Classic shows from the ’50s and ’60s – the so-called golden age of musical theater – keep being revived and often given a directorial spin to add a new viewpoint or to fall more in line with contemporary attitudes. Think of the modern opening touch in the recent Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, the more Shavian ending wordlessly attached to My Fair Lady or the new, … [Read more...]
Maltz’s ‘West Side Story’ will reflect current anti-immigrant climate
Puerto Rico-born Marcos Santana has long admired the musical West Side Story, yet he finds it unbalanced. “The Jets definitely have more presence through the entire play than the Sharks,” he says, referring to the American street gang versus those who grew up in his native island. “I still love this show, but there was always something inside of me saying, ‘This … [Read more...]
Maltz makes first-rate show out of second-rate ‘Newsies’
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has demonstrated many, many times that it can produce a superlative show when it has worthy material. The harder task is to succeed with second-rate goods, but that is exactly what it is doing currently with its explosive, high-energy take on a so-so musical, Disney’s Newsies. Yes, adaptor Harvey Fierstein made some substantial improvements to … [Read more...]