Jarrad Biron Green is living a childhood dream. West Side Story has been his favourite musical since he was in the fifth grade, and now he is playing the lead role of Tony in the show’s North American tour.
“It was insane to get the call for this; I have to pinch myself sometimes,” he said. “Sometimes I get caught up in the moment and then I stop and think: I’m actually on the West Side Story tour.”
This is Green’s first professional job, but he is more than qualified for the part. He first played the role of Tony in a high school production, and then again as a student at NYU in one of the largest productions the school had seen.
The North American tour is a recreation of the Broadway revival version of the show, with some modifications: there is more Spanish used in the words and lyrics, as well as a bolder, contemporary representation of violence and sexuality. Green thinks that the addition of more Spanish works well and equalizes the playing field for the gangs: “It’s had mixed results, but I think it’s more believable.”
The cast of this production is also young, especially in comparison to the film version, which Green said gives people the wrong idea about how old the characters are supposed to be. “The cast we have is more suitable, and we can connect with the audience better,” he said.
“The show asks, ‘how can love survive in a world of bigotry, violence, and hate?’ That message stays with you.”
Jarrad Biron Green
Relating to Tony comes easily to Green. “Tony is very similar to me at this stage of my life. He’s 18 or 19, and I’m 21, so we’re close in age. He wants to become more mature and leaves the gangs behind, gets a job, and finds his purpose in Maria. I’m kind of going through that since this is my first big professional job, figuring out the purpose of my life.”
Performing in Vancouver and other Canadian cities on this tour marks another first: “I’ve been to Canada once when I was young with my parents, but I couldn’t even tell you where it was.” He’s looking forward to visiting Vancouver. “I’m a big fan of the hockey community,” he said.
West Side Story has thrilled audiences since its debut in 1957, which Green thinks is because of the conflict between the Jets and the Sharks and the fact that it’s based on Shakespeare’s classic story, Romeo and Juliet. “The show asks, ‘how can love survive in a world of bigotry, violence, and hate?’ That message stays with you,” said Green. “At the end of the show there is a little bit of hope that there can be some change,” which is why, Green says, audiences find this show so powerful.
Although the show deals with themes from Romeo and Juliet, Green explained that “the music and dance adds so much more to the piece.” Of Jerome Robbins’ choreography, Green says “[It] is still pleasant to watch, but there is something more feeding the moves.”
Apart from enjoying performing a coveted role in a world-renowned musical, Green is having fun experiencing so many new cities on this tour and said that he usually has time during the day to explore. He’s soaking it all in, enjoying every minute of his first professional tour, and says, “It’s been a blast so far.”
West Side Story is presented by Broadway Across Canada Feb 4–9 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For more information visit vancouver.broadway.com.
