BLT III - clip from 1980 WEST SIDE STORY Revival

[keggss23]

I am so mad that I missed this!! If anyone would be willing to copy it for me, please PM me. Thanks =)

[TheColorOfFlame]

PalJoey, AMAZING!

Your stories absolutely glue me to my seat!

[frontrowcentre2]

People in the Southern Ontario/Wesetern New York area can see BLT III on WNED (CH 17) on Sunday Sep 18. At 7 PM they will rerun BLT II followed by the new program.

III will also be shown by themat 1 PM on Sunday Sept 25.

Be award they will probably be doing pledge breaks.

[redhotinnyc2]

PalJoey - if you haven't already, you should write a book. Your story about the memorial service had me in tears, and all the stories are fascinating. You are a great addition to this board and we should all feel honored to have you here. I know I DO.

[Johnnytoc]

I agree, thank you PalJoey....your stories make this amazing to read.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I think this clip was fascinating, my mom and I were watching it and we were both so mesmerized, almost in tears because of the nostalgia the clip inspired within us.
PalJoey I think it's the first time I agree with everyone else on the board: your stories are definitely amazing, to have had the honor of seeing Chita Rivera and Debbie Allen dancing "America" together must have been breath-taking, an orgasmic experience! The memory of the memorial service was extremely touching, I think the virus affected Broadway more than any other community, some of us are just lucky to be gay at a time in which at least we are well-informed about some of the risks...so off-topic

[Urban]

PalJoey. Write a book, or a blog and share your stories with the world, I'd be first in line to buy it (well I assume they'd be a bunch of other Queens on this site who'd kill me for that position - your stories are beyond amazing).

[PalJoey]

Bump. Because someone reminded me of this thread.

As Auntie Mame says, "My memoirs...MY memoirs...!"

[Doogie]

I hate Josie De Guzman.... I just find her charmless and annoying.


SO nmany other ingenues in that day would have been better.

Diane Fratantoni
Beverly Lambert
et., etc., etc.,

[Marquise]

hate is such a strong word
i remember the commercials for this production on tv
i wanted to see it so bad...

[keggss23]

"When you're a Jet, / You're a Jet all the way, / From your first pirouette / To your last grand jete."

That is so funny, I think I have found my new signature!

[lovinlife]

This thread hasd given me goosebumps. The stories are extremely INTERESTING!! Thanks PalJoey! WSS is one of those should we/can we/dare we situations. Being a yonger performer, I would kill to perform in the show (I'm 22). It's odd that nowadays there is not one show that I'd kill to do, just that I'd like or it would be fun, you know? Hmmm, those were the golden days of theatre as far as I'm concerned. Dedicated staff of writers, directors, actors, etc. And material that you want to perform.

[PalJoey]

Wow. Thanks for bumping this thread with my old stories. I just came back from seeing Chorus Line tonight, so all those ghosts are with me right now.

[JohnBoy2]

PalJoey, you're not Jimmy Mellon are you?! I knew this production well.

[jesseeinstein]

What amazing stories PalJoey!
Was this the revival with Victoria Mallory as Maria?

[PalJoey]

No, Josie DeGuzman played Maria.

[sondheimboy2]

PalJoey,
When you say that you didn't have sex with Bernstein because of the snow, are you referring to his hair color or what he was putting up his nose?

If it's the former, you were a fool to pass up that chance. If the second, perfectly understandable.

To semi-thread jack, the film version of WSS didn't really do it any favors when it comes to productions of it. Almost every one tries to copy the look of it. All the guys are in tight t-shirts (not that I'm complaing about that look) and jeans jackets. Now, when you look at pictures of the original production, those guys were wearing some really dorky clothing.

I saw a regional production that was directed by someone who had been a replacemebt in the original production and he had them costume it the way it had been in the original. One of the Jets was wearing those glasses with that dorky hat. And it was quite refreshing.

End of thread-jack.

[PalJoey]

Bumped in honor of the Gypsy of the Year posting.

[BrodyFosse123]

Brent Barrett went on as Tony when I saw the show in September 1980.

Favorite memory of the production? Sitting in the 3rd row orchestra and the image of the crotch panel in Debbie Allen's panty-hose when she did the fan kick during the mambo in The Dance at the Gym dance.

I was 15 years old and to this day I still have that vivid memory.

[PalJoey]

Brent Barrett was the 2nd Tony understudy, after Stephen Bogardus. Both of them sang Tonight, Something's Coming and Maria much better than Ken Marshall, whom Robbins had insisted play Tony, over Bernstein's objections.

[jewishboy]

Would've loved to see Barrett in the role... Thanks for the memories PalJoey!

[PalJoey]

Bump for Reri Grist.

[Flippancy]

Hell, bump for REAL broadway shows!

[mywonderwa11]

Flippancy...I second that bump!

PalJoey, you're my new favorite :) Thanks for your wonderful stories!

[PalJoey]

When you're a Jet,
you're a Jet all the way,
From your first pirouette
To your last grand jete...

[allofmylife]

I saw the Debbie Allen version twice in 1980 and have directed it twice. One of my favorite shows. I have to admit, both times I directed it, I followed the lead of the OCR and added the 16 bars from "The Rumble" as a mini-overture to the opening. It is a very arresting gesture and actually draws the riveted attention of the audience so the fingersnaps are not missed when they begin.