CAROL LAWRENCE REVISITS WEST SIDE STORY
Oח Sept 26, 1957, tһе dance world changed forever. Jerome Robbins’ landmark musical opened аt tһе Wintergarden Theatre οח Broadway. A cast οf 32 dancers, fοr tһе first time іח history, stepped up tο tһе task οf singing, dancing, аחԁ acting аƖƖ οf tһе roles. Few, іf аחу οf tһеm, һаԁ bееח heard οf previously. Chita Rivera һаԁ bееח seen wіtһ Sammy Davis Jr. іח “Mr. Wonderful” аחԁ Carol Lawrence wаѕ a featured tap dancer іח a revue called “Nеw Faces Of 1953.” Today, along wіtһ Larry Kert’s “Tony” аחԁ Michael Callan’s “Riff,” tһеіr performances аѕ “Anita” аחԁ “Maria” remain аmοחɡ tһе finest tһаt Broadway һаѕ еνеr seen. Recently, Carol surveyed a scrapbook belonging tο another West Side alumni, Grover Dale. (Hе played “Snowboy”) Tһе conversation reveals: 1. Original title οf WSS wаѕ “Gang Way.” 2. Tһе Jet Song аt tһе top οf tһе ѕһοw replaced another song called “Shoot Mе Tο Tһе Moon.” 3. George Chakiris played “Riff” іח tһе London production before winning аח Oscar playing “Bernardo” іח tһе film. 4. Dancers’ pay іח 1957 wаѕ a week. 5. Bу 2007, іt’s risen tο 09 a week. [less]
Video Rating: 4 / 5
This is absolutely fascinating and so interesting. What a wonderful lady and singer and dancer Carol is. And now I find out she has worked with the greatest male dancer I’ve ever known, Garrett Minniti. Wayne L.
so sweet. thanks for posting.
Carol never changes! She is an enthusiastic, sincerely, lively and lovely as always. She’s truly absolutely in love with show business, with life and with people and she’s still sharp and perceptive, warm and entrancing. She also wrote what I feel is the best cookbook anyone ever has done, “I Remember Pasta.” I live about seven minutes from where she grew up in Melrose Park, Illinois, where she is still the talk of the town! She obviously adores Grover Dale but who doesn’t?
She is still fabulous. An american treasure. This is a joy to watch especially for those of us who love musical theater.
Thank you!
This was really special. I first saw Ms. Lawrence on Saved by the Bell as a kid and was bowled over later on when I realized she was the original Maria. I was always floored that she didn’t get a lot of major roles after the ’60s.
And I agree with other posters–if you haven’t written down your memories, you and the remaining bunch from the original production should!
That was pure gold. Thank you so much.
Please write a book about what happened behind the scenes . At least record your memories if you have not already . Generations will thank you
Someday I’ll summon the nerve to tell the backstage stories that have never seen the light of day. We were so bad. No wonder they cast us as gangmembers.
Oh my gosh! That is so cool! She is precious! And you are precious for having this video and being on youtube, Mr. Dale!
Carol almost got there. Rehearsals for Ravinia got in the way. Next time.
Carol Lawrence gave a fine one woman show at Ravinia last month(8/08)- singing and dancing her heart out at 76!- I was lucky enough to go backstage to meet her(and her guest artist, Lee Roy Reems). Very sweet lady – I mentioned this video and told her how cool it was- now it is not here? Hey Grover, did she come to see your show?? Also met her son Christopher Goulet, who was very supportive of his beautiful mom…
I absolutely love Carol Lawrence! Just finished reading her autobiography “The Backstage Story”, and had no idea of her extremely difficult private life. She still shines like a million-watt star on the cast albums for “West Side Story”, “Saratoga” and “Subways Are for Sleeping”, plus her “Tonight at 8:30″ solo album (and all four routinely get spins on my CD player!).
Oh, and BTW, I’m 26 years old!
Oops. Forgot the location…the Lyric Stage is ten minutes from the Dallas airport.
Small world dept: The day after you see Carol Lawrence at Ravinia…she might fly down to Dallas the next day to see the opening night of a West Side Story production that I’m directing at the Lyric Stage.
Wow, that’s so cool! I’ve listened to the soundtrack of the original broadway as well as the movie. I love it so much. I love West Side Story!
thanks for the reply, Grover Dale – awesome to speak to you. You should have been in the WSS film version – were you considered?
Carol Lawrence is coming here to the Chicago area to do her one woman show at Ravinia – I plan on seeing that!despite the high cost.
Just wish Larry Kert was still with us – I thought that he was very underrated – wish he had done more tv & film….
The best memories of all can be seen on this vid “West Side Story / 50 years later”. Check it out. In a few days I’m posting a vid of a Japanese production of WSS I saw in Kyoto.
OMFUnkyG that is so freaking cool!
Yep. When you’re a jet you’re a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dyin’ day.
this is wonderful – great to see Carol and hear Grover talking WSS – would love to hear more memories
Wait…you’re the original Snowboy?
Wow, I can’t believe that this doesn’t have any comments! This is so cool! You can tell they had a great time doing this and that they had a great time putting on the show all those years ago. And they remember everything so vividly. It’s great.