West Side Story-Historical Rehearsal-Original Cast members

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids' 19th Annual Gypsy of the Year competition, one of Broadway's most celebrated Fund Raising events, decided to make tribute to 50 years of West Side Story. They flew from all over the country 22 cast members of the Original 1957 Production and put together with young Broadway Gypsies a historical Opening Number.
This is the rehearsal at AEA audition auditorium on 12/16/2007 where the Young Broadway generation performs snipits of the legendary Jerrome Robins Choreography, and the original cast members join to creat one of the most moving and thrilling opening numbers of BC/EFA.
You will see Ken LeRoy (original Bernardo), Mickey Calin (original Riff) along with all original Jets performing the "Jet Song", Carol Lawrence (original Maria) performing "I am Prety", followed by Chita Rivera for their "A Boy like that" duet. Chita Dancers from "A Dancer's Life" do "the Dance at the Gym" with Chita and moving finale with all of us singing the "quintette"
Other original 1957 cast members are Jamie Sanchez (Chino) and Reri Grist (Consuelo).
Genii Charnin, Harvey Evans, Marilyn D'Honau, Alan Johnson, Gene Gavin, Ronnie Lee, George Marcy, Liane Plane, Martin Charnin, Grover Dale, Bill Guske, Ed Kressley, Sandy Leeds, Tony Mordente, Carole D'Andrea, Frances Davis, Lowell Harris, Julie Oser-McLeod, Noel Schwartz and Gina Tricones.
I am Francis Toumbakaris (AKA Francis the Greek) the guy with the green army shirt and I am honored to be part of such a great event!

Enjoy!!!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• performing
• arts
• West
• Side
• Story
• Original
• Cast
• 1957
• Gypsy
• of
• the
• Year
• Francis
• Toumbakaris
• AEA
• BC/EFA

[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

[RachelSzmed]

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

[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.

[secondeagle]

@TheStanbabe Also Larry Kert, who played Tony.

[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.