West side story original broadway cast licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. The story and dialogue he developed as the book writer of west side story will likely go down as his. West side story original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city sep 26, 1957 and played through jun 27, 1959. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and. Leonard bernstein and west side story folger shakespeare. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim.
In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that. Jul 19, 2012 the original soundtrack from the movie west side story maria by jim bryant jim bryant for richard beymer. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Jan 03, 2018 leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side story when leonard bernstein and jerome robbins met 75 years ago, they were young men hungry for their big break. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Leonard bernsteins most popular book is west side story. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director, choreographer and original ideaman arthur laurents who wrote. Aug 22, 2018 as west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. The music to west side story never ceases to move me and i was excited to read this book. West side story, a tragic love story of tony and maria, touches all in many ways. Did you know the original idea was for warring street gangs of catholics and jews. I was more than ready for a brash, new west side story, especially after the anodyne sweetness of its last broadway outing in 2009, staged by arthur laurents, who. Oct 21, 1990 several years ago, as part of a book in progress, mel gussow began exploring the creative process behind the broadway musical west side story, which had its premiere in 1957.
Oct 17, 2017 west side story original broadway cast licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. West side story 1961 cast and crew cast photos and info. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s. Featured in the musical west side story, america has music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Dec 21, 2017 from west side story i learned about tragedy, and love, and sex, and the idea that things can go very, very wrong, in an instant. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. This groundbreaking collaboration among bernstein, jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american society through its best and worst characteristics. Books by leonard bernstein author of west side story. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. Check out this behind the scenes look at bad boys for life read more.
The original soundtrack from the movie west side story maria by jim bryant jim bryant for richard beymer. This shakespeare unlimited podcast episode honors bernsteins legacy, in the runup to the 100th anniversary of his birth. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. The trio was enthusiasticlaurents would have his muchdesired chance to write a book of a. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet, west side story deals with two people from distinctly different groups falling in love. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet.
Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. It is an adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet. Leonard bernsteins most significant contribution to the world of shakespeare was west side story, the 1957 smash broadway hit adaptation of romeo and juliet. West side story was the kind of musical people thought.
Jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west. Although west side story was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 academy awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse singin in the rain is probably more seen and certainly better loved. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs. West side story and the american idea of getting along. The names behind the jets and sharks posted on october 18, 2016 by jnpickens when i was 14 in 2002, i watched west side story for the first time and became obsessed with the movie musical, which premiered 55 years ago in new york city on oct. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side. When stephen sondheim talks about west side story decades after its broadway debut in 1957, it is clear that for him, most of the songs did not hold up well over time. Bernstein wrote the music at around the same time as candide, his more operatic adaptation of voltaires novel.
Sep 24, 2019 on september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. Christopher swanns 1985 flyonthewall documentary the making of west side story about leonard bernstein recording his celebrated score with a cast of opera singers bagged the prestigious prix italia, but the actual material was a wildly unidiomatic misfire. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story. West side story had a score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim making his broadway debut, while sondheim also provided.
The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. West side story 1961 cast and crew cast photos and. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy. Arthur laurents, who wrote the book for the original broadway production of west side story, felt the 1961 film version was very flawed due to bogus accents, bogus dialect, bogus costumes.
I also know songs from the musical, and it seemed as if the writer who wrote the novelization was. As west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. Set in new york city, it introduces two groups, the. Leonard bernstein backstage with the cast of west side story, 1957. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. The reallife drama behind west side story written in the mid1950s, west side story showcased adult themes and harsh language, which was bold for musical productions. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. When they first conceived the show in 1949, robbins, bernstein and laurents set their story on the east side of manhattan, and gave it the working title east side story. My dad who introduced me to the film later regretted it, because i listened to the soundtrack every night and tried to learn the dances. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. While many fans of the classic musical would disagree, sondheim describes the score as embarrassing and said in. West side story was originally about jews and catholics.
But unlike that restless, endlessly revised score, west side. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Several years ago, as part of a book in progress, mel gussow began exploring the creative process behind the broadway musical west side story, which had its premiere in 1957. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for. Arthur laurents wrote scripts for stage and screen, including gypsy.
West side story is a musical and book by arther laurents based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet with lyrics bystephen sondheim. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and rhapsodic. The gem of broadway musicals, west side story s commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place. West side story is based on the book by arthur laurents, the music by leonard bernstein, the lyrics are by stephen sondheim and the conception and choreography was by jerome robbins. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. He began his remarkable career in 1940, grinding out shows for lux radio theater, and he went on to triumph with his superb books for the musicals west side story and gypsy, as well as the scripts for the movies the way we were and the turning point. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. Trolls world tour, like a boss and recommendations for easter and passover.
On september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. America by west side story cast ensemble songfacts. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place. Photograph by hank walker the life picture collection getty. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is. When i was 14 in 2002, i watched west side story for the first time and became obsessed with the movie musical, which premiered 55 years ago in new york city on oct. From west side story i learned about tragedy, and love, and sex, and the idea that things can go very, very wrong, in an instant.
Feb 20, 2020 i was more than ready for a brash, new west side story, especially after the anodyne sweetness of its last broadway outing in 2009, staged by arthur laurents, who wrote the shows original. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. This is the place for you if youve ever been involved in, or infatuated with, west side story as an actor, singer, dancer, musician, producer, director, designer, crew or just as important as a fan. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side story when leonard bernstein and jerome robbins met 75 years ago, they were young men hungry for their big break. Arthur laurents, who wrote the book for west side story, rejects the notion that the most electrifying musical of the 1950s doesnt fit the 1990s. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. The last time bbc tv headed over to west side story, it landed itself with a contradiction. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. A place for us is beautifully written, full of fascinating information and revealed aspects about the culture of the city of new york in the 1950s that deepened my appreciation for the landmark musical. Both are stories of unrequited love that end tragically, but there are many elements that make them very different. It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration and bigotry to economic inequality and gang. He was a composer that wrote the west side story and was. West side story hit broadways winter garden theatre.