Whatever happened to a West Side Story revival?

The plans were for a 50th Anniversary revival in 2007 to be headed by Jerry Mitchell. It may still happen (though Mitchell will be busy with Legally Blonde through April of 2007).

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Wow, Jerry Mitchell would be a blessing for a WEST SIDE revival. His choreography is stunning.

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I've been slipping Margo the answers...

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In an interview, Mitchell said that he planned on recreating the Jerome Robbins choreography for the revival. He said that he's done the show in the past both with the original choreography and also with another choreographer's new choreography and that he thought that the original couldn't be topped, so he doesn't plan on changing it. I would assume, though that he plans to bring his own personal vision to the overall staging of the show. He acknowledges that Robbins' genius looms over every aspect of it and there's no point in running away from it.

I hope this happens (and that he can find time in his busy schedule) -- I think he's the ideal person to supervise bringing this show back to Broadway.

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The problem is that the Jerome Robbins estate has almost complete control over the choreography in his legendary shows. The contractual restrictions on altering his work are so tight it cost a director and choreographer their jobs in "Fiddler".