you some . . . ballerina girls I’ve made scream and squirt.” The exchanges included several participants, notably two other N.Y.C.B. principals, Amar Ramasar and Zachary Catazaro, and a young donor, Jared Longhitano. “We should get like half a kilo”—of cocaine, one assumes—​“and pour it over the . . . girls and just violate them,” Longhitano wrote to Catazaro and Finlay. “I bet we could tie some of them up and abuse them like farm animals.” “Or like the sluts they are,” Finlay rejoined. “Yeah,” Longhitano wrote back. “I want them to watch me destroy one of their friends. And they know they’re next. I bet we could triple team.” Finlay also reported that he had just “****ed a 20-year-old ballerina and her sister! That was my first threesome with family members. It was incredible!” In another thread, a former student at the ballet school thanked Finlay for sending a picture of himself and Waterbury engaged in a sex act: “I can’t stop looking at Alex’s tits lol.”"

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/arts/dance/city-ballet-amar-ramasar-sexually-explicit-texts.html

" Her suit, which accused City Ballet of condoning a “fraternity-like atmosphere,” did not accuse Mr. Catazaro or Mr. Ramasar of sharing material related to her, but said that they had shared sexually explicit texts containing nude images of other women affiliated with the company or the school. "

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 04:38 PM

[CukorLover]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 4:53pm

Just the thought of the 37 year-old Ramasar knifing it out with the 21 year-old Cook is ridiculous enough!

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 04:53 PM

[LuPita2]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:02pm

Everyone is under 25, and then there's Amar.  Completely off and totally bizarre.  

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:13pm

Pardon my possible ignorance here, but Alexander Gemignani is the music director? Does he have previous music direction credits? 

[LuPita2]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:22pm

I honestly thought that was a mistake and they meant his father, Paul Gemignani.  Wowza. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:31pm

For what it's worth, they have been workshopping this show regularly with this cast since December 2018. If Rudin didn't believe in it, or think it was worth the time/money/drama, he'd ditch it. They're obviously very confident they have a 2019 Oklahoma on their hands. I hope they're right.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:39pm

leighmiserables said: "Pardon my possible ignorance here, but Alexander Gemignani is the music director? Does he have previous music direction credits?"

 

i know he stepped in as a sub at Mean Girls fairly recently. I’m sure he has more. 

 

[BritCrit]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:49pm

VotePeron said: "For what it's worth, they have been workshopping this show regularly with this cast since December 2018. If Rudin didn't believe in it, or think it was worth the time/money/drama, he'd ditch it. They're obviously very confident they have a 2019 Oklahoma on their hands. I hope they're right."

The team definitely wants this to be the next Oklahoma, but there are two problems. First, one of the fundamental rules of creativity is to never try and copy a spontaneous phenomenon. Second of all, West Side Story is opening in the Broadway Theatre, which has double the capacity of Circle in the Square, and is opening "cold" without an Off-Broadway run to build positive word-of-mouth. This new West Side Story could still do reasonably well, but trying to be the new Oklahoma could be an unreliable route to success...

[ariel175]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:51pm

Rachel Zegler (Movie Maria) seems pleased about most of the cast (one guess for who she's NOT pleased about):

https://twitter.com/rachelzegler/likes

[802AFM]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 5:55pm

He was Music Director as well as orchestrator and arranger of Roundabout's Merrily earlier this year

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 05:55 PM

[Elegance101]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:04pm

ariel175 said: "Rachel Zegler (Movie Maria) seems pleased about most of the cast (one guess for who she's NOT pleased about):

https://twitter.com/rachelzegler/likes"

Has Spielberg not made her get rid of that Twitter account yet? She seems like a sweetheart, but wow, she certainly doesn't come across as a professional...

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 06:04 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:12pm

MemorableUserName said: "Kitsune said: "Re: Ramasar, I'm only vaguely familiar with the story.

My understanding is that Zachary Catazaro took pictures of his girlfriend without his consent. Was Ramasar's involvement that he received these pictures?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/arts/dance/city-ballet-fires-two-male-dancers-accused-of-sharing-photos.html

"In the suit, filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, Ms. Waterbury accused Mr. Finlay of sending nude photos of her to Mr. Ramasar, and said Mr. Ramasar had sent back an image of a bare-chested “female ballet member.”"

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/18/what-went-wrong-at-new-york-city-ballet

What she found on the screen was a series of photographs of women’s private parts, including her own, plus a brief clip of her having sex with Finlay.

