![]() it’s really just a dream come true.” And despite the admitted difficulties of accessing some of the darker feelings in the role, Fulks says she has felt consistently stronger, less inhibited, more in control of her range of emotions, at each rehearsal. So to be able to sing this beautiful music, to be able to bring this character to life-she experiences the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, all in two and a half hours. As a 13-year-old voice student many years ago, one of the first songs that I sang was ‘Somewhere’ from ‘West Side Story.’ And I grew up watching the movie with my friends. ![]() You have to be very vulnerable.”īut, she adds, “I know it may sound a little clichéd, but it really is a dream come true! Maria is such an iconic role. You really just have to access some of the darkest parts of you as a person, and then portray those onstage. ![]() accessing these emotions that aren’t pretty, that are often very ugly actually. In the second half of the show it’s very difficult-you really have to access this very raw, primal energy. Maria is interesting because she’s very young, innocent, in many ways naïve, very idealistic. This is Genevieve Fulks’s first time performing Maria, and she says she told Lorianne Dunn, “I feel this is the most difficult role I’ve had to play as an actress. So the stars aligned to do it this season.” Dunn says Musical Director Susan Gravatt is excited to have a relatively large instrumental ensemble for this show. “This is the 60 th anniversary, and the centennial of the composer, Leonard Bernstein. So although I’m responsible for staging the production, I do have people around me to help with the work, and to help coach and guide.” And it’s definitely a show of both size and complexity, with a cast of 56 and an orchestra of about 15 players-who will be on-stage in this production, at the back of the stage but still a definite “presence,” says Dunn. I’ve also incorporated a couple of ‘dance captains’: Angie Black and Lysander Abadia. Jessica Palmer has come in as an acting coach on the show. But you still surround yourself with a really great team. We talked about this production with director and choreographer Lorianne Dunn, and singer-actress Genevieve Fulks, who plays the female lead Maria.Īsked if she finds it easier or more difficult to wear both hats, stage director and choreographer, on a show the size and complexity of “West Side Story,” Lorianne Dunn unhesitatingly declares, “I find it easier, because you have the through line (of the entire show). Tony, best friend to the leader of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, sister of the Sharks’ leader. Two idealistic young lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs in mid-20 th-century New York City: the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Springfield Little Theatre will open 2018 with the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical "West Side Story," Jan.19-Feb.4 at the Landers Theatre.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |