Broadway Beat Special: West Side Story Cast Reunites at Gypsy of the Year

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Beat are proud to bring you fantastic video from the emotional, inspiring and fantastic reunion of original West Side Story cast members at this year's Gypsy of the Year Competition, produced by and to benefit BC/EFA. This year, BC/EFA once again broke their own records, raising over $3.9 million dollars for this most-worthy cause.

This special opening number number is certainly one for the record books, with a medley featuring two time Tony Award winner, Chita Rivera (Anita) and her original West Side Story co-stars including Mickey Callan (Riff), Carol Lawrence (Maria), Ken LeRoy (Bernardo), Jamie Sanchez (Chino) and Reri Grist (Consuelo) who debuted the now classic ballad "Somewhere."

They were joined by cast members from the run of the 1957 landmark production including: Genii Charnin, Harvey Evans, Marilyn D'Honau, Alan Johnson, Gene Gavin, Ronnie Lee, George Marcy, Liane Plane, Martin Charnin, Grover Dale, Bill Guske, Ed Kressley, Sandy Leeds, Tony Mordente, Carole D'Andrea, Frances Davis, Lowell Harris, Julie Oser-McLeod, Noel Schwartz, and Gina Tricones. These legendary gypsies will be joined by gypsies from currently running shows.

The Gypsy of the Year opening number, which recreated the original Jerome Robbins choreography, was staged and directed by Joshua Bergasse with musical direction by Ben Cohn.

The Gypsy of the Year Competition is the event of fall theatre season as the New York theatrical community gathers to see "gypsies," chorus members from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, participate in a competition/variety show known as the Gypsy of the Year Competition. The competition is traditionally the culmination of intense fundraising efforts made by the theatrical community. During the recent Broadway work stoppage, many Broadway shows' fundraising efforts were interrupted.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund raising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American theater community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it's founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $140 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV and other related illnesses.

Broadway Beat, the popular weekly television program for and about the theatre world, right here on the web site. Broadway Beat is the premier, award-winning half hour television program covering theatre, music and performers. Each week, the show's popular and knowledgeable host, Richard Ridge, takes you behind-the-scenes for a look at the very best of New York Theatre - on Broadway, and beyond. The show always features beautiful footage shot by video veteran Bradshaw Smith. Now, in its 16th year, Broadway Beat takes you from the rehearsal studios to opening nights, including in-depth interviews with Tony Award winning stars and directors. Broadway Beat is your front row seat to all the music, all the magic, and all of the magnificent drama that is Broadway.