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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
BREAKING NEWS: Stage version of ‘HSM 2’ in the works
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Disney’s ratings-busting “High School Musical 2” has been in circulation for less than a week, but the theatrical division of the family entertainment giant says a stage version is already in the making.
If you remember, Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars produced the world premiere of the professional stage production of “High School Musical” earlier this year. Disney Theatricals liked the show so much that it picked it up virtually lock, stock and barrel, and sent it out on a national tour, which recently opened in Chicago to good reviews.
“I’m developing it for stage, but the immediate plans for this adaptation will be determined by its merits,” says Steve Fickinger, Disney Theatrical’s vice president for licensing.
He said a theatrical version, targeted at amateur and school groups, will be ready by early 2008 but that a professional version is not an “immediate goal.”
“The bottom line is that the film is a smash and by the end of 2007, over 2000 schools and amateur groups will have performed the title. I want those same schools and groups to have the chance to perform ‘High School Musical 2.’ If it lands professionally again, that will be organic and simply be gravy.”
According to preliminary statistics, 17.24 million viewers caught the TV premiere of “High School Musical 2” on Friday, the biggest audience for any telecast in the history of basic cable television.
Supposing “High School Musical 2” does make it to the professional theater level, Fickinger says he’s not sure he’d pick Atlanta again for a world premiere.
“I don’t know that we’ll go with Theater of the Stars as a first step, as that’s a pretty big platform — literally — with which to begin,” he said of the 4,678-seat Fox Theatre.
“We do still love Chris and Nick [Manos],” he said of the Theater of the Stars father-and-son producing team, “and hope to have the chance to work with them in the future on a project yet to be identified.”
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‘West Side Story’ @ the Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Theater review. “West Side Story.” Grade: B. 8 p.m. tonight-Saturday. 2 p.m. Saturday. 1:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday. $20-$64. Theater of the Stars, Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Midtown. 404-817-8700, ticketmaster.com. Bottom line: Imagine “High School Musical” with Spanish accents, switchblades and passion. Glorious!
“West Side Story” starts with a swirl of dance and riotous color. “Something’s coming,” Tony sings. But he’s young and he’s not sure what. And then he goes to the dance at the gym, and there she is: Maria.
In Theater of the Stars’ new production of the classic, this is the moment when time stops. We all know that this gritty New York version of “Romeo and Juliet” will end tragically. But for a few whispery seconds, the bloody tale of the Jets and the Sharks takes on the sheen of dewy young love and nights that will last forever.
OK. Time for a wakeup call. Can you believe that “West Side Story” was your grandma’s answer to “High School Musical.”
But where Disney’s take on the white-guy-meets-Latin-girl story is saccharine and sweet, “West Side Story ” is sinister and sexy. It is virtually impossible to imagine Troy Bolton pulling a switchblade — or Gabriella Montez speaking in a thick Spanish accent. Please, Disney’s study-hall-crossed lovers had to wait for a sequel before they could even sneak a kiss.
But passion is the engine that drives “West Side Story” to its grim and inexorable conclusion. Fifty years after its creation, it remains the definitive look at how intolerance corrupts the American dream.
Like “High School Musical,” “West Side Story” can get a little preachy and message-driven. But it’s impossible to deny the vitality of Leonard Bernstein’s propulsive, street-smart score, Stephen Sondheim’s catchy lyrics and Jerome Robbins’ elegant ballets — all so smartly realized here by director Alan Johnson and his ensemble.
No matter how many times you have seen it, “West Side Story” still has the power to take your breath away.
Here, the magic happens anytime Tony (Nathan Scherich) and Maria (Sarah Darling) open their mouths — to sing or to kiss. Compared to swaggering Jets leader Riff (Leo Ash Evens) and sullen top Shark Bernardo (Michael Balderrama), Scherich is a dreamboat — a lost, love-struck boy whose angelic tenor compliments Darling’s lovely soprano.
Natascia Diaz’s perky Anita brings great comic zest, and Jack Aaron makes for a solid and dependable Doc.
On the design side, Leo B. Meyer’s scenery is not particularly exciting and downright shaky at times. But the outfits (credited to Kansas City Costumes Co.) are first rate — especially the hot pinks and red ruffles that typify the Sharks’ chicas. Ken Billington’s lighting, particularly for Act Two’s dream sequence, is soft and luminous.
But no matter how hallowed, “West Side Story” is not entirely perfect. For today’s audiences, its three-hour run time (including intermission) probably makes it a little soporific. The “Gee, Officer Krupke” sequence could probably be easily excised. And the first few spoken moments of Tuesday night’s opening seemed a little flat.
But when music is soaring and the skirts are flying, there’s nothing quite like it. If you happen to catch this glorious performance, you may find yourself swooning like Tony and Maria. Tonight, tonight.
