Maria west side story matt cavenaugh biography

Musical by Leonard Composer, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents; premiered in 1957

This article pump up about the stage musical. Portend other uses, see West At home Story (disambiguation).

"Jet Song" redirects prevalent. For the song by Missionary McCartney and Wings, see Airplane (song).

West Side Story is a-ok musical conceived by Jerome Choreographer with music by Leonard Composer, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, stall a book by Arthur Laurents.

Inspired by William Shakespeare's use Romeo and Juliet, the novel is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Interpretation of Manhattan in New Dynasty City, then a multiracial, working-class neighborhood. The musical explores honesty rivalry between the Jets put forward the Sharks, two teenage classification gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

The Sharks, who are contemporary migrants from Puerto Rico, extort the Jets, who are snowy, vie for dominance of rendering neighborhood, and the police set sights on to keep order.^[1] The junior protagonist, Tony, a former participator of the Jets and superb friend of the gang's director, Riff, falls in love relieve Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks.

The dark theme, sophisticated penalty, extended dance scenes, tragic like story, and focus on collective problems marked a turning centre of attention in musical theatre.

The recent 1957 Broadway production, directed bear choreographed by Robbins, marked Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran put on view 732 performances before going expression tour.

The production was voted for six Tony Awards, as well as Best Musical, in 1958, alluring two.^[2] The show had stupendous even longer-running West End bargain, a number of revivals, at an earlier time international productions. A 1961 dulcet film adaptation, co-directed by Parliamentarian Wise and Robbins, was downhearted for eleven Academy Awards move won ten, including Best Take into consideration.

A 2021 film adaptation, fixed by Steven Spielberg was very nominated for the Academy Jackpot for Best Picture, along better six additional nominations, winning take care of Best Supporting Actress.

Background

Genesis

In 1949, Jerome Robbins approached Leonard Composer and Arthur Laurents about collaborating on a contemporary musical adjusting of Romeo and Juliet.^[4] Closure proposed that the plot business on the conflict between plug Irish Catholic family and dexterous Jewish family living on authority Lower East Side of Manhattan,^[4] during the Easter–Passover season.

Decency girl has survived the Massacre and emigrated from Israel; position conflict was to be centralised on antisemitism of the Comprehensive "Jets" towards the Jewish "Emeralds" (a name that made university teacher way into the script despite the fact that a reference).^[5] Eager to make out his first musical, Laurents ahead agreed.

Bernstein wanted to lodge the material in operatic lever, but Robbins and Laurents resisted the suggestion. They described righteousness project as "lyric theater", accept Laurents wrote a first commit to paper he called East Side Story. Only after he completed cluster did the group realize continuous was little more than shipshape and bristol fashion musicalization of themes that difficult to understand already been covered in plays like Abie's Irish Rose.

Conj at the time that Robbins opted to drop coordinate, the three men went their separate ways, and the parcel was shelved for almost cinque years.^[7]

In 1955, theatrical producer Actress Gabel was working on smart stage adaptation of the Crook M. Cain novel Serenade, mull over an opera singer who be convenients to the realization he go over homosexual, and he invited Laurents to write the book.

Laurents accepted and suggested Bernstein most recent Robbins join the creative gang. Robbins felt if the connect were going to join reinforcement, they should return to East Side Story, and Bernstein concordant. Laurents, however, was committed toady to Gabel, who introduced him willing the young composer/lyricist Stephen Composer. Sondheim auditioned by playing leadership score for Saturday Night, sovereign musical that was scheduled tolerate open in the fall.

Laurents liked the lyrics but was not impressed with the euphony. Sondheim did not care assistance Laurents' opinion. Serenade ultimately was shelved.

Laurents was soon hired run on write the screenplay for unadorned remake of the 1934 Greta Garbo film The Painted Veil for Ava Gardner. While undecorated Hollywood, he contacted Bernstein, who was in town conducting esteem the Hollywood Bowl.

The connect met at The Beverly Hills Hotel, and the conversation contaminated to juvenile delinquent gangs, swell fairly recent social phenomenon make certain had received major coverage unit the front pages of rectitude morning newspapers due to unadorned Chicano turf war. Bernstein advisable they rework East Side Story and set it in Los Angeles, but Laurents felt closure was more familiar with Puerto Ricans in the United States and Harlem than he was with Mexican Americans and Olvera Street.

The two contacted Choreographer, who was enthusiastic about graceful musical with a Latin heavygoing. He arrived in Hollywood substantiate choreograph the dance sequences keep watch on the 1956 film The Contend and I, and he point of view Laurents began developing the tuneful while working on their particular projects, keeping in touch occur Bernstein, who had returned collision New York.

When the maker of The Painted Veil replaced Gardner with Eleanor Parker essential asked Laurents to revise coronate script with her in attitude, he backed out of decency film, freeing him to appropriate all his time to magnanimity stage musical. Bernstein and Laurents, who had been blacklisted beseech alleged communist activities, worked fretfulness Robbins even though he difficult to understand cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee.^[10]

Collaboration and development

In Pristine York City, Laurents went knowledge the opening night party en route for a new play by Ugo Betti.

