[superdave]

I just got done doing West Side Story-- we had an overwhelming response. So much it was held over for extra weekends. What I cant understand is why? WSS is a good musical, and has some good songs in it. But it by far, has not been my favorite musical to be part of. A lot of the dialouge is way too cheezy and badly written. Some of the songs (ie almost every song Tony and Maria sing) are long and drawn out--almost to the point of bringing the audience to boredom.
So that left us with the Jets and the Shark Girls as being the high moments of the show.
And it was no suprise that any time we would hear high yelling in approval after "The Jet Song" and "America".
Although this show is a holy show in the biblical cannon of Musical Theatre-- As a performers aspect, it left me feeling really unsatisfied.
--anyone feel like this?

(I was A-rab, btw)

[Baker]

Oddly, I had the opposite experience. I had a blast doing the show but it was one of the worst-selling shows our theatre has ever seen.

[Robinflamingo]

I think it depends on the demographics of your audience, too. I am over 50, and I don't find the dialogue cheesy at all, because it's from my youth. And it's one of those musicals everyone knows that's NOT super sappy R&H fare. I would go see it

[audreydarling]

just out of curiosity what parts did you play. superdave and baker?

west side story is certainly a good show...and i don't think it's cheesy at all.....it may seem so because it is a modification of romeo and juliet...which i guess some people find cheesy....but it all depends on personal preferance i guess.

i've never done the show but it is one of my favorites...and i hope to one day be in the show.....the dancing is superb and what drives the show along with the intensity....if the show is done right...not cheesy at all. but that's just my opinion.

[superdave]

Its not that WSS is bad...it's just that its not the greatest musical I have ever worked on. I think mainly in part, is I was really bored with my character. I mean, it just is not fun to say "Cracko-Jacko" a million times, or not even sing a song --but oh well. I digress, it's over.

It was one of the top grossing shows the theatre has seen. We had so much hype for it, though.

[Catherine]

At least you got to sing! You got the shrink in Krupke, thats cool. Try being a Jet Girl.
I still loved doing it though.

[superdave]

That was sort of fun... I copied the movie and did it in a German accent...it worked well for it.