George Chakiris

This week's episode is a panel discussion that was recorded live at our Opera Prep series, which brings secondary school groups to the Dorothy Chandler to experience a dress rehearsal. Hosted by Ashley Faatoalia, this West Side Story panel features Maestro James Conlon, Assistant Director Andrea Beasom, Assistant Choreographer Courtney Ortiz, and a very special guest, George Chakiris, who won the Academy Award AND Golden Globe for playing Bernardo in the original motion picture of West Side Story. Enjoy this special bonus episode and get your tickets to West Side Story at LA Opera.org

Send us Fan Mail Join Disney's Ike Eisenmann, and author, Jonathan Rosen, as they chat with Academy-Award Winner George Chakiris from West Side Story! George discusses his career, the making of the beloved musical, jis memoir, My West Side Story, working with such legendary performers like Marilyn Monroe, Rosemary Clooney, Rita Moreno, and much more! Support the show

A celebration of the return of the West Side Story, plus we talk about the best of Hollywood.

For the video edition with vintage clips, click here and subscribe: https://youtu.be/hgz6cPdZtwg HARDBACK BOOK: https://smile.amazon.com/My-West-Side-Story-Memoir/dp/149305547X/ AUDIOBOOK: https://smile.amazon.com/My-West-Side-Story-Memoir/dp/B08WHRQ6TJ George Chakiris' reclusive reputation has made him highly sought for interviews. Now, as he prepare to release his memoirs, entitled "MY WEST SIDE STORY," he opens up about life in and out of the spotlight. Natalie Wood and “lovely” Richard Beymer, to the mercurial Jerome Robbins and “passionate” Rita Moreno, with whom Chakiris remains friends. “I know exactly where my gratitude belongs,” Chakiris writes, “and I still marvel at how, unbeknownst to me at the time, the joyful path of my life was paved one night in 1949 when Jerome Robbins sat Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents down in his apartment and announced, 'I have an idea.'" In 1947, Chakiris made his film debut in the chorus of Song of Love. He was one of the dancers in Marilyn Monroe's “Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend” number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes released in 1953. He again appeared as a dancer alongside Rosemary Clooney in “White Christmas” in “Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me.” In 1961, George's biggest success came with the film West Side Story, for which he won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks. He had also appeared as Riff, leader of the Jets, in the West End in London.

We Have The True Pleasure Of Talking To Academy Award Winning Actor George Chakiris Of West Side Story The Legendary Actor Dancer Talks About His Amazing Career And Working With Marilyn Monroe Natalie Wood And Many More We Also Learn Mr Chakiris Has Released His Memoirs MY WEST SIDE STORY : A MEMOIR Available Here https://www.amazon.com/My-West-Side-Story-Memoir/dp/149305547X A Huge Thank You To Mr George Chakiris For Taking The Time Thank You To Harlan Boll Of B. Harlan Boll Public Relations THANK YOU To Our Listeners And Our Fans In All 65 Countries For Enjoying The Life Box Media Channel Radio Podcast THANK YOU Please Comment Follow Like And Subscribe To Our Show And All Of Our Social Media TheLifeBoxMediaChannel.com https://linktr.ee/TheLifeBoxMediaChannel Thank You God Bless

Hey it’s Arroe. This is Play It Forward. A look at the unexpected changes endured by entertainers, writers, camera people and all others affected but not infected by the global invasion of the Coronavirus. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 206 with George Chakiris from West Side Story and more… He writes, "I still marvel at how, unbeknownst to me at the time, the joyful path of my life was paved one night in 1949 when Jerome Robbins sat Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents down in his apartment and announced, 'I have an idea.'" The Academy Award & Golden Globe winner is best known internationally for his role of Bernardo in West Side Story. In November of 2012, Chakiris received what many refer to as the highest honor in Hollywood - His hand & footprints were placed in cement for all history in connection with the 50th anniversary of the classic film West Side Story which premiered at Grauman's over 50 years ago. That’s Play It Forward. You can listen to the full conversations with these artists on three different podcasts. Like Its Live, Unplugged and Totally Uncut and View from the Writing Instrument found on all digital platforms.