Photo credit: West Side Story Company
“West Side Story parallels some of my life,” Jarrad Birion Green who plays Tony in the musical playing at National Theatre told Hollywood on the Potomac. “Without the drug part, of course.”
“I am talking about the characters, age and where he is in his life. I consider it parallel to mine because when he is saying something is coming, he knows something greater is coming in his life, like a greater opportunity, like something that could help him prosper, mature more. I guess I feel like this is the first big thing for me, being at such a young age and close to Tony’s age. I feel like that’s where I am, at the same point. I’m thinking of something bigger right around the corner.”
Mary Joanna Grisso and Jarrad Biron Green
We asked if he was nervous: “Absolutely. I know that this role, since it’s such an iconic musical theater role to begin with, is very demanding vocally and acting-wise. I was lucky enough to do the role at NYU in a student production before I went and auditioned for this one. I’ve got a little bit under my belt at this point.”
“Doing it this many times on the road with the traveling schedule and everything has been pretty tough. I’m not going to lie,” he added. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience and a better task and a better role and a better show. Taking it on has not been easy. We had these challenges, but it’s been fun to explore new things in the role along the way.”
In 1961, movie star Natalie Wood played Maria in the Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise’s West Side Story film production which was a major success. It became the 2nd highest grossing film of that year; was nominated for 11 Academy Awards; and won 10, including Best Picture. She also died tragically off the coast of Catalina Island. The two in combination made us wonder if her performance, the movie, and the tragedy had any impact on the stage show. Did anybody feel a kind of presence …..so to speak.
“Our director wasn’t really a fan of the movie and how it portrayed the musical. This production has a new look. It’s based on the 2009 revival. It has more Spanish in it now. It makes the Sharks more authentic and levels the playing field for both the Jets and the Sharks,” he explained. “I guess it has a grittier sense to it, like a darker reality, a [greater] sensibility to the show now.”
“He didn’t want us to watch the movie and compare ourselves and try to mimic these famous actors who portrayed these roles before. He just wanted us to take it on individually and discover things on our own. Just take what we have with ourselves and bring personal experiences and stuff like that to the role, rather than trying to take bits and pieces from other actors’ portrayals of the role.”
Tell us about the audience. How do they react to the new version? “Most of the time, I would say 95-96% of the time, there is lots of energy coming from the audience, usually standing ovations. They love the show. It’s hard not to. The score and the dancing and this cast is absolutely, amazingly talented. I couldn’t ask for a better cast to be with. Usually, they’re highly responsive to what we’re giving them, although they may feel a little bit uncomfortable with the addition of more Spanish and some of the darker, mature things that have been enhanced in a way – expanded to make it more realistic. It’s like a PG 13 rating I guess you could say right now.”
“I actually don’t speak that much Spanish in the show,” he claimed regarding his linguistic skills. “Most of the Sharks do though. Most of the Sharks I think are very familiar with the language since they do speak it a lot and they add a little Latin Spanish.”
About the tour: “This tour has been the greatest learning experience I probably could ask for by doing the show over and over and over again. I guess I discover new things along the way with the role and the show. Since I’m used to just doing a show like 5, 6 times, doing this role over and over again has taught me how to take better care of my voice and my body and know what to do when I’m in trouble sometimes. I know how to adapt better now and I feel a lot stronger vocally. I know I have a better focus when it’s time to crack down and really get into the zone. I know how to just snap right into that now.”
“The national is an amazing venue, especially to have our closing weekend here because this is the place that had the pre-Broadway engagement of the original West Side Story. It’s an incredible place to close the show – to have an ending where it all began. That’s incredible!“
Looking forward: “I will be going to West Virginia to do a few shows in the summer, but right now I want to focus on going back to school,” he concluded. “I did take off a year of school to do this. I want to go back into the city and finish my last year off so I can get all my dance classes, audition classes, business skills classes out of the way. I’m hoping to just get back into the audition game starting in the Fall, probably auditioning for Broadway gigs and hopefully booking something soon.”
And if they do a remake of the movie? “I have heard things. I am not sure. I think that they’re trying to do that. I don’t know who’s directing that, or who wants to direct that yet. I’m hoping there would be a new movie. I’d love to see what they’ll do with it. Hopefully, they’ll base it off of this production rather than try to mimic the old movie.”
West Side Story plays at the National Theatre from June 3rd to June 8th. Purchase tickets here.
