West Side Story Revival Marquee-What are they thinking?

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:47pm

Has anyone else seen the upcoming West Side Story revivals new Marquee up at the Broadway? Its on par with Tootsies original marquee in terms of boring and bland, and in my opinion ugly.
Its literally just a close up photo collage what I assume are members of the cast, with what Id guess is Arial font over it, spelling out West Side Story. Dont get me wrong, I like it when people try something new, but considering West Side Story has one of the most iconic marquees, nearly all productions using a similar font style, with most using the black, white, and red color scheme, this just seems boring. If you are reinventing West Side Story for a new generation, and are not reusing the same costumes and choreography that have been used in all of its Broadway incarnations, why not be just as bold in your marketing materials as well.

Based on the marquee it also feels like the production is trying way too hard too seem woke, emphasizing the casts diversity in a show that everyone an their mother knows is about a race war.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:50pm

I have a thought. If they think ignoring all the complaints and disabling comments on their IG post regarding Amar's casting will help people forget his behavior, they are sorely mistaken.

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:53pm

Yeah, how could they not expect to get hit with a huge amount of backlash casting Ramasar. He’s a lot more trouble than he’s worth.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:53pm

I saw it this morning, and I agree. It's trying wayyyyyy too hard. Young people have a very serious problem with Ramasar and older people will want to see the traditional West Side Story. So, I think this will be popular for a few months, and then burst into flames.

This just ain't it.  

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:56pm

Pose2 said: "I have a thought. If they think ignoring all the complaints and disabling comments on their IG post regarding Amar's casting will help people forget his behavior, they are sorely mistaken."

I'm really curious how his casting is going to effect the show. I mean I had interest in the show before he was cast, but now I'm avoiding the show as much as I can. Maybe I'm in the minority and people will still see the show nevertheless, I don't know. Still, I have seen others also avoid getting tickets because of him, so I wonder if that could hurt the show in the end. 

Updated On: 8/23/19 at 06:56 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 6:58pm

No pictures yet?

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:03pm

Here's their website - which is way too busy.  Is this the marguee as well?

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:04pm

I'm really curious how his casting is going to effect the show. I mean I had interest in the show before he was cast, but now I'm avoid the show as much as I can. Maybe I'm in the minority and people will still see the show nevertheless, I don't know. Still, I have seen others also avoid getting tickets because of him, so I wonder if that could hurt the show in the end."

Here's the thing. I am not part of outrage culture, walking around furious about everything. But, this was a very, very serious thing. I was disgusted by him. So, the production not releasing a statement, him saying nothing publicly, and completely ignoring every single comment on their socials is just a really bad move. This is a show for young people, about young people. But, tons of people have no interest in this due to his casting. In real life and online, many people refuse to see this unless something changes. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:12pm

Pose2 said: "IHere's the thing. I am not part of outrage culture, walking around furious about everything. But, this was a very, very serious thing. I was disgusted by him. So, the production not releasing a statement, him saying nothing publicly, and completely ignoring every single comment on their socials is just a really bad move. This is a show for young people, about young people. But, tons of people have no interest in this due to his casting. In real life and online, many people refuse to see this unless something changes."

Except here's the thing.  Yes, you are.  You were the FIRST person to bring it up on this new thread that is about the marquee.   

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:13pm

CATSNYrevival said: "No pictures yet?"

I think BWW will post officially about it tomorrow, so I think OP just meant anyone passing by the theater (as they are just putting it up I think). I can only find one person on social media showing off the new marquee, but it doesn't show the whole thing. It seems to be exactly like the online marketing, which seems cool, but isn't even the cast. Much of it were models meant for marketing before the cast was announced so it seems odd people might think these would be the actors. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ew0CAnrTK/

Pose2 said: "This is a show for young people, about young people. But, tons of people have no interest in this due to his casting. In real life and online, many people refuse to see this unless something changes."

