WEST SIDE STORY - FRESH TAKE ON AN AMERICAN CLASSIC

Grover Dale's inventive production proves you don't a million dolars to make a show look good. See what he did with less than $10,000. More vids like this are available on answers4dancers.com.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• West
• Side
• Story
• Grover
• Dale
• Lyric
• Stage
• Broadway
• musicals
• Answers4dancers.com
• musical
• theatre
• Jerome
• Robbins
• Leonard
• Bernstein
• Stephen
• Sondheim
• Arthur
• Laurents

[LaMisereHQ]

Each musical has its focal points/strengths. For WSS, it definitely lies in choreography + music w/ original orchs. Not sure if JR's choreography was used here but cast's infectious energy goes a long way.

But, to be fair to the original + subsequent revivals, WSS never was a scenic spectacle and never much more elaborate than this. The use of multi-colored doors here is directly taken from the original production, so is the use of movable stairs. Still, congrats to this cast and director.

[groverd]

@LaMisereHQ I played 'Snowboy' in the original B'way production, and there were no movable stairs or graffiti-covered doors used. The scenic approach seen here is nothing like the original.

[greenemerald152]

where is this?

[groverd]

Carpenter Hall in Irving, Texas...just outside of Dallas.

[conewells]

Dude, how'd you pull off the camwork w/o being caught?

[groverd]

I asked for permission first...

[LaMisereHQ]

@LaMisereHQ Oops, forgot to post the link to the photo.

Double oops, so u can't post links in the comments section, eh? Grrr.

If you want to see the picture, go to Life.com; enter "Chita Rivera" in the "Find Photos" field on the top left; you'll see a "Chita Rivera Photos" section containing 193 pictures. The pic I'm referring to features dancers Chita Rivera and Liane Plane during the number "America," click last page of results--pg. 34 and it should be the last pic there.

[LaMisereHQ]

@groverd There were a series of multi-colored doors in original. It's cool when elements of original are incorporated into a new take. Here's a picture of the original, showing partial view of said doors behind Chita Rivera & the other dancer. Apologies if it seemed I was implying the director is lying about his original approach--not at all. I just pointed out similarities. I wouldn't have said congrats if that were the case, hehe.

[groverd]

@cassielombardo Thanks Cassie...it's been in my blood for 53 years...it was good to get it out...and up on a stage!

[vivanigirl]

i watched it in bremen, it was just WOW!

[Kaileo1]

Hmmm..... great production, but Tony seems a bit chunky, eh?

[skeever]

Hear hear. Grover knows this show inside and out and can stage it beautifully. No set is needed is the actors are great.

[slickqfoo22]

though it's true you don't need a huge budget to make a show look good, it's all on the performers, who are great in this video. having a minimal set makes the audience focus primarily on the actors and their performance. either way, big set or no set at all, that actors make a show look good. great video.