Spielberg’s West Side Story

[CallMeAl2]

Kad said: "I don't think this needs names."

And if it did, they would already be in place before they went in to production to secure the money. This seems to be going forward on the strength of the title and Speilberg's name. 

[CallMeAl2]

duplicate

[CarlosAlberto]

CallMeAl2 said: "Kad said: "I don't think this needs names."

And if it did, they would already be in place before they went in to production to secure the money. This seems to be going forward on the strength of the title and Speilberg's name."

By the looks of it I would have to agree. It would be really exciting to get a star turn or star turns in this from complete unknowns.

[BrodyFosse123]

Really?!?! That is not what all the casting call announcements stated. It clearly states what roles they were looking to cast. The lead roles were listed. 

Yes, they may have been looking to fill ensemble/dance roles but the purpose for the calls is very clearly stated in the announcements/ads. 

These open/cattle-call auditions are more to generate publicity onto the upcoming project as well as to have the auditioners bring on their A-game thinking they are being looked at for one of the leads.  Disregard what the sheet states.  Sue them for false advertising.  

Jennifer Lopez was already cast as SELENA when the film held nation wide open/cattle call auditions for the lead.  These nation wide auditions generated interest in the upcoming film though the producers already had cast their Selena.  Shortly after the auditions concluded, Lopez was officially announced and she never took part in any of the nation wide auditions.  

Same with Ana Villafane in Broadway's ON YOUR FEET!  She was already cast when they held open/cattle call auditions in Miami.  These Miami auditions generated TONS of publicity in Miami and in the Latin America market with their extensive coverage.    

You'll see this happen with this upcoming remake of WEST SIDE STORY -- all the leads will be recognizable names who NEVER took part of these open/cattle call auditions. 

 

[nasty_khakis]

I agree with BrodyFosse about these open call auditions, but I also think that, for stage productions at least, they can help creatives find understudies, replacements, tour casts, etc. Their Gloria was already cast, but I bet her understudy or potential replacements weren't and this probably gave them a few names to call back for those spots eventually.

[CarlosAlberto]

BrodyFosse123 said: "Really?!?! That is not what all the casting call announcements stated. It clearly states what roles they were looking to cast. The lead roles were listed.

Yes, they may have been looking to fill ensemble/dance roles but the purpose for the calls is very clearly stated in the announcements/ads.

These open/cattle-call auditions are more to generate publicity onto the upcoming project as well as to have theauditionersbring on their A-game thinking they are being looked at for one of the leads. Disregard what the sheet states. Sue them for false advertising.

Jennifer Lopez was already cast as SELENA when the film held nation wide open/cattle callauditions for the lead. These nation wideauditions generated interest in the upcoming film though the producers already had cast their Selena. Shortly after the auditions concluded, Lopez was officially announced and she never took part in any of the nation wide auditions.

Same with Ana Villafane in Broadway's ON YOUR FEET! She was already cast when they held open/cattle callauditions inMiami. These Miami auditions generated TONS of publicity in Miami and in the Latin America market with their extensive coverage.

You'll see this happen with this upcoming remake of WEST SIDE STORY -- all the leads will be recognizable names who NEVER took part of these open/cattle call auditions.

Now that made me laugh out loud. But I do see your point.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Justin Peck is choreographing!

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180928005356/en/Tony-Winning-Choreographer-Justin-Peck-Joins-Steven-Spielberg%E2%80%99s#.W65hBT46ylY.twitter

[Valentina3]

Carousel's choreography was stunnning. This can only mean good things.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Anyone hoping for a grittier-street style choreography will be disappointed. His choreography in Carousel was more flowery and disconnected from the story and characters than anything Jerome Robbins choreographed in WSS.

[BwayLB]

I didn't see Carousel but the ballet portions should be interesting to see

[Danielle49]

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "Anyone hoping for a grittier-street style choreography will be disappointed. His choreography inCarouselwas more flowery and disconnected from the story and characters than anything Jerome Robbins choreographed in WSS."

I didn’t see Carousel but was disappointed by the Tony performance for this exact reason. Yeah, it was visually stunning, but it did nothing in relation to the characters or storytelling. The reason why Robbins’ choreography for West Side Story was so iconic was because of how it conveyed story through movement. Peck will create something dazzling to look at onscreen (a guaranteed wow factor for a wide audience), but I’m worried that it’ll just be pretty for pretty’s sake. Interested to see how it turns out.

[bk]

I found his choreography of Carousel horrible especially Blow High, Blow Low, which was all about him and nothing about Carousel.

[Sondheimite]

I thought Carousel had TERRIBLE choreography that went against what the story the show was trying to tell. 

[John Adams]

It's difficult to say if Peck's choreography will or won't work in Spielberg's WSS without knowing Spielberg's take on, or vision for the storytelling.

Spielberg (for me) is an unexpected choice to direct a musical to begin with, but I know from everything he's done in the past, that I've not been disappointed by his movies.

I LOVE Peck's choreography, beyond just his work on "Carousel". I don't need him to choreograph WSS in the same way Robbins did, neither do I want him to. 

As already mentioned, Robbin's choreography is iconic. I don't want Spielberg's version to mess with that; try to best it, or imply that Robbin's choreography is in any need of an update. That just isn't so.

I agree that Peck's "Blow High, Blow Low" didn't function narratively, as expected. What I saw instead was a LOT of characterization regarding the men who were dancing it. There was a boatload of masculinity (as well as a balance of ho-yay) happening in that number. Wrong or right, I found that appealing, and a surprisingly different way to tell part of the story.

[LizzieCurry]

Ansel Elgort?

https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/1046886841637453825

[broadwaynerdnewbie]

LizzieCurry said: "Ansel Elgort?

https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/1046886841637453825"

Well that’s unexpected 

[Cfried]

Ansel confirmed for Tony. 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Te-Adoro-Anton-Ansel-Elgort-to-Play-Tony-in-Steven-Spielberg-WEST-SIDE-STORY-20181001

[Elegance101]

I totally predicted that Ansel would do this. And I'm okay with it! I'm optimistic about it!

[Jordan Catalano]

I have no idea of his singing abilities, but just on the surface, I think it’s excellent casting.

[BenElliott]

Ansel is a brilliant choice. His singing is beautiful and he comes from a dance background.

Hoping for an unknown still for Maria. It would be a tremendous opportunity for a young actress.

[freewilma]

Here are some (dated) clips of him singing and dancing.

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/176386/bound-for-broadway-see-the-secret-singing-dancing-stage-past-of-the-fault-in-our-stars-stud-ansel-elgort/

[GeorgeandDot]

I said a while back that he'd be right for this part. Happy he got it. I'm also hoping Maria is an unknown. I can't think of any "famous" actresses out there right now that are good for the role.

[SomethingPeculiar]

The timing is going to be interesting! Hollywood Reporter says filming begins in Summer 2019. Rudin/Van Hove's production starts previews in December 2019, so the film will probably open within 10 months of the stage revival. (Maybe Summer 2020, or Thanksgiving 2020 if they want to position it for the Oscars?)

Also interesting:  the co-producer of Spielberg's film is Kevin McCollum, who produced the last revival of the show.

[Bwayfan292]

I find it funny how stan twitter is upset its not Ben Platt.

If you wanna see stan twitter, Ben platt retweeted his Audition tape a few hours ago.

[Wayman_Wong]

A LaGuardia High grad, Ansel Elgort played Link in their ''Hairspray'' and Sky Masterson in ''Guys and Dolls.'' I bet he'll be great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egBJ-sk2aY8