UCLA Musical Theater Workshop takes on a legend

Jessica Warren
Published: Thursday, January 22, 2004

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.