Happy birthday, George Chakiris

Dance · Film
One of dance’s smoothest operators, a suave and velvety mover whose smoldering good looks propelled him to stardom — and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1962 — George Chakiris, born in Ohio, reared in California, celebrates a significant birthday today. Dance Magazine Editor Wendy Perron calls Chakiris “the sexiest dancer on film ...

Mambo!

Music · Theater
I enjoyed interviewing Kelly Todd, the choreographer of the vivacious production of West Side Story on now at the Chance Theater in Orange County. Read my piece in the Los Angeles Times. While you are reading … listen up! Like this? Read more … Movie musical talk with George Chakiris Line up the geniuses: West ...

Chakiris, Tamblyn, Moreno cement their memories @ Grauman’s 1

Dance · Film · Theater
A touching trio of memories left behind at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on November 15, 2011, as three “West Side Story”‘ stars join the Hollywood ritual and deposit paws and hooves in cement. Long live the dancers! Like this? Read more: Enjoy arts·meme‘s “West Side Story” thread

Something’s coming … tonight at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, “West Side Story” 50th birthday party

Dance · Film
1961 marquee In a great American pas de deux, George Chakiris partners Rita Moreno in “Dance at the Gym.” Co-choreographer Peter Gennero added sizzle to Robbins’s choreography in this number, so says dance-in-film historian Larry Billman. Jerome Robbins smiles.   Thank you Lynn Becker and Doc Macro for the WSS images.

Genius. West Side Story.

Dance · Film · Music · Theater
Just in from seeing “West Side Story” projected on big screen — my first such viewing (big screen) since who knows when … or maybe ever. What a great movie. Robbins’s choreography is so stellar, so wicked, so spot-on and thrilling; it’s even scary —  in “Cool.” The “America” number on the rooftop, beyond brilliant. ...

Russ Tamblyn, Jet

Dance · Film
Photo: Authenticated News/Getty Images Like this? Read more: TCM hosts nationwide screenings of the film classic November 9.

“West Side Story” 50th anniversary special screenings nationwide 8

Dance · Film
Robert Osborne, Marni Nixon, George Chakiris and Walter Mirisch discuss “West Side Story” at the TCM Classic Film Festival. Credit: Mark Hill / TCM NCM Fathom and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) are presenting The West Side Story 50th Anniversary Event in 400 cinemas nationwide Wednesday, November 9, at 7 pm local time.  The West Side ...

Something’s comin’, I dunno what it is, but it is, gonna be great! 1

Dance · Film
arts·meme Facebook pal Marcus Galante shares this crazy capture of a gangland ballet class on the set of the film, West Side Story. The commandant, Jerome Robbins. Now, we’ve seen ballet instructors wielding sticks, batons, no, not clubs, but sometimes microphones. The bullhorn’s a new one. [Click photo for detail.] Looking forward to the  big ...

Line-up of geniuses: West Side Story’s Broadway creative/production team

Dance · Music · Theater
The West Side Story Broadway production team in 1957: (l. to r.) lyricist Stephen Sondheim, scriptwriter Arthur Laurents, producers Hal Prince and Robert Griffith (seated), composer Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins. (click for detail) Thank you, songbook1, for posting this photo. Like this? Read more: Not a Jet, but still the swingingest thing: George ...

Still the swingingest thing: West Side Story’s George Chakiris

Dance · Film
A lot of ladies — and quite a few gents including American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Marcelo Gomes and the just-retired Jose Manuel Carreno — gawked as West Side Story star George Chakiris entered the Founder’s Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center. It was the opening night reception following ...