The New York Times praised the original Broadway production for drawing beauty from a horrifying subject, thanks to “a searching point of view.”
Six decades later, West Side Story and the nation continue to search for answers to bigotry and division.
“Our country, in a lot of different ways, is in need of being unified, with a good message of ‘love conquers all,’ and bringing it together,” said Cathy Roy, who directs this classic musical at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center, from June 2-4, 2017.
MPAC’s fifth annual spring production will feature more than 40 young performers, many from the theater’s performing arts school.
They also are learning from two Equity guest actors in leading roles: Scott McCreary (Dirty Dancing national tour, NBC’s The Sing-Off) as Tony, and Lauren Csete (West Side Story, Paper Mill Playhouse) as Anita.
Maria, the role made famous by Carol Lawrence on Broadway and by Natalie Wood in the 1961 film version, will be played by Drew University theater student Alessandra Le Pera.
‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’
West Side Story injects Romeo and Juliet into New York of the 1950s, between rival street gangs of Anglo and Puerto Rican teens. Roy insists she did not choose this musical to be preachy.
“It’s meant for artistic purposes, not for a huge political message. But we want people to go out feeling optimistic,” she said. “Our students are very passionate about making a difference in the world today. I think we can channel that.”
Yet the tragic storyline is not lost on her cast.
“This show has themes that are so relevant to what is happening right now,” Christian Harvey, a 17-year-old from Randolph who plays Action, an angry gang member, said on MPAC’s blog.
“People want to believe that we as a country have moved beyond racial discrimination but it’s still a real issue. There are still people who are scared to show themselves and this show addresses that,” Harvey said.
Jeff Lawless (Riff) said it’s “sad to say that many of these problems with racial and immigration relations still persist today, and it’s important to see such a diverse group of artists come together like this to create something special.”
West Side Story auditions, February 2017, slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin
‘WE EITHER BRING IT, OR WE FALL FLAT’
Roy has directed all of MPAC’s spring productions, starting with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2013). Next came Hairspray (2014), Les Miserables (2015) and Mary Poppins (2016).
Mary Poppins flew through the air via rented mechanical contraptions in last year’s $120,000 show. West Side Story has a larger orchestra but should cost closer to $100,000, Roy estimated.
No fancy gear this time: The cast must fly itself across the stage to Jerome Robbins’ muscular original choreography (adapted by Jayme Wappel) and the tricky rhythms of composer Leonard Bernstein.
Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for her film portrayal of Anita, reflected on the degree of difficulty for a DVD restoration of West Side Story. Most dancers work in beats of fours, sixes, or eights, she explained.
“Then along comes Leonard Bernstein with his 5/4 time, his 6/8 time, his 25/6 time. It was just crazy. It’s very difficult to dance to that kind of music, because it doesn’t make dancer sense.”
During auditions in February, Roy said she was looking for performers blending technical skill with charm, who could dance and sing in character. Dozens of young actors tried out; they only had about 45 minutes to learn complex dance routines.
“It’s hard,” said Rachel Levy (Rosalia) who at 18 is an MPAC veteran who has sung at the White House. “It’s a lot of breath support. When you leave the stage it’s like–uhh! But it’s so fun. If you love it, it’s the best time of your life.”
Christina Monticciolo, 21, of Long Valley, sang in Hairspray. She said dancing does not come as easily for her, either.
Morristown High School senior Nile Birch has appeared in several school productions and is a member of MPAC’s Performing Arts Company. He described this as a “high-energy, high-dancing” musical.
“Vocally, the performers need to stay with their natural sound while feeling comfortable with their meaning behind the music,” Santoro said in a statement. “If they don’t understand what they are singing about, then they cannot connect and be one with their character.”
And so, through dance and music, young MPAC actors this weekend will strive to find their own way of pulling off what the original cast of West Side Story achieved in 1957: Mining beauty from an ugly landscape.
“This musical shows that sometimes people just hate each other for the worst of reasons, like where you were born,” Alessandra Le Pera (Maria) said on the MPAC blog.
“So, I think the message is just learn to love one another. In the show, there is a Dream Ballet utopia where everyone loves everyone else. And it’s a beautiful world.”
West Side Story, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, Friday, June 2, 2017, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, June 3, at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, June 4, at 2 pm. Tickets: $20-25. At 100 South St., Morristown, 973-539-8008.