In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story. A critical and musical survey, though that book is filled with music theory that even gave me a headache, and scott millers from. West side story addresses the tension between established white youths like the jets, a gang that laurents dubs an anthology of what is called american, and puerto rican teenagers who represent a new wave of immigrants laurents, et al, west side story, p. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d.
When told by chino, she decided to escape it with tony to a world that is peaceful. West side story is one of the few broadway musicals that can make a genuine claim to transforming the genre. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. The fullydanced prolog shows the tension built up between the jets and the sharks two rival gangs in new yorks upper west side. Back to 1957 broadway production page collage of photos of actors and creators related to the stage production west side story. Second west side story actor suffers onstage injury on. Conceived in 1949, west side story has a serious message that pleads for racial tolerance, delivered in unforgettable song and dance. Upper west side, new york, 1950s, during the last days of summer. However, robbins insisted on so many takes of his scenes that he was fired before the movie was completed. It was the first musical i ever saw, and it opened up my eyes to the joys of musicals and the classic films of hollywood.
Arthur laurents leonard bernstein stephen sondheim. West side story, one of the most groundbreaking musicals of all time, opens at the western stage on august 9. Not only did the original 1957 production light up the hit parade four times in. Rival street gangs engage in relatively harmless activities until one fight spells tragedy for two young lovers.
Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. Need reed 1 book from west side story sax on the web forum. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u.
Westside stories used books we have decided to permanently close westside stories after 8 years of serving the buffalos west side. West side story is one of the very few broadway musicals for which there is a complete published orchestral score, as well as two different editions of the pianovocal score. Classroom supplement in celebration of carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story. The action takes place on the west side of new york city during the last. The survival of the original copied orchestral score, and the reminiscences of sid ramin and irwin kostal, reveal details of the orchestration process, and the extent to which bernstein was involved in this.
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. The official website the official website, in all its glory. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. West side story reserves the right to edit any letter for grammatical errors, libelous content or space limitations. West side story by irving shulman goodreads share book. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. Review of west side story, tonight quintet survey of music. Apr 09, 2015 the story centers around two conflicting gangs of different ethnic background, both living in the upper west side neighborhood of new york city.
Jul 30, 2014 10 surprising facts about west side story that will make your head explode. As part of the project, wmi has partnered with soundfly to produce an eightpart interactive online companion course that is available. Aug 09, 20 if any aspect of west side story is still undervalued it is the book by arthur laurents. 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. Start studying leonard bernsteinwest side story background information. Wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting masterpiece the new york times that explodes every imaginable idea of what a. Interesting facts about the creation of west side story.
The love story of romeo and juliet becomes that of maria and tony. More than 60 years after it opened on broadway, west side story is a hit once again. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality. Social issues in west side story the odyssey online. As a puerto rican critic, i resent the expectation that i have something to say about a. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. The plot of the film involves two racebased gangs fighting to rule the same strip of street on the west side of new york city in the late 1950s. 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.
It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. West side story presentation by katelyn hestad on prezi. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. West side story has three main themes, love, tragedy, and justice, which are brought to light throughout the course of the movie. Leonard bernsteinwest side story background information. Jerome robbins was born on october 11, 1918 in new york city, new york, usa as jerome rabinowitz. The jets are boys who were born in america, but have polish roots. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. Ben cook, who played the role of riff, sustained the unspecified injury. Uptodate information on coronavirus is available for free. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. 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.
One gang is puerto rican the sharks and the other is caucasian the jets. Are you ready to bust myths and facts about novel coronavirus. Jun, 2016 its all around us, and theres no way to escape it. The police question the jets about the murders, and. Staff responses to letters to the editor are not allowed. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the story. 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. Book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. 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.