I find it funny that this is obviously a show meant to reflect the current youth, but the producers/Ivo Van Hove seem clueless into thinking the youth will just ignore a sexual predator in the cast. Maybe they could have gotten away with this a decade ago, but I don't think young people will just forget about this. 

Updated On: 8/22/19 at 07:13 PM

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:16pm

I find it funny that this is obviously a show meant to reflect the current youth, but the producers/Ivo Van Hove seem clueless into thinking the youth will just ignore a sexual predator in the cast. Maybe they could have gotten away with this a decade ago, but I don't think young people will just forget about this.

I completely agree, young people have not forgotten, no wonder ticket sales past the Christmas rush are so incredibly soft. Guess this old director doesn't get it, but he will very soon!
 

 

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:19pm

 

 

ggersten said: "Here's their website - which is way too busy.Is this the marguee as well?"

Yes, its very similar. I don’t think they went with showing only the darkest skinned cast members on the marquee though. It really confuses me considering half of the cast should be white, and one of the biggest complaints of the film from a modern lenses is how dark they made the Sharks. Rita Moreno has made sure to address this in every recent interview, when the new film is brought up. Puerto Ricans come in every shade of the rainbow, she constantly retorts and they kept covering her in make up until her skin looked like dirt, despite her actually being from Puerto Rico. This production that’s attempting to be woke, appears to be falling into a trap thats one of the biggest criticisms of the film. In their attempt to be “Woke and progressive” the creatives seem to be producing an actually racist production of West Side Story.

Updated On: 8/22/19 at 07:19 PM

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:32pm

Here are better pictures of the marquee, which I feel weird about as I have to tilt my head to read it. Very odd choice imo 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1fCdkKJ1Uh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ebSzrHJNS/

Updated On: 8/22/19 at 07:32 PM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:38pm

I love the key art and the marquee. We’ve had a zillion revivals of WSS, including one this century - why not be open to a fresh interpretation of it?

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 8:22pm

Isn’t there a line in the script, “you’re too dark to pass [for white]?” I’m completely against brownface, but I’m willing to buy that colorism is a thing and that the Sharks are a mostly indigenous-looking, dark-skinned group by necessity or choice, not by coincidence.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 9:14pm

I don't like that the title is vertical, but otherwise I don't mind it too much. It's simple and the bold white letters let you know that the title is the priority.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 9:40pm

I think it looks fantastic. I completely understand the issue with the cast member being a sexual predator and I am not happy about that. That being said, I bought tickets before I was aware of all that so I am excited for the production in spite of him. I also love the marketing artwork for the show - feels young and fresh.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:10pm

FANtomFollies said: "I think it looks fantastic. I completely understand the issue with the cast member being a sexual predator and I am not happy about that. That being said, I bought tickets before I was aware of all that so I am excited for the production in spite of him. I also love the marketing artwork for the show - feels young and fresh."

Agreed to 100% of your post. Love the marquee and artwork! 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:50pm

I feel like the show is going to be so stark and boring

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 1:47am

If they’ve got you talking about it than the producers have done their job.

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 2:01am

I really love it! My one complaint is the Vertical title, Yuck!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 3:26am

Uninspired.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 5:46am

Mountain. Molehill.

I dont think I've ever heard of someone make a buying decision on a marquee. Ever.

In general, I'm far more interested in the new film.


You had to turn your head to read it? Really? So incredibly doubtful.

Updated On: 8/23/19 at 05:46 AM

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 7:48am

QueenAlice said: "If they’ve got you talking about it than the producers have done their job."

I'm with you. But I'm also wondering why they are doing a revival at the same time as the movie...although I guess this does look like it's trying to appeal to a different type of audience than people who would see the movie, or people who would see the show but not the movie? I don't know...I guess it depends on someones preference? 

[BJR]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 8:05am

I think this is some of the best marketing campaign art I've seen on Bway in ages.

Extremely contemporary and fresh, communicates this isn't your standard production, aggressive yet human, plaintive and sexy. 10/10.