UCLA Musical Theater Workshop takes on a legend

When remembering the classic musical “West Side
Story,” the image that pops into most people’s heads is
probably the dance-fighting sequence between the Jets and the
Sharks, who finger-snapped their way into theater lore.

The tight pants will be dusted off tomorrow night at 8 in
Schoenberg Hall as the UCLA Music Theater Workshop sheds new light
on an old favorite with its rendition of Jerome Robbins’
award-winning production.

“I’m doing (the musical) a little (more)
post-modern, a little edgier and more abstract,” said
director John Hall. “Perhaps when (the audiences) see it,
“˜expressionistic’ will be a term that comes to
people’s minds. It’s a new take on it.”

There are limitations when working in college theater as opposed
to a big-budget Broadway production. Yet, limited resources and
fear of producing a carbon copy of the original have enhanced
everyone’s creativity.

“”˜West Side Story’ is a masterpiece, and it
has a lot of baggage,” said Hall. “To try to live up to
people’s expectations of one of their favorite scores is very
difficult.”

With a cast and crew of 80 people, this is perhaps the biggest
student production of the year. Pulling off a performance of this
size requires organization and familiarity among the cast members.
This was established last quarter, when the performers auditioned
and later attended Hall’s Music Theater Workshop.

However, even after the students got acquainted with each other
in class, they didn’t have much actual preparation time.

“We didn’t start getting on the stage and really
going until we got back from break,” said Ryan Scott Oliver,
a third-year music composition student who plays the lead role of
Tony. “When we normally do shows, we usually have until
February, but this year we had to do it in the middle of January
because of scheduling.”

For Hall, who has been directing at UCLA for over 30 years and
has over 117 titles to his credit, a few weeks difference pales in
comparison to a lifetime waiting to do “West Side
Story.”

“Sometimes in the past, I’ve had the cast that could
do it, but maybe not the orchestra who could pull it off,”
said Hall. “Sometimes I’ve had the right dancers but
not the right singers. Now, I’ve just decided that I’m
an old man, I’ve got to take the risk, and we have to go with
what I’ve got.”

Music director Daniel Cummings, who received his masters in
choral conducting from UCLA and is currently working on his
doctorate of musical arts in conducting here as well, is very
excited to attach his name to this production. “The music in
this production is really incredible,” said Cummings.
“It approaches opera in terms of thematic unity.”

Due to the sheer magnitude and the relatively short preparation
time, these last few months have been extremely intense.

“It has been wonderful,” said Cummings. “But
when it’s over, I’m going to go out, have a drink, and
heave a big sigh of relief.”

“West Side Story” runs until Jan. 31. Tickets
are available by calling the UCLA Central Ticket Office at (310)
825-2101.