According to the complaint in a lawsuit that she later filed, there were text messages, too. Finlay, sending someone a photograph of Waterbury naked, asked, “You have any pictures of girls you’ve f*cked? I’ll send you some... ballerina girls I’ve made scream and squirt.” The exchanges included several participants, notably two other N.Y.C.B. principals, Amar Ramasar and Zachary Catazaro, and a young donor, Jared Longhitano. “We should get like half a kilo”—of cocaine, one assumes—?“and pour it over the... girls and just violate them,” Longhitano wrote to Catazaro and Finlay. “I bet we could tie some of them up and abuse them like farm animals.” “Or like the sluts they are,” Finlay rejoined. “Yeah,” Longhitano wrote back. “I want them to watch me destroy one of their friends. And they know they’re next. I bet we could triple team.” Finlay also reported that he had just “****ed a 20-year-old ballerina and her sister! That was my first threesome with family members. It was incredible!” In another thread, a former student at the ballet school thanked Finlay for sending a picture of himself and Waterbury engaged in a sex act: “I can’t stop looking at Alex’s tits lol.”"

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/arts/dance/city-ballet-amar-ramasar-sexually-explicit-texts.html

" Her suit, which accused City Ballet of condoning a “fraternity-like atmosphere,” did not accuse Mr. Catazaro or Mr. Ramasar of sharing material related to her, but said that they had shared sexually explicit texts containing nude images of other women affiliated with the company or the school. ""

It's still not clear here. Did Ramasar take the photos he had with permission or not? That makes a huge difference. The rest is just dirty talk, and like all dirty talk is offensive or not depending on the individual, but not threatening or criminal. If he photographed a woman's body without her consent, that's a crime. If he forced a woman to do something she didn't want, that's a crime. But did he?

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 06:12 PM

[FactsAreFacts]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:25pm

It's still not clear here. Did Ramasar take the photos he had with permission or not? That makes a huge difference. The rest is just dirty talk, and like all dirty talk is offensive or not depending on the individual, but not threatening or criminal. If he photographed a woman's body without her consent, that's a crime. If he forced a woman to do something she didn't want, that's a crime. But did he?

Whether he did or not, sharing nude pictures/videos that a) a woman sent to a completely different person, or b) a woman didn't know were taken is vile and disgusting and wrong, whether or not it is illegal. It is ridiculous that people are saying things like "she should have known better." That's ridiculous. The men involved should have behaved better. It is not her fault, even if she did voluntarily participate in the picture.

The fascination of the legality of this is confusing, especially since most of the negativity has not been about him breaking the law. Instead, people are horrified that someone would participate in such behavior, never deny it, never apologize for it (that I have ever seen publicly acknowledged), and yet still faces no significant consequences.

Whether he is the most talented triple-threat in the world or not shouldn't matter, as a person who participates in that type of behavior should not continue to get high-profile opportunities without some sort of penance. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:33pm

If she willingly took or sent the photos, yes, she should have known better. That's just common sense. You take these kinds of pictures, or share them, you run the risk. As an adult, you have to own that.

Doesn't make him any less slimy. But slimy is different than criminal, and not recognizing the differences is a serious problem, especially in terms of whether he should be allowed to work or not.

And I'm still waiting for an answer: did he take and then share pictures of any women without their permission?

[LuPita2]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:41pm

Nope. The "should have known better" defense crap shows how antiquated your thinking is. <<edited by BWW staff>>.  We have told you, many many times that these photos and videos were taken WITHOUT HER CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE.

Considering we have given you five different articles STATING what he did, it's clear you don't want an answer, since it's already been presented.  You just want to continue to say she asked for this.

Despicable.  

Updated On: 7/10/19 at 06:41 PM

[FactsAreFacts]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:45pm

joevitus said: "If she willingly took or sent the photos, yes, she should have known better. That's just common sense. You take these kinds of pictures, or share them, you run the risk. As an adult, you have to own that.

If you voluntarily share something that personal and private with someone, of course, that person could share them with other people. That doesn't mean that they have the right to. While "revenge porn" is not yet illegal in New York apparently, it is in most states in the US, and even if it isn't illegal, it is wrong. 

Doesn't make him any less slimy. But slimy is different than criminal, and not recognizing the differences is a serious problem, especially in terms of whether he should be allowed to work or not.

I don't think that anyone is arguing that illegal and slimy are the same thing, but what I think you are failing to recognize is that nearly everyone voicing concern in this thread and elsewhere think that there should be consequences for slimy behavior, whether it is illegal or not. 

And I'm still waiting for an answer: did he take and then share pictures of any women without their permission?"

I am sure that you know how Google works. Why you feel the need for other people to find answers for you is odd. 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 6:48pm

Troll in the dungeon.