West Side Story-Historical Rehearsal-Original Cast members

[OllieThomas123]

Amazing. I'm doing west side story in school can't wait!

[091053JG]

Fantastic! A thousand thanks for posting.

[inem99]

That was amazing!

[serpechia]

Oh gosh... Dancing in that room at Actor's Equity on CARPET no less! Amazing! It is like watching family dancing at home!

[jejrstans69]

OMG! That was amazing! They were fantastic. 60-70 years old!! I hope I'm that fab at that age. WOW!!

[risinwriter]

This is spectacular. I was just a part of my school's performance of West Side Story, but this just amazes me. This proves that the experience truly will stay with my cast-mates and I for the rest of our lives. You have no idea how much of an honor it is to be able to see this.

[TheStanbabe]

Dear Secondeagle, Sadly that is true..Mr.Kert also left us all too soon.

[TheStanbabe]

Sadly,there are two cast members from the original Broadway show..who are not here..Arch Johnson and Bill Bramley..who played "NYC Police Lt.Shrank" and"Sgt.Krupke".."Gee Officer Krupke"..they've both passed away.

[secondeagle]

@TheStanbabe Also Larry Kert, who played Tony.

[frodo6221]

awesome video! thanks for sharing :)

[SexyHogwarts]

It was so cool seeing the originals! sigh

[KILLERBOYKING1]

scheiß xD

[glenniann]

Rating? This one is off the charts!!

[MsCescobar]

Hay Dios MIO!!!!!!!!Can't get over it. BEAUTIFUL. Oh yes, I DID CRY

[annamari87]

PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!

[LadyOfMaine]

It was a privilege to watch this.

I have real tears in my eyes.

How thrilling it must have been for all involved.

[leelee987654]

this is amazing!

[miau108]

schwul

[BernardProfitendieu]

interesting interpretation of the word "original"

[Alwayzsketching]

@BernardProfitendieu why? these people were a part of the original broadway cast...

[BernardProfitendieu]

@Alwayzsketching yeah, you're right, I didn't let it run long enough the first time (turned it off when I saw the fetuses dancing 'cause I knew they weren't around in the '50s!)

[Meredith2335]

OMG--How WONDERFUL. Love this musical. LOVE dancers.

[Divinedancedivas]

Simply MARVELLOUS!!!!! Thank you SO much for posting!!! :) :) :)

[CVActor1]

I LOVE THIS!!!!! Thank you AO MUCH for posting it!!!!! I played Maria in one of our local productions, and this brings back some of my fondest memories!!! :-)

[ravenrandom]

Yup, they've STILL got it, especially Chita :)

[HorizonMark]

Francis, what a total blessing it must have been to have been involved with this. I can't think of a higher pinnacle in theatre than getting to perform (even at a rehearsal with no audience) with original Broadway cast members of West Side Story. Holy moley, this was good. Thanks for posting it.

[josephgoodrich]

This is great, but it's not the original cast.

[Alwayzsketching]

@josephgoodrich yes it is? are you thinking of the movie instead? this is the original broadway cast...

[dancindivadeb]

I'm so thankful that the equity actors have not killed every youtube video of west side story shown. They should be happy to show off the genius of Jerome Robbins and allow theaters to have some idea of what to do with the amazing score!

[mysweetsmile23]

WOOO! look at em go!! this made me tear up a littlie bit :)

[Darrynw]

Thank you for posting this video. For those of us who can't make it to BC/EFA it is great to have a chance to see this tribute.

[Zendel963]

omg that was awesome :)

[skiparoo]

I was lucky to have had the privilege to work the first touring company when it came to San Francisco way back when... Larry Kirk was Tony and Carol Lawrence was Maria... What a magnificent show it was and still is.... This video has original members of the cast working with some new members of a current cast.

[MTwannaB4jesus]

whoa! those guys still got it!!! yahoooo!!!!! look at chita go!!! wow!!!! 50 years!!!!

[SamanthaMoon]

Wow. I didn't expect to cry!  This was amazing, brilliant and touching. Thank you so much for sharing it <3

[trkerner]

WOW!!! West Side Story was my introduction to the musical, the movies and to America back in 1963. It has remained my all time favorite musical.

