West Side Story has a homecoming date and residence. The revival will open on March 19, 2009 at the Palace Theatre, the current home of Legally Blonde. This production will be directed by the librettist Arthur Laurents (who recently mounted the Encores! and Broadway production of Gypsy with Patti Lupone).
"This show will be radically different from any other production of WEST SIDE STORY ever done. The musical theatre and cultural conventions of 1957 made it next to impossible for the characters to have authenticity. Every member of both gangs was always a potential killer even then. Now they actually will be. Only Tony and Maria try to live in a different world" said Arthur Laurents.
The producers are the team Seller and McCollum, among others. They're the ones who brought you In The Heights, Avenue A and Rent.
The production will have a try out in Washington D.C. before heading north for Times Square.
Okay, let's face it: I'm excited. Partly, because I have never seen a live production of this show and hopefully this will be really killer and authentic. Will Puerto Ricans really be Puerto Ricans on stage? Does that matter to the audience? As long as they can sing the Bernstein and Sondheim score?
For me, it's as long as the mambo dance scene is epic.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=33236
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