Reri Grist

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/11/09 at 2:08pm

Over in the abandoned "Interesting South Pacific observation" thread, someone said that there was no voice purer than Paul Szot's, and I instantly thought of Reri Grist.

I was lucky enough to be at the Gypsy of the Year in '07 when most of the original cast of West Side Story performed, and towards the end of the show, Grist sang "Somewhere", accompanied by piano and cello. Mid-song the entire cast joined her onstage, singing with her, only to drop out suddenly at the end, leaving her to sing that final word alone, ringing out crystal-clear in the hushed theater.

There was a moment of dead silence while everyone listened to the note play out, followed by deafening applause.

Was one of the most amazing moments in theater I have ever witnessed. Went back the next day just for her. Anyone else see it?

Reri Grist sings Updated On: 2/11/09 at 02:08 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/11/09 at 2:37pm

Reri Grist appeared as Consuelo (and was the Rosalia understudy) in the original 1957 Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY. She is the "Somewhere" vocalist heard on the cast recording.

Here's Reri talking about WEST SIDE STORY:

That was quite an experience and I shall write about it in my book! I think I was with the show for a year-and-a-half. From there I went to Europe and wandered around a bit, camping with some good friends. I also did some auditions here and there and most of the time I was offered a contract. But I didn't want a two- or three-year binding contract. I wanted to do a few performances and go on my merry way. And that's what I did. After a period of time, though, it was time for me to get back to the U.S. to sing with the New York Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein, which was a result of my persistently asking him while in West Side Story to listen to me sing music other than 'Somewhere.' He finally agreed and then engaged me to sing the soprano part in the Mahler Fourth Symphony."

Like Oklahoma before it and A Chorus Line after, West Side Story redefined American musical theater. Admirers of Ms. Grist are often surprised to learn that she was in the original cast. "I was one of the Sharks and did a little bit of dancing and played the part of Consuelo. I was comfortable with the rest of the performers - after all, I came from that area in which this work took place, so I knew what was happening. There was a discussion about whether I should sing 'Somewhere' because, I think, it was Jerome Robbins who did not want a professional voice and I don't think he wanted to keep me in the show. I think Mr. B liked my sound and was trying to find a way to keep me in the cast. He wanted a certain cultivated quality for this song and during the performances on the road before coming to New York City, we tried all sorts of different places from which I sang - I was way up on the top floor, in the wings, under the orchestra pit, in the orchestra pit, on stage."

Here is a quote from her regarding working with the legendary Jerome Robbins: "I wasn't a dancer, so I didn't really have much to do with him. I'm amazed by all the stories everyone is telling about how he behaved!"

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 2/11/09 at 5:11pm

Her OBCR "Somewhere" is beautifully, perhaps definitively, sung. Not a bad way to achieve immortality, if you ask me.

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/10/20 at 1:21am

I for one would like to hear her version of Somewhere in the Spielberg film, with David Newman's orchestration and her vocal track cleaned up.