West Side Story Company. © Carol Rosegg 2012
This weekend, the stage at the Fabulous Fox Theatre will feature one of the most iconic love stories in the musical theater canon. Four performances of Arthur Laurents’ West Side Story will take place from January 3 through 5, with 8 p. m. shows on Friday and Saturday, a 2 p. m. matinee on Saturday, and a 1 p. m. matinee for the final performance on Sunday.
West Side Story has thrilled audiences in all venues from Broadway stage to the silver screen. This new touring production is based on Laurents’ reworked direction from 2009, and promises to deliver even more intensity and honesty than before.
The tour’s young cast helps to deliver the energy required for such an ambitious and emotionally charged show. Maryjoanna Grisso is playing Maria in her second season of this tour.
“It is a young group, and they are amazing,” says Grisso. “Everyone has so much energy; everyone is so talented. It’s just a lot of fun to be with people who are so enthusiastic and excited to be a part of it, and it’s that energy that keeps us going as we travel for eight months.”
Though some performers may find a challenge in presenting a show that is so well known, Grisso finds it rewarding. “I like that people are familiar with the material and then we kind of surprise them with the stage version.” She continues, “Of course, our version is the revival that opened in 2009 on Broadway. People know the songs, and they know the story, but this revival has been enhanced in so many ways to make it a little more gritty, a little more harsh, a little more honest and they’ve also added in a little splash of Spanish, which is great because it just adds to the authenticity of these characters, because they’re from Puerto Rico.”
She and the cast are very invested in this production, and they’re very excited to be presenting the show in a new way to audiences. She encourages everyone to come, whether they know the show or not.
“Come in with an open heart and an open mind, and to be prepared to have [your] socks knocked off,” says Grisso. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s and incredible story of how love has to survive in a world of hate and racism and that’s just something that’s so relevant to today and to so many people in so many different ways, that I think people can just come and be prepared to feel incredible emotions and to really be moved.”
Find more information about the show at westsidestoryontour.com. The Fabulous Fox Theatre is located on 527 N. Grand. Find ticketing and showtime information, visit fabulousfox.com.