These include questions which involve close reading, writing and discussion. West side story, the most exciting musical theater masterpiece of the 20th century. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Crimes really havent changed, only the faces attached to them have, and a lot of the social issues presented in west side story are definitely still relevant to todays society. West penn power serves 720,000 customers in pennsylvania. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. It opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12 december 1958. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Our online west side story trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top west side story quizzes. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. Somewhere, sometimes referred to as somewhere theres a place for us or simply theres a place for us, is a song from the 1957 broadway musical west side story that was made into a film in 1961. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story will strive to present information in a fair, impartial, accurate and truthful manner. West side story by irving shulman, 1967, pocket books edition, in english west side story 1967 edition open library.
The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. For many years ive avoided writing about west side story. The west side story book is famously lean its one of the shortest books in. The newspaper will function in accord with all applicable laws, both. The feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of. I first saw this movie when i was about years old. Vivid film adaptation of the landmark broadway musical, updating the romeo and juliet story to the youthgang atmosphere of late 1950s n. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. One of the ideas bounced around early on by choreographer jerome robbins was having the plot. Choreographer robbins was hired to direct the dance scenes, with the remaining scenes to be directed by robert wise. For more cast information, please visit the productions ibdb page.
Your wednesday evening briefing heres what you need to know at the end of the day. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and. On the other hand, in the rise and fall of the broadway musical, mark grant concentrates on the growth of the musical in light of changes in technology and music, and in writing the book and lyrics.
This play places the romeo and juliet story in a new york gangwarfare context. This series of contemporary plays includes structured gcse assignments for use by individuals or groups. West side story transfers shakespeare s romeo and juliet to presentday new york. Moreno made her mark in musicals like singin in the rain and the king and i before winning an oscar for her unforgettable turn as anita in west side story. Shortly before west side story opened on broadway in the fall of 1957, the lyricist stephen sondheim received an angry letter from a doctor. The film was listed as the 38th bestedited film of all time in a 2012 survey of members of. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. A critical and musical survey, though that book is filled with music theory that even gave me. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet. A second actor in broadways west side story has suffered an onstage injury, and this time hell leave the show. The feud between the houses of the capulets and the montagues is recreated in one involving two teenage gangs, the jets and the sharks. The 1957 musical west side story was a collaboration among composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, and choreographer jerome robbins.
Synopsis act ii maria, not yet aware of the situation, daydreams with her friends. 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. Imagine living in a country which has been ruled under a dictatorship for as long as you can remember. I read this because i am writing teaching materials for business execs to study, as a. Stay tuned for a post pandemic going out of business sale announcement. It not only transposes romeo and juliet to the world of new york gangs. This timeless piece continues to be revived and audience still rave about how beautifully told this story is through music, acting and dance. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story, adapted from romeo and juliet, could have been east side story. West side story is a very interesting and beautifully written musical that continues to be toured to this day. The library of congress celebrates the golden anniversary of this historic musical with a new exhibition, west side story. A musical set on the west side of new york city around 1957.
There are some nice solo lines for alto in the first book, lots of flute playing including some exposed passages in the third octave, and two fun spots. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Screenwriter ernest lehman adapted the film west side story from the hit play of the same name, which opened on broadway in 1957 and ran there for 732 performances. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Apr 23, 2015 west side story opened on broadway in 1957 with book by arthur lawrents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. A group of young people enter, walking slowly, surveying the territory. This is a great product for fans of west side story. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby. West side story started out as a longrunning, tonywinning stage musical.
One of the ideas bounced around early on by choreographer jerome robbins was having the. West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. Theres not a lot of book or tv adaptations of this one and lets be honest, the. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
A comprehensive database of west side story quizzes online, test your knowledge with west side story quiz questions. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. The romance is heartbreaking and the leonard bernsteinstephen sondheim score is one of the best ever written. West side story insights educational guide 2 created by joey landwehr jcompany artistic director dear fellow educators, at jcompany youth theatre, we believe that live theatre and the school curriculum go. West side books is an independent bookstore in the historic highlands neighborhood of northwest denver, providing new and used books to the community since 1997 over twenty years. A novelization and study guide for students and teachers. Reviewed in the united states on december 27, 2019. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. People have been listening to that message, and humming the songs, ever since the show premiered on broadway in 1957 and debuted on.
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