In the fall of 1957, the original production of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story opened in New York City.

Fifty years later, only a few states south, Chancellor John Mauceri and School of Drama Dean Gerald Freedman prepare to lead the NC School of the Arts in a much-awaited anniversary celebration of the acclaimed show. Starring students on the stage, in the pit, and behind the scenes, this realization of a dream years in the making will be performed entirely by students of all departments, truly making the musical a campus-wide affair.

As with any professional production, however, there must be publicity, and, last week, Mauceri and Freedman toted a group of students to New York for a full press event, advertising not only the show and performers, but NCSA itself.

Held in Times Square, the conference event was very well-attended, including representatives from Playbill, American Theatre, National Public Radio, and E! television network. Both Mauceri and Freedman spoke, and students Jordan Brown, Billy Magnussen, Nathaniel Mendez, Nicholas Galbraith, and Jenna Fakhoury were interviewed. A press packet was also distributed to promote the production.

The students performed in an early showcase, singing songs from the show, and Jordan Brown, who will play Tony, enjoyed the opportunity to work with Mickey Calin, who played the role of Riff in the original show.

Brown, a senior at NCSA called the experience "humbling" and spoke reverentially of Calin. "He was just wonderfully gracious," Brown said a few days after the trip, obviously still enraptured by the encounter. Calling Calin a "gentleman's gentleman", Brown enjoyed a peek into living history of the show, while also catching the attention of observers at the event. When asked how he feels to be playing Tony in the approaching performances, Brown giddily replied that he is "ecstatic", and excited to work with Mauceri and Freedman. It is a process "two years in the making" he explains, reminiscing on his sophomore year, when he initially began to work on songs from West Side. Though he was not quite the star then that he is becoming today, he was quick to remind me that his vocal growth didn't happen overnight, and without acting teacher Freedman and voice coach Greg Walter, who systematically guided his vocal development, he wouldn't be the musical performer he is now.

Fakhoury, though on the cast list for West Side, was originally in New York because of the PLUCK project. She joined her fellow castmates on Monday for a warm-up with Freedman before they were to perform scenes from the show. She expected the atmosphere to be "relaxed", and it was... until a "media frenzy, including NBC, CBS, and NPR representatives" swarmed upon them. Mauceri and Freedman sent the student performers off to various interviews, attempting to "guide the ship" through what could have been a stressful, nerve-racking situation for the students. At the event, Fakhoury and Natasha Galiano performed "America" from the score, a slide show which focused on the audition process at NCSA was on display, and the crowd of performers, professionals, and media enjoyed a showing of the prologue to the movie.

Though this production is a fiftieth anniversary celebration of the original, it will not be in any way identical. Writer Arthur Laurents, who authored the original show, has decided to modify portions of dialogue, though he won't ruin the surprise by saying which. He has wanted to do this for some time, and now has the opportunity to see his alterations in action. Mauceri will conduct the pit orchestra, which will begin rehearsals soon, and Freedman will direct the performers on the stage.

As NCSA students prepare for final exams and the upcoming spring-break, something much bigger is capturing the thoughts, energies, and attention of the campus, proving that the classic musical translation of a Romeo and Juliet romance will remain timeless. Already, the familiar sounds of snapping fingers and familiar melodies pervade the atmosphere, only to grow stronger as April quickly approaches.

Pictures:
Top: West Siders in New York. From left to right: Jordan Brown, Jenna Fakhoury, Chancellor John Mauceri, Nate Mendez, Gary Nicholas Galbraith, Drama Dean Gerald Freedman, Billy Magnussen, Mickey Calin (original Riff)

Bottom: Jamie and Alexander Bernstein, daughter and son of Leonard Bernstein.
Photos courtesy of Bruce-Michael Gelbert for Q on Stage.com.

Middle: An Artist's rendering of the WSS set. Howard Jones, scenic designer.

permanent link: http://www.kudzugazette.com/mar1207/wss.php