Monday, January 19, 2009

West Side Story Review in Variety


Well you don't get much better reviews than the one they published in VARIETY. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this show that holds a special place in my heart. I did a tour of this show a while back and it was an incredible experience. It was directed by one of the original cast members, Alan Johnson, and it was the first time a director demonstrated to a cast that every word, every dance step, every high note was written by the authors with a specific acting intention. This is not a show to use your own musical riffs (no pun intended), show off your own dancing style (stop popping the hip, Cassie), or improv your acting. It is all on the page so just don't screw it up. Who'd have thought that journey would actually be freeing as an actor? No worries about if you're "feeling" it or not, just do it! And when it is done right there is no other show like it.

The show opens in NYC in February and we'll see if the NYC critics love it as much as VARIETY did! I hope so.

dreampeddler

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