Ivo van Hove Will Direct 2020 Broadway Revival of WEST SIDE STORY

[GeorgeandDot]

I can't imagine that Rudin or anyone on tbe team for this production would allow a non-latin performer to be cast in any of the latin parts.

[adamgreer]

Leaked B-roll footage of the new production!

https://youtu.be/hZ22AejeSII

[greensgreens]

adamgreer said: "Leaked B-roll footage of the new production!

https://youtu.be/hZ22AejeSII"

OH WOW. Now that is a production I'm all for. I love when people get crazy and experimental with musical revivals and that is literally out of this world. I want to talk with the director and try to learn more about the vision and purpose behind this one!!! I know it was meant to be a joke, but I'm seriously curious about this one now!

 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

When I saw the last revival's touring production, I was apprehensive about seeing the show with both "I Feel Pretty" and "Officer Krupke" taking place after the rumble. But then on stage, it sort of made sense. It allowed the tension to break a bit (since there's an intermission already causing a break in the flow and tension). Plus the way they sang "Officer Krupke" started out silly but it ended in a very angry, frustrated tone with the way the teens/young adults felt about their treatment thus far by all the adult figures in their lives and being analyzed as if they were not real people but just statistics to be spoken about.

Anyway, I think the reordering works well on film because they were able to keep the tension going and have it build and build with "Cool" being such a great number to really show off that tension and anger.

I get what some traditionalists are saying. West Side Story was specifically created by Bernstein, Laurents, Sondheim, and Robbins. All of their brains working together to create a whole. The choreography was so integral to the storytelling that changing it is like making changes to the music, lyrics, and book as well. This was a product of the director-choreographer being as much of an author as the book writer, lyricist/composer. While we're making changes, I wonder if they should change "America" to the way the film did or at least adapt it a bit. I kind of think the movie's message criticizing the U.S. rather than Puerto Rico (the way it is on stage) would resonate a lot more these days. Plus, it makes what happens to Anita more tragic as she was bending over backwards telling her friends how much she loves America.

That said, I am looking forward to seeing WSS in a new way.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

adamgreer said: "Leaked B-roll footage of the new production!

https://youtu.be/hZ22AejeSII"

Ok, this looks absolutely horrific on so many levels. 

One thing about the ballet choreography looking silly criticism that I don't get is that why isn't the whole idea of them singing silly as well? We all know what singing in musicals and what dancing in musicals are supposed to symbolize. Is it because the score was written for sort of non-singers outside of Tony/Maria/Anita so it's ok that they sing in scene the way that they do? I sort of think the sheer athleticism required for the Robbins choreography is pretty exciting myself.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

adamgreer said: "Leaked B-roll footage of the new production!

https://youtu.be/hZ22AejeSII"

I'll take this over another dusty ****ing remake of the original.

[Call_me_jorge]

Are there any rumors as to who will be in the cast or does anyone have a Dreamcast for this production?

[natashalost]

Call_me_jorge said: "Are there any rumors as to who will be in the cast or does anyone have a Dreamcast for this production?"

I would do anything to see Solea Pfeiffer as Maria and Jeremy Jordan as Tony again after seeing them at the Hollywood Bowl, although some may say they are too old.

Ana Villafañe as Anita, Ektor Rivera (he may be too old too) as Bernardo, Ruben J. Carbajal as Chino.

As for the ensemble, I would love to see Carlos E. Gonzalez, Max Clayton, Linedy Genao, Jerusha Cavazos, Kalyn West, Jose Rosario, Jr., Carleigh Bettiol, Ryan Vasquez, and Colby Dezelick 

[natashalost]

So according to this article, they are still looking for Maria, Anita, Bernardo, and dancers. I wonder if they've cast Tony yet...

http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-revival-of-west-side-story-continues-search-for-latinx-performers-for-roles-of-maria-anita-bernardo

 

I know they did a workshop recently, which had some great dancers such as Carlos E. Gonzalez, Yesenia Ayala, Andrei Chagas, Tanairi Vasquez, Chris P. Hernandez, Chris Medlin, Ben Cook, Kevin Csolak, Melanie Moore, Curtis Holland, Ahmad Simmons, Michelle Mercedes, Ricky Ubeda, and many more dancers I don't happen to recognize from photos. 