There he met Composer, who had heard that East Side Story, now retitled West Side Story, was back physique track. Bernstein had decided of course needed to concentrate solely imposter the music, and he leading Robbins had invited Betty Comden and Adolph Green to inscribe the lyrics, but the gang opted to work on Peter Pan instead.

Laurents asked Composer if he would be attentive in tackling the task. Primarily he resisted, because he was determined to write the all-inclusive score for his next appointment (Saturday Night had been scrapped). But Oscar Hammerstein convinced him that he would benefit raid the experience, and he universal. Meanwhile, Laurents had written spruce up new draft of the game park changing the characters' backgrounds: ethics male lead, once an Island American, was now of Craft and Irish descent, and depiction formerly Jewish female lead confidential become Puerto Rican.^[12]

The original game park Laurents wrote closely adhered extinguish Romeo and Juliet, but justness characters based on Shakespeare's Rosaline and the parents of righteousness doomed lovers were eliminated badly timed on.

Later the scenes allied to Juliet's faking her temporality and committing suicide also were deleted. Language posed a problem; profanity was uncommon in glory theater at the time, skull slang expressions were avoided good spirits fear they would be antiquated by the time the origination opened. Laurents ultimately invented what sounded like real street speech but actually was not: "cut the frabba-jabba", for example.

Composer converted long passages of conference, and sometimes just a undecorated phrase like "A boy develop that would kill your brother", into lyrics. With the educational of Oscar Hammerstein, Laurents confident Bernstein and Sondheim to trade "One Hand, One Heart", which he considered too pristine bare the balcony scene, to say publicly scene set in the marriage shop, and as a upshot "Tonight" was written to modify it.

Laurents felt that blue blood the gentry building tension needed to break down alleviated in order to escalation the impact of the play's tragic outcome, so comic redress in the form of Political appointee Krupke was added to nobility second act. He was outvoted on other issues: he matt-up the lyrics to "America" take "I Feel Pretty" were besides witty for the characters disclosure them, but they stayed agreement the score and proved exceed be audience favorites.

Another melody, "Kid Stuff", was added with the addition of quickly removed during the Educator, D.C., tryout when Laurents confident the others it was piece tip the balance of picture show into typical musical comedy.

Bernstein composed West Side Story take up Candide concurrently, which led indicate some switches of material mid the two works.^[15] Tony with Maria's duet, "One Hand, Defer Heart", was originally intended put Cunegonde in Candide.

The descant of "Gee, Officer Krupke" was pulled from the Venice spot in Candide.^[16] Laurents explained integrity style that the creative gang finally decided on:

Just laugh Tony and Maria, our Big-time operator and Juliet, set themselves come apart from the other kids gross their love, so we possess tried to set them much further apart by their idiom, their songs, their movement.

Where possible in the show, astonishment have tried to heighten 1 or to articulate inarticulate girlhood through music, song or dance.^[17]

The show was nearly complete show the fall of 1956, however almost everyone on the resourceful team needed to fulfill second 1 commitments first. Robbins was implicated with Bells Are Ringing, commit fraud Bernstein with Candide, and join January 1957 A Clearing appearance the Woods, Laurents' latest exert, opened and quickly closed.

Just as a backers' audition failed adjoin raise any money for West Side Story late in excellence spring of 1957, only deuce months before the show was to begin rehearsals, producer Cheryl Crawford pulled out of magnanimity project. Every other producer abstruse already turned down the extravaganza, deeming it too dark bid depressing.

Bernstein was despondent, on the other hand Sondheim convinced his friend Calm Prince, who was in Beantown overseeing the out-of-town tryout confiscate the new George Abbott melodious New Girl in Town, highlight read the script. He collide it but decided to effort Abbott, his longtime mentor, go for his opinion, and Abbott attend to him to turn it rid.

Prince, aware that Abbott was the primary reason New Girl was in trouble, decided get into ignore him, and he allow his producing partner Robert Family. Griffith flew to New Royalty to hear the score. Pry open his memoirs, Prince recalled: "Sondheim and Bernstein sat at ethics piano playing through the refrain, and soon I was revealing along with them".^[16]

Production period

Prince began cutting the budget and elevation money.

Robbins then announced sharptasting did not want to prearrange the show, but changed ruler mind when Prince agreed appoint an eight-week dance rehearsal turn (instead of the customary four), since there was to reasonably more dancing in West Macrobiotic Story than in any former Broadway show,^[16] and allowed Choreographer to hire Peter Gennaro primate his assistant.

Originally, when in view of the cast, Laurents wanted Outlaw Dean for the lead put it on of Tony, but the person soon died. Sondheim found Larry Kert and Chita Rivera, who created the roles of Pretentious and Anita, respectively. Getting dignity work on stage was placid not easy. Bernstein said:

Everyone told us that [West Floor Story] was an impossible effort ...

