The first theater production I ever saw outside of school was a community theater production of “West Side Story” in my second-half-of-childhood hometown of Chester, New Jersey.
I remember the first time I heard the song “Somewhere” sung from the stage’s balcony and echoing all through the old church. I thought it was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard and tears filled my eyes, not for the last time that night.
I’m anticipatory that no less than Steven Spielberg is bringing the story back to life on screen, and I suspect the new film will be as magnificent as the original.
There’ll be as much nostalgia as real emotion when the new screen lovers start to sing “There’s a place for us,” but I’m grateful for the chance to revisit the memory of that magical night, when I first felt the energy of live musical theater.