SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS: DAY 17 & 18 - WEST SIDE STORY: Then & Now

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies and subsequent seasons on Broadway with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

Now that we have passed the halfway point of our 31 Days of the 2011 Tony Awards, it is time to pull out the big guns: kicking off with a show that actually did not win Best Musical, but has certainly scored numerous awards for its original and revival productions over the years - most recently in 2009 with the show's original book writer, Arthur Laurents, directing the hit revival at the Broadway Theater and the revival's Anita, Karen Olivo, taking home a Tony for her fiery portrayal - WEST SIDE STORY. Though many are familiar with the show through its 1960 film version, which was co-directed by the original director/choreogapher of the Broadway version, Jerome Robbins, along with film director Robert Wise who knows a thing or two about musical film adaptations, given his unsurpassed work on THE SOUND OF MUSIC, it is the Original Broadway Cast Recording that hold the place as first cast album for many Broadway babies - and rightfully so, given that few scores have this many hits! "America" to "Dance At The Gym" to "Somewhere" and beyond, today we are partaking in the selections from WEST SIDE STORY that have graced the Tony Award telecasts over the years and maybe a surprise or two, too - plus, Hugh Jackman!

Tonight, Tonight & Tonyght

What can be said about WEST SIDE STORY that has not already been said? The combustible combination of super-director/choreographer Jerome Robbins with a story based on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet adapted to modern times by Arthur Laurents and outfitted with songs with music by none other than Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by a then-unknown Stephen Sondheim sounds like the recipe for theatrical manna. And, it was. Not that the critics at the time - or, furthermore, the Tony committee - recognized it as such. The film version, which stuck very closely to the stage play with the exception of adding boys to "America" and cutting the "Somewhere" ballet, went onto to win 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, which solidified the musical's place as an integral part of theatre history. The 1980 revival, supervised by Robbins, Bernstein, Laurents & Sondheim, was also a success, and Debbie Allen was awarded Best Featured Actress for her feisty performance as Anita. Then, again, almost thirty years later, Karen Olivo took home the Tony for the same role, proving that while Tony and Maria May be the heart of the show and Bernardo possesses all the menace, it is Anita who more often than not walks away with the audience. It is a star-making role, and having a featured spot in "The Dance At The Gym", one of the most memorable showstoppers of all time in "America" and, later, one of the most biting and bilious songs of hate and anger all too justified with "A Boy Like That", the character of Anita is written to score in a major way. And she does. Again and again.

First, we have the 1980 Broadway revival, so watch that year's Tony-winner for Best Featured Actress, Debbie Allen, leading an intense and energetic "America", using the original choreography as has always been done, even in 2009. What's with that synthesizer in the orchestration, though?

Now, check out Lin-Manuel Miranda - who collaborated with Stephen Sondheim on the newly-written Spanish lyrics for some of the songs in this controversially rewritten revival - introducing a performance of "The Dance At The Gym" at the 2009 Tony Awards, performed by the revival cast led by Karen Olivo, Matt Cavenaugh and Josefina Scaglione. Dance music on Broadway has never been better!

Now, here is Karen Olivo's heartfelt and, seemingly, truly unexpected, acceptance speech when she recently won for Best Featured Actress In A Musical, as introduced by John Stamos.

As a special bonus, for comparisons' sake check out Karen Olivo leading the ladies of the 2009 Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY in "America".

Now, try and decide what your opinion is of this bizarre duet of "Somewhere" performed by Hugh Jackman and Aretha Franklin as a tribute to Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday - although he only wrote the lyrics for this one, and he's oft said he is not particularly fond of them, at that rate, so I'm not sure who made this song selection at the 59th annual Tony Awards. "Just a little bit of time to spare"… really, 'retha? Really.

So, which do you prefer: Movie or stage version? Original or revival? 1980 revival or 2009 revival? All? Neither? It's up to you!

That's all for today. Be sure to stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for all things Tony Awards and subscribe to this column to be the very first to check out the clips, commentary and take part in the conversation in our deluxe toast to the one and only Antoinette Perry every day until June 12 - and, especially, on that day! Until then…