West Side Story Revival

One of Broadway’s most powerful and familiar musicals returned home March 19. “West Side Story,” which originally opened in 1957, was finally revived after almost 50 years and is by far my favorite thing of the year.

Directed by original librettist Arthur Laurents, the show was especially magical because it was my first Broadway performance. Bernstein and Sondheim’s score has enchanted me since high school, so finally seeing my favorite musical gave me chills.

Jerome Robbins’ choreography was even more exciting on stage than in the 1961 film adaptation, and numbers like “The Dance at the Gym” and “Cool” still vividly replay in my mind today. Karen Olivo stole the show as the sassy Anita, but the beautiful Josefina Scaglione from Argentina played Maria and captivated my heart more than that of Tony, played by Matt Cavenaugh. The 30-year-old Cavenaugh was not as young and energetic as the rest of the cast, and his singing on the revival cast verges on bothersome.

Nonetheless, the revival of “West Side Story” is way at the top of my list. If you’ll be in New York soon, reserve your tickets at the Palace Theatre as soon as possible. If you can’t make it to the show, Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise’s film and either the original or revival Broadway cast recordings would make great Christmas gifts both for yourself and others.