Here's a couple if anyone recognizes the others:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrqjENkhf_-/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrqRZ4fhycF/

[LuPita2]

Corey Cott did an incredible Tony in DC, and he's doing the role in Chicago this Spring.  He is perfect in the role, and he sings the score beautifully. I hope it's him.  

[bwayboy22]

I'd love to see Casey Cott make his Broadway Debut as Tony in this. I think he'd be perfect, but I doubt his Riverdale schedule would allow it :/

[DramaTeach]

bwayboy22 said: "I'd love to see Casey Cott make his Broadway Debut as Tony in this. I think he'd be perfect, but I doubt his Riverdale schedule would allow it :/"

No.  Casey Cott has a fine voice and can carry a tune, but Tony requires much more than that.  This is not his role.

[LuPita2]

Uhhhh. COREY Cott. Broadway actor?  Not his brother who is a TV actor and can't sing.  Big difference.  

[Call_me_jorge]

[bwayboy22]

I know you said Corey. But Casey can sing as well, they both graduated from Carnegie Mellon, and in my opinion Casey has just as good a voice as his brother.

[LuPita2]

Corey is a singer and Broadway actor.  He is an incredible singer and works on stage.  Casey is not a singer, and he is not on Broadway for a reason.  No one was talking about Casey. 

Corey will do the role twice in two years come Spring.  He works on Broadway. He has turned down many television roles to work on stage. He doesn't have a full time job working for television. So, it absolutely won't be his brother.

Anyways, I hope they have already chosen a very strong Tony, hopefully it's Corey.

[DramaTeach]

bwayboy22 said: "I know you said Corey. But Casey can sing as well, they both graduated from Carnegie Mellon, and in my opinionCasey has just as good a voice as his brother."

I believe that people are entitled to their opinions, but this is just wrong.  I've heard both sing numerous times live and they're not comparable.  Yes, Casey is sweet and he is on a hit show, but if you want the best production (and why wouldn't anyone want the best production possible), Casey Cott is not Tony.

[CedricOates]

What are the chances that Rachel Zegler will star in the movie and then make her broadway debut in the same role for this production? I think it would make sense, judging that they could market her as one of her stars of the movie

[LuPita2]

I believe that people are entitled to their opinions, but this is just wrong.  I've heard both sing numerous times live and they're not comparable.  

Thank you.

[GeorgeandDot]

I hope it's a cast of unknowns. I'd like to not see anyone pushing 30 play these roles. I have no interest in seeing some beige, boring glorified chorus boy who is too old for the part.
There are too many great young actors coming out of high school and undergrad programs to cast someone like Corey Cott (meh).

[LuPita2]

He's a name on Broadway, they need one, he has a good fan base and he's amazing. So, yeah. He is not too old for the part considering Tony is supposed to be in his early to mid 20s,  He looks the part.

Newsies was filmed with a 31 year old Jeremy Jordan who was playing a 17 year old Jack. It works just fine.

[Miles2Go2]

Unless Im missing something, Jordan is only 34 now.

[LuPita2]

I have no idea what you mean by that but I was mistaken regarding his age when it was filmed in 2016, which I corrected.  

[GeorgeandDot]

Both are too old for the part and you're delusional if you think Corey Cott is a "name." West Side Story doesn't need a name to sell tickets. The name of the show is a name enough, especially if it has good word of mouth.

Also this is an Ivo Van Hove production. I wouldn't expect to see conventional casting. I doubt you'll be seeing your favorite <<edited by BWW staff>> chorus boy in the lead role.

[SomethingPeculiar]

CedricOates said: "What are the chances that Rachel Zegler will star in the movie and then make her broadway debut in the same role for this production? I think it would make sense, judging that they could market her as one of her stars of the movie"

Zero. I can't imagine Van Hove and Rudin will want to work with anyone who was involved with the 2009 Bway production or the new film.

But also, the Broadway revival will open first (December 2019); the film starts shooting in Summer 2019, so it will probably be released in the second half of 2020.