The film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. 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. Far less well known is the fact that shakespeare based his play 1594 on other material, particularly a narrative poem by arthur brooke entitled the tragicall historye of romeus and juliet 1562. 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 tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always intrigued writers. West side story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. West side story by irving shulman goodreads share book. Leonard bernsteins most significant contribution to the world of shakespeare was west side story, the 1957 smash broadway hit adaptation of romeo and juliet. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for west side story and gypsy. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place.
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. To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our and websites. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is. 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. The musicals original choreographer jerome robbins and composer. The academy gave him an honorary oscar in 2001, just four years before his death, so they at least. Listen to and download the music, ost, score, list of songs and trailers. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. The story is a powerful one, partly, no doubt, because mr. He was a composer that wrote the west side story and was. The music of west side story was written by leonard bernstein. Oct 17, 2017 west side story original broadway cast licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. Sep 24, 2019 on september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. Also, in this book, our cast gets last names that arent in the stage production or the film.
In the sixteenth century, william shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the worlds great plays. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the. Leonard bernstein backstage with the cast of west side story, 1957. West side story transposes shakespeares romeo and juliet to the gangridden streets of 1950s manhattan, dominated by the sharks and the jets. This shakespeare unlimited podcast episode honors bernsteins legacy, in the runup to the 100th anniversary of his birth. Arthur laurents has written the story of two hostile teenage gangs fighting for supremacy amid the tenement houses, corner stores and bridges of the west side. West side story is a musical and book by arther laurents based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet with lyrics bystephen sondheim. In the pages of this book, the backstage tale comes to life along with insight on what has made the film a favorite across six decades. Leonard bernsteins west side story leonard bernstein was a composer who was able to write music in many different styles, including classical, pop and jazz. He also wrote the scores for the ballets fancy free 1944, facsimile 1946, and dybbuk 1974, and he composed the music for the film on the waterfront 1954, for which history at your fingertips. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city.
West side story had a score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim making his broadway debut, while sondheim also provided. This is the work that perhaps more than any other made the creatively bountiful bernsteins name, exemplifying. On september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Leonard bernstein and west side story folger shakespeare. 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. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Laurents has deliberately given it the shape of romeo and juliet. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet.
It is an adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. 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. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side. Inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet, west side story deals with two people from distinctly different groups falling in love. If not for the title, it would be too easy to write this book off based on its shortness, but you have to remember that the story itself only covers a few days.
West side story 1961 cast and crew cast photos and info. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. Jun 29, 2009 west side story is a musical and book by arther laurents based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet with lyrics bystephen sondheim. 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. The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side story. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. The music to west side story never ceases to move me and i was excited to read this book.
West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are. West side story opened at new yorks winter garden theater on september 26, 1957, and has remained in the repertory ever since. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story hit broadways winter garden theatre.
Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. As west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs. It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration and bigotry to economic inequality and gang. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. The trio was enthusiasticlaurents would have his muchdesired chance to write a book of a. It went to abby mann, who wrote judgement at nuremburg, and thats a great movie too, so we wont squawk too loud. Two teens from the bitterenemy gangs meet and fall.
I was present at a celebratory bbc proms performance of west side story recently. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. West side story was originally about jews and catholics. Well i cant say anything definitely, i just got a book the making of west side story so i think that may give me more info. In many of his works you can hear all these styles combined into one piece. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. 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. West side story 1961 soundtrack complete list of songs.
Riff lorton, tony wyzek, bernardo and maria nunez, chino martin. Even west side story, which tore through the academys little trophy ceremony like a buzz saw, didnt give lehman his oscar. West side story at gypsy of the year 2007 duration. Jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director, choreographer and original ideaman arthur laurents who wrote. The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved.
For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and. In 1949, the film version of the 1944 broadway musical on the town had just opened. 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. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.
The title was changed to west side story when the creators realized that gang warfare in new york had moved from the east side to the west. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a. Please view my other interesting uploads and documentaries. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. 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. Aug 22, 2018 as west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art.
Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Its teamrobbins, bernstein, book by arthur laurents, lyrics by the fledgling stephen sondheimis perhaps the most brilliant in broadway. Mar 02, 2009 the incredible saga of west side story. All 38 songs from the west side story 1961 movie soundtrack, with scene descriptions. It has been rumored that while bernstein was off trying to fix the musical candide, sondheim wrote some of the music for west side story, and that bernsteins colyricist billing mysteriously disappeared from the credits of west side story during the tryout, presumably as a tradeoff. A major hit on broadway, on film west side story became immortala movie different from. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story.
Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up.
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. 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. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and rhapsodic. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. 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. 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. West side story original broadway cast licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. 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.
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