This clip brought a smile to my face, tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart....Thank You

[hankm77]

i agree anyone know who he is?

[Kghrt]

Thank you so much.

[headedsomewhere]

this was great, I remember watching this as a kid, and never fully understanding it, until a few years ago, while going through separation from my husband(mixed marriage) but pain is pain...so my hat is off to the characters of Tony/Maria, it still happens today, God help them...anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this

peace :)

[Nahiida31]

west side story it's in france now in toulouse !!! go watching my video please :D

[marieGT1]

what a wonderful video! too bad we can't see the original cast in the original production. This was wonderful, though.

[MusicalLover6]

CHITA! You fierce bitch! God, I want to be her age and being able to move like she does. That's hot. :D

This is an amazng thing. Thanks for putting it up! :D

[jbdumont]

that's the most thrilling video I've ever seen on youtube. Thank you so much for posting it.

[RachelSzmed]

This is wonderful. How thrilling to be a part of such a wonderful event!

[Kath13669]

To steal a line from Nathan Lane;"If You Got it Flaunt it!"

[martynchodancer]

AMAZING!!!!

[booksandbroadway]

AAAAHHHH Amazing video!!!! I'm making a magazine on musical theater (stupid project) and while doing research I stumbled on this video and I love it! It's so hard to find footage of the actors from the original cast.

[littlepyro13]

why don't you just use their websites or email them. I can give you some of the west side story actor emails from the 1960 movie if you like. just don't harass them. none of them are very technologically inclined.

[booksandbroadway]

Thank you so much but I turned in the project ages ago! You have no idea how much I appreciate that though.

[Lala2616]

This really made me smile but made me sad at the same time. How wonderful to see those actors getting the respect they deserve. Here they are performing such legendary songs that so many years ago they introduced to the world!

[lightscameraaction24]

chita's still got it... amazing

[janecz]

Meu Deus, isto foi ABSOLUTAMENTE FAN-TÁS-TI-CO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ladymusiq]

That was absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!

[voncheezy]

wow the thin chick in the middle is hot

[Haileelynn]

BEAUTIFUL!

[MajorBarbara1955]

Wow. I haven't read all the comments on this ... but I can't be the only one watching the dancers interact and thinking, "who's that woman - I mean, I've seen that woman ... " Except, of course, much better adjusted!

[Izzy2002g]

how was the preview??? Im going to new york next week and this is show is on my list of shows to see before i die list!! how was it?!

[shirleek]

Thanks for posting the West Side Story Reunion on YouTube. It was fabulous! It was great to see the original cast members performing again. What a moving experience! You are a fantastic dancer! What are the names of the other young dancers? What is the name of the young blond dancer in the grey hoodie and black pants with white stripes? He has a terrific smile.

Thanks again and all the best in your future performances!

[iodine125]

Fantastic! Thanks so much for posting and good luck to you :D

[filmbuff000]

Marvelous, wonderful! Thanks!

[BEVERYCUMMINS]

You sharing this means so much . I have breathed this musical . I was born at the right time to have loved it for 50 years. I was 6 when I first heard this music. It is unequaled .

[chorleyboy4]

This is brilliant, thanks for posting. It must have been a fantastic experience to be working alongside the original cast. Are you one of the dancers?

[hrubygirl]

Wow, that was so awesome!!!! Looks like y'all had such a blast!!!!

[Theoz69]

I was in the Lincoln Center revival. This puts me so much in mind of it!Nice to think back!

[smilegrrrrrl]

Wow, really cool!

-Francis, you're a hottie

-I like how Chita Rivera has a name tag--like anyone there would NOT know who she is!

-Kind of sad to see Carol Lawrence not hit any high notes anymore!

-Really cool to see so many originals

Thanks for posting!

[jazii2bad]

wonderful. you all have a wonderful dance coriografy (or how ever u spell it l0l XD) ur great KD

[sugarhoneyicedtea123]

choreography

[jazii2bad]

y does everyone on here gotta make fun of my spelling goodness l0l

[hankm77]

Who's the hot jet in the green tshirt and blue pants with white stripe?

[hankm77]

totally agree, anyone know who he is?

[54spiritedwill54]

This brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful tribute.