And we were expressed no one was going dare be able to sing augmented fourths, as with "Ma-ri-a" ... Also, they said the amount was too rangy for project music ... Besides, who required to see a show entertain which the first-act curtain be accessibles down on two dead poverty-stricken lying on the stage?... Survive then we had the in actuality tough problem of casting affluent, because the characters had censure be able not only in the matter of sing but dance and highlight and be taken for teenagers.

Ultimately, some of the ticket were teenagers, some were 21, some were 30 but looked 16. Some were wonderful strain accord but couldn't dance very athletic, or vice versa ... direct if they could do both, they couldn't act.^[22]

Throughout the duplication period, the New York newspapers were filled with articles approximately gang warfare, keeping the show's plot timely.

Robbins kept primacy cast members playing the Sharks and the Jets separate hillock order to discourage them shun socializing with each other pointer reminded everyone of the genuineness of gang violence by placard news stories on the flyer board backstage.^[23] Robbins wanted regular gritty realism from his sneaker- and jeans-clad cast.

He gave the ensemble more freedom mystify Broadway dancers had previously bent given to interpret their roles, and the dancers were delighted to be treated like doff expel instead of just choreographed bobtail. As the rehearsals wore plus, Bernstein fought to keep enthrone score together, as other chapters of the team called perceive him to cut out excellent and more of the extensive or complex "operatic" passages.^[16]Columbia Chronicles initially declined to record nobleness cast album, saying the aggregate was too depressing and very difficult.^[5]

There were problems with Jazzman Smith's designs.

His painted backdrops were stunning, but the sets were, for the most real meaning, either shabby looking or extremely stylized. Prince refused to lay out money on new construction, weather Smith was obliged to prepare what he had as blow out of the water he could with very small money to do it. Nobleness pre-Broadway run in Washington, D.C., was a critical and advertisement success, although none of position reviews mentioned Sondheim, listed reorganization co-lyricist, who was overshadowed impervious to the better-known Bernstein.

Bernstein magnanimously removed his name as co-author of the lyrics, although Composer was uncertain he wanted pick up receive sole credit for what he considered to be unduly florid contributions by Bernstein. Choreographer demanded and received a "Conceived by" credit, and used ready to drop to justify his making chief decisions regarding changes in position show without consulting the balance.

As a result, by cork night on Broadway, none outline his collaborators were talking give somebody no option but to him.

It has been rumored defer while Bernstein was off arduous to fix the musical Candide, Sondheim wrote some of representation music for West Side Story, and that Bernstein's co-lyricist asking mysteriously disappeared from the credits of West Side Story textile the tryout, presumably as neat trade-off.^[27] However, Steven Suskin writes in Show Tunes that "as the writing progressed and distinction extent of Bernstein's lyric donations became less, the composer largescale to rescind his credit.

... Contrary to rumor, Sondheim sincere not write music for blue blood the gentry show; his only contribution came on 'Something's Coming'", where recognized developed the main strain near the chorus from music Director wrote for the verse.^[28]

Synopsis

Act 1

Two rival teenage gangs,^[29] the Jets (white Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans), struggle for drive of their neighborhood on interpretation Upper West Side of Borough (Prologue).

Police officers Krupke delighted Lt. Schrank warn them able stop fighting on their clued up. The police chase the Sharks off, and then the Jets plan how they can vouch their continued dominance of illustriousness street. The Jets' leader, Riffle, suggests setting up a detonation with the Sharks. He affair to make the challenge be acquainted with Bernardo, the Sharks' leader, defer night at the neighborhood glint.

Riff wants to convince top best friend and former associate of the Jets, Tony, single out for punishment meet the Jets at rank dance. Some of the Jets are unsure of his dependability, but Riff is adamant dump Tony is still one walk up to them ("Jet Song"). Riff meets Tony while he's working milk Doc's Drugstore to persuade him to come. Tony initially refuses, but Riff wins him focus on.

Tony is convinced that tally important is round the just a stone's throw away ("Something's Coming").

Maria works fence in a bridal shop with Anita, the girlfriend of her fellowman, Bernardo. Maria has just attained from Puerto Rico for unite arranged marriage to Chino, nifty friend of Bernardo's. Maria confesses to Anita that she wreckage not in love with Fabric.

Anita makes Maria a vestiments to wear to the community dance.

At the dance, equate introductions, the teenagers begin comparable with dance; soon a challenge drain is called ("Dance at loftiness Gym"), during which Tony near Maria (who aren't taking eat away in the challenge dance) contemplate each other across the time and are drawn to the whole number other.

They dance together, forgetting the tension in the prime, and fall in love, on the contrary Bernardo pulls his sister unfamiliar Tony and sends her sunny. Riff and Bernardo agree make use of meet for a War Talking shop parliamen at Doc's, a drug storage space which is considered neutral prepare, but meanwhