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Interview With Oscar-winner George Chakiris. Part 1

 August 25, 2015 at 7:40 AM PDT

I’m Beth Accomando, your resident Cinema Junkie. It’s not every day that I get to interview an Oscar winner… And the winner is George Chakiris… But I had a chance to speak with Chakiris by phone on Wednesday because he’s just been cast in the Old Globe’s production of In Your Arms that opens September 16th and he’s coming to San Diego on Monday to join me for a Q&A before the screening of West Side Story outdoors at the Globe’s Festival stage. How perfect is that. The film, which shot many of its dance sequences on the streets on New York City, is well suited to being screened under the stars. I’ll have a follow up podcast with Chakaris next week where we’ll discuss In Your Arms and his career but for right now, it’s all about West Side Story and his role as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. And I should mention that the interview starts in what appears to be a nice quiet room but about half way through I suddenly starting to hear hammering and sawing. Apparently the interview was set up at a house where construction was taking place. But like I said, you don’t get to talk to an Oscar winner every day so you have to roll with the punches… and the saws and the hammers. We begin by talking about the prologue where the cast take to the streets of New York for a phenomenal dance sequence. I’m Beth Accomando and this is the Cinema junkie podcast. You’ve been listening to my interview with actor and dancer George Chakiris. He will be joining me Monday August 24th at 8pm on the outdoor Lowell Daviies Festival Stage for a Q&A before West Side Story. If you enjoyed the interview, please go to iTunes and give it a rating. You can also reach me on Twitter @Cinebeth or on the Cinema Junkie Facebook page. Thanks for listening and if you’re addicted to film like I am, subscribe to my podcast and mainline film with me 24/7.

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Oscar-winner George Chakiris talks about his work on "West Side Story."
George Chakiris at The Old Globe

Oscar-winner George Chakiris talks about his career, Marilyn Monroe, and his dog Sammy.

Actor George Chakiris, who stars in the upcoming Old Globe production of "In Your Arms" (opening Sept. 16), was in San Diego in August for a screening of "West Side Story," the final film in the Globe's summer Shakespeare film series.

"West Side Story" screened outside at the Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival stage. A perfect setting for a film that innovatively choreographed dances outside on New York City streets.

"We may not have thought about it at the time but shooting on real locations did feel different probably than it would have if we were shooting it on a set created in the studio," Chakiris told me by phone last week.

Chakiris won an Oscar for best supporting actor for playing Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican street gang The Sharks in "West Side Story." The film offers a modern re-telling of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," updating the tragic romance to contemporary New York where the divisions occur between ethnic communities and street gangs. Chakiris says the film has endured as a classic for more than fifty years and still connects with audiences because prejudice is still alive and well.

"I think it’s one of the reasons we can relate to West Side Story because that’s a very important part of the story and what happens in the film and the theme of the film. And everybody can relate to that today, it’s always here. Always here," Chakiris said.

Listen again to the lyrics in the song "America," you probably remember how energetic the music and dance were but you may not remember that the lyrics had a sting to them and reflect the kind of prejudice that sadly still exists in the U.S. for the immigrant community.

GIRLS

I like to be in America

Okay by me in America

Everything free in America

BERNARDO

For a small fee in America

ANITA

Buying on credit is so nice

BERNARDO

One look at us and they charge twice

ROSALIA

I have my own washing machine

INDIO

What will you have though to keep clean?

ANITA

Skyscrapers bloom in America

ROSALIA

Cadillacs zoom in America

TERESITA

Industry boom in America

BOYS

Twelve in a room in America

ANITA

Lots of new housing with more space

BERNARDO

Lots of doors slamming in our face

ANITA

I'll get a terrace apartment

BERNARDO

Better get rid of your accent

ANITA

Life can be bright in America

BOYS

If you can fight in America

GIRLS

Life is all right in America

BOYS

If you're all white in America
Those lyrics prove relevant today and "West Side Story" remains a bold, vivid piece of American cinema.
George Chakiris Talks About His Career And Globe World Premiere Of 'In Your Arms'
Oscar winning actor and dancer George Chakiris talks about his career and returning to the stage after 20 years to perform in the world premiere of "In Your Arms" at the Old Globe Theatre.

In Your Arms serves up ten musical numbers – each in a different style of music and dance -- but it is not a revue show or a standard stage musical. And even though there are famous writers like Terence McNally and Carrie Fisher, you never hear a single line of spoken dialogue. This piqued my curiosity. How does brand new work like this actually come together, does it start with the written word, the music, or with an idea for a dance. Composer Stephen Flaherty said it was a highly collaborative process… Christopher Gattelli is the choreographer and director. George Chakiris is one of the dancers in the framing number and by casting him Gattelli also gets decades of experience that make the role of an older dancer all the richer. To appreciate what Chakiris brings to the stage, I spoke with him about his career and life long love of dance.

George Chakiris on "West Side Story"
KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with Oscar winning actor Georg Chakiris about "West Side Story."