West Side Story Revival Opens on Broadway
Video Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight reports that Hollywood celebrities Vanessa Williams, Spike Lee, Christie Brinkley, Patrick Wilson, and Kathleen Turner all turned up on 19 March 2009 for one of the most momentous opening nights on Broadway — the revival of the Tony Award winning musical West Side Story, which is celebrating its 50th year anniversary with a celebrated run at the Palace Theater in New York.
West Side Story opened to mix reviews.
David Rooney of Variety was effervescent in his praise.
The consummate craftsmanship of “West Side Story,” with its matchless ability to weave a solemn narrative through music and dance, still dazzles after more than 50 years. Leonard Bernstein’s majestic score, in particular, is undiminished, shifting fluidly between blasts of syncopated brass fueled by testosterone and rage, and some of the most achingly beautiful expressions of love ever sung. So it’s rewarding to report that after nearly three decades’ absence from Broadway, this masterwork has been given the revival it deserves. Under the knowing direction of Arthur Laurents, the 1957 show remains both a brilliant evocation of its period and a timeless tragedy of disharmony and hate.
Ben Brantley of the New York Times, on the other hand, has some reservations.
Though Mr. Laurents has tinkered with his original dialogue, a lot of it retains the stiff signboard poetry of socially enlightened mid-20th-century American movies and plays.
Having the Sharks speak to one another in Spanish effectively underscores the sense of cultural estrangement that the show demands. But since music is supposedly a universal language (and since the Jets and Sharks often sing the same melodies), do we have to have key, plot-propelling songs translated (by Lin-Manuel Miranda) into Spanish as well? It’s fine for those of us who know the show inside out, but English-speaking newcomers may have difficulty following the second act.
West Side Story is “Based on a conception by Jerome Robbins; book by Arthur Laurents; music by Leonard Bernstein; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; original production directed and choreographed by Robbins; directed by Mr. Laurents; choreography reproduced by Joey McKneely; music supervisor/director, Patrick Vaccariello; sets by James Youmans; costumes by David C. Woolard; lighting by Howell Binkley.”
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March 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I actually have 3 full audios of this show and one full video. If you’re interested, I can send them to you and you may post them here. Your Youtube account is TheBachelorGirl right? I remember I posted a comment on your “America” video during the West Side Story Launch about following the movie rather than the original Broadway production under the username ateneodude.
I’m absolutely stunned by the choreography of the show. It’s very tightly-knit/ The set looks great too and the costumes are very appropriate. Karen Olivo (In the Heights) is an amazing Anita and Josefina Scaglione (Hairspray – Argentina) is innocent and charming as Maria. Matt Cavenaugh (Grey Gardens, Urban Cowboy) is good as Tony but sometimes he seems to be focusing on his blocking more than emotion. But then again, I’m only judging from these files I’ve seen/heard. I can’t compare it to the recent STAGES production either.
And here’s my link as well. http://teentheatergeek.blogspot.com/
Yes, I’m a teenager.