Golden Theatre’s Small Stage Supports Large-Scale ‘West Side Story’

Almost everyone who sees “West Side Story” at Burbank’s 99-seat Golden Theatre has the same reaction.

“They don’t know how we do a full musical in such a small space,” said Gregory Scott Young, 28. “I take it as a nice compliment. But I’d also like people to get more involved in what they’re seeing, change their outlook on musical theater. I think it’s gotten a bad name--as not really an art form, something of any depth. People seem to think of it as kind of light and silly. So single-handedly,” he said with a laugh, “I’m trying to change that.”

Since the theater’s debut in September, 1986, its artistic director has moved in that direction. A native of Santa Cruz (where he ran his own theater, Company for Dinner) Young moved to Hollywood in hopes of putting his theater savvy to work on a larger scale.

“I’m a choreographer,” he said, pointing to such dance-heavy credits as “Chorus Line” and “Cabaret” at the theater. “Most of my training is in dance. My objective in doing musical theater was always to make dance a more integral part of it--like they do in most big musicals now with singing--so it doesn’t feel separate from the story line. You do that by taking characters and creating movement that would be more like them, then connecting that to the show.”

Scale is rarely a barrier, he believes. For “West Side Story” (in which he’s director, choreographer and chorus member) Young fits 22 bodies on a 22-by-22-foot stage.

“At one point--the dance at the gym--we have 20 people dancing,” he said proudly. “It looks pretty full. But for me, ‘West Side Story’ really lends itself to a small theater--because of its intensity. The balcony scene is right on top of you; you’re seeing Tony and Maria like you were in the movie. And it really makes you a part of it. Of course, there are musicals we wouldn’t do. Things like ‘The Sound of Music’ or ‘The King and I’ wouldn’t work because the grandeur is so much a part of it.”

In terms of administration, the theater operation is likewise small. There are only three staffers--but many volunteers--and 100 season subscribers.

“I just wish more people were aware of us,” said Young, who is looking for a new home for the theater since the property’s recent sale. “We’ve been here for a while; we’ve done consistently good stuff,” he said firmly. “And we’re starting to have a following in Burbank now. But the last few shows we never really sold out. It’s so aggravating to put on a good production and know that you’re doing it for 10 people.”

Fortunately, he added, audience turnout for this show has been very strong--a lot of it from the Latino community, apparently drawn by the show’s Puerto Rican characters. Yet in his mostly positive review of the musical in the L.A. Weekly, Tom Provenzano chided Young for the presence of only two Latinos in the cast. “To me, it looked tacky,” Provenzano said later. “Imagine if they’d done ‘Porgy and Bess’ in white face--white people dressed as blacks--it would be horrifying. So I thought it was important to raise the issue.”

“It’s a non-argument,” Young said flatly. “Sure, I’d rather have had Hispanics, but they didn’t audition. “I’m definitely not not hiring them. But this is who tried out. And when you’re doing Equity waiver, not paying people a dime, and you’re looking for people who can dance ‘West Side Story,’ who will play chorus, and dance in the fourth line--well, it’s very limited. If I were paying people, I’m sure I could’ve gotten a Spanish cast. So ... you make allowances.”

“West Side Story” plays Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. at the Golden Theatre, 139 N. San Fernando Road, Burbank. (818) 841-9921. Admission: $10 to $12. Ends next Sunday.