West Side Story Revival Marquee-What are they thinking?

[ColorTheHours048]

I’ve been loving their marketing. Like it or not, it’s putting us in the perfect headspace for the kind of production we can expect. Reflective of the diversity of what it means to actually be one vs. “other” in 2019, sparse visuals, the body in motion, stripped back instrumentals that blend with the sounds of the city, and an emphasis on what makes this story so specifically New York. It’s brilliant marketing that makes explicit that we will not be seeing West Side Story as we’re familiar with seeing it.

That said... the Broadway is a BARN and unless this sets critics on fire with praise, I really can’t see it filling seats. Fingers crossed I’m wrong.

[Pippin]

you Guys realize that, outside of broadway nerd circles, NO ONE knows who Ramasar is....... like NO ONE.

And if they hear of the disgusting ways he’s handled himself, they will most likely have already bought their tickets. They won’t care.

I agree that it’s not a good look if this production is trying to prove how woke they are, but that’s their issue and all will come out in the wash.

his casting will not affect the box office whatsoever.

[Will3700]

I love West Side Story and loved the last revival but I will not see this one with Ramasar in it.

[chewy5000]

Pippin said: "his casting will not affect the box office whatsoever."

 

So why cast him?

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

What Pippin said. This has not permeated the public consciousness and it won’t. Nobody in this cast is selling a ticket, the box office will rely on the title, the production, and the reviews. 

Also, I’m in no way saying that what he did is ok, but on a “bad man scale” of Tom Schumacher (1) to Harvey Weinstein (10), he’s maybe a 2. (At least based on what was revealed in the NYT.)

[little_sally]

Sorry, I think the marketing for this has been so boring. Looks like a Gap ad.

[YvanEhtNioj]

I like the marketing, it's fresh. I want the show to be fun and loud, but I dont wanna see the same WSS we've all seen 90 million times. 

And I agree with the above- outside of the Broadway community, no one knows or cares who Amar is. People who dont even know much about musical theatre, but love WSS will go see it regardless. 

[CATSNYrevival]

I think the art looks like a poster for a movie and not a Broadway show.

[DoTheDood]

People outside the Broadway community will probably not care about Amar, very true, but I don't think people will then flock to this re-imagining of a classic. Like with the current OK!, they will want to see the WSS they know and love, which this will be very different from. Maybe it could get people in seats if it gets great press and wins awards like OK!, but this season is hot with revivals (Company and Caroline), so it's going to be hard for this to be a hit. The Amar backlash is just another set back this show probably doesn't need.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Yeah, that's true. Now I'm having horrible flashbacks to all the old white women complaining during "Oklahoma!"..the horror..the horror. 

[Fosse76]

It looks like the cover art you'd see on one of those generic studio recordings of the score that you'd find in a bargain bin. 

[zainmax]

little_sally said: "Sorry, I think the marketing for this has been so boring. Looks like a Gap ad."

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