[bethnor]

you can actually see some of the young jets getting verklempt during "tonight." priceless!

[lds7778]

Chita Rivera has still got it!

[gogo245]

Tht is soo cool!

[Juzinhagil]

BRAVO !!!

[wannabe1491]

This has got to be the most amazing thing I've ever seen. 1st favorited video!

[broadwayadict]

chita could still keep up with them and still can all these years later

[losecontroltv]

love theater. love ti all. but this is disappointing. i understnad the whole grets doign their thing but latino si latino and white si white. bottom line.

[xNooshx]

i have no idea what you are trying to say

[newsmaninla]

Thank you for posting this. I'm not a performer but love musical theater because of this show. It was the first one I ever saw back in 1957 as an 11th grade student at Lafayette HS in Brooklyn. Our entire English class attended a performance and then had the opportunity to meet the cast. That experience changed my life and gave me a love of live musical theater. Truly great memories.

[scareolyn]

This is so awesome! West Side Story is my favorite musical! I just recently bought the soundtrack for the original 1957 Broadway cast- so this is amazing! You're awesome- thanks for posting this!!

[randomuser1105]

Wow, I should have read the info. For some reason, I thought this was the 1961 version.

[vamplover2580]

supurb

[chocolatcats]

I have such envy for their talent and singing abilities. Supurb

[chocolatcats]

this is great

[Syliplayer]

Holy shit, i love it!

[XxNLP92xX]

thats amazing i love it :)

[broadwaybabi91]

I'm crying right now. Seriously.

I love her

[toolboxmusic]

oh my goodness that is so amazing thank you so much for posting this, really, thrilling!!

[tubesterini]

LOVED the video! Thank you so much for posting. Best musical EVER...and to see many from the original cast performing scenes with new Broadway performers was thrilling. THANKS.

[imaphanxx]

Wow how they all can still perform this over FIFTY YEARS LATER is amazing! What a peformance this must have been!

[eldiran2]

It must be the most ENERGETIC show ever produced...! The music and dancing are phenomenal!

[evans54]

Chita is Amazing!

[showersinger34]

she will never cease to astound the world.

[lionelvillahermosa]

''exelent''

[ruralclick]

thought this was amazing, i have seen the film and seen it on stage many times, still great, but seeing this was a great delight, i am going to send it to my mum in australia she is 75 and saw it on the stage with the original cast, what a treat for her!

kate

[AreWeOverTheRainbow]

Is Tony Mordente in this? What is he wearing?

[digitalseas]

Tony is the one in the burgandy turtleneck.

[Ba101]

This is great!

Thank you for this video.

[9aspengold5]

FrancistheGreek can you list the names of the original stars in this video? I can identify only a few.

[ruralclick]

me ditto!

[christinedaae87]

the man in the blue shirt at the start that walks across is he the original bernardo? xxx

[9aspengold5]

don't think so.

[Rosey212]

This is a national treasure and I hope you guard it with your life!!!! Thank you so much for posting it. Tears and goosebumps!!

[roseaterosen]

ok i know th si sis sissy. but i did cry when i watch this video. it is sooo touching !!

[handmiadenofgod]

Performing with them would be a dream come true!

[handmiadenofgod]

Its unspeakably cool that you were a part of this. I fell in love with the play from the first time I saw it, thank you so very much for posting this. Performing arts rock!

[CardboardCreative]

Chita!

My drama teacher came rushing towards me this morning with delight written on her face to talk about this.

Thanks a lot for posting (and congrats for being apart of it), it's really appreciated.

[harrietamidala1691]

you were part of the ensemble for the Gypsy of the Year? Cool! wish I was a dancer. also from your list, did you know that tony mordente also appeared in the movie version as action? There is also a video of the actual performance. I saw it but this is better because you can see the performers better.

[greygardens79]

Thank you for posting this because I absolutely have a great fondness of this show. Seeing Chita and Carol was pure joy. I will never forget them.

[thegorn68]

Hope I'm just alive when I get to my seventies much less dance like Rivera! Amazing!

[mbe1234567]

I cannot stop watching this!!! OMG!!! I love these people...

[jakemoviedog]

This brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful tribute. Thanks for posting.

[joacogimeno]

I have fallen in love with the red head in the black. I really have.

[buzzaki]

Thanks for posting. Watching this made my day.

[Signedpeach]

Incredible :))))

[Mischa2211]

this must have been a lot of fun.

[mischkacharly999]

uiiiiiii, really great! ^o^ fantastic xDDDD

[QueensLadyDay]

Bravo!

[ualflygal]

OUTSTANDING!!!

[raygrist226]

Fabulous!! Wonderful!!

[crimsontearslikerain]

Holy crap. Anita was amazing.

[jtcarey2]

that is the incomparable Chita Rivera who just turned 75 on January 23, 2008. She is truly a B-Way legend.

[siamdesperado]

Fantastic... too bad Larry Kert wasn't still around to make it perfect.

[tappity]

Ohmyohmyohmyohmy the ending. Oh thank you so much!

[SalemVaykioLavaunch]

wow this was really great thank you

[laurenfortgang]

Francis-

What a treat!

(You look wonderful.)

x

L

[dzurbri]

This is one of the most valuable things on YouTube! THANK YOU for posting it.

[rawdawgginry]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting this.

[brainfreeze972]

Thank you SO much for posting this video up. It was amazing to watch the whole cast and Chita do all their dancing.

[carlosfleca]

alem de fazer parte disso, ver a chita rivera brincando...é demais!!! arrazou no video. leça

[921144666]

they ended with the Quintet! classic!! thanks for uploading this!!

[broadwaybabee]

Chita is invincible. This is the best thing I have ever watched on youtube. Breathtaking.

[EclecticPkm]

Terrific that was an amazing video, and thats what youtube is for, thanks for posting, that was truly moment that couldn't have been lost

[skippershe]

I'm so glad I found this video! Thanks for posting it. My dad is Michael Callan, (He went by Mickey Calin back then and played the part of Riff). It's so fun to watch him perform again after all this time. Thanks again!

[Actrhndprnt]

What a thrill to see the modern marvel Chita Rivera and the ever-glowing Carol Lawrence and so many other stage veterans among the energizing young hopefuls! This is why I love being an actor and feel so privilaged to trod upon the STAGE.

What a wonderful gift to all of us this holiday season..

Michael Taylor Gray

[djwild11]

Icredible! What wonderful goosebumps this gave me.

[BalletBabyBoy]

How fantastic to see these people! WONDERFUL!

[cceniti]

Francis, I was so happy to see you in this video living your dream and being able to dance with the original cast of W.S.S. You're a really great and amazing person, never lose that. I am coming to New York sometime next year to visit.

[BaggyJeansBoy]

Oh Francis - I love watching you dance!!

-Adolpho

[amybrewhaha]

FRANCIS! AMAZING! I was at the show today and was in tears the whole time...especially the finale, how wonderful!!

Take care, Amy

[gr8ver]

Thank you so much for sharing this! It's such a monumental event to have on film!

[bwaystar88]

INSPIRATIONAL

[mamie4]

I can't get to NY to see this but I'll be one of the first to buy the video. This is absolutely fantastic!

[bwaylvsong]

Wow, it's amazing how great they sound at their ages!

[crayonjoy]

that was incredible.

gave me chills!

[mitchellivers]

I worked on the 1980 revival, and many of the original cast and creators were around to help put it together. Thank your for posting this. It made me weep.

[Littledancer729]

This video was incredible. Thank you so much for posting it.

Marilyn D'Honau was my ballet teacher this past summer- love her!

And I'm not sure if you remember me, but you taught me at Camp Broadway a few summers ago.

Hope you are well! I wish I was in New York to see this performed at Gypsy of the Year!

[AvalonMorley]

Wonderful! Thank you so much for this. What a joy this must be for everyone involved--once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing for the younger performers. In the description, there's a tiny flub (perhaps due to exhaustion from rehearsing?) on the song title "I Feel Pretty" (I know you know that). Have a great time performing this (is the show tonight?). Wish I could come see it.

[wperez]

wow that was awesome. what a rush of feelings.

[mprmike]

Amazing. Thank you!!

[CAROLKL]

Thank you sooo much for posting this! Sor terrific!

[ryanglitter]

amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing

Francis, you're amazing for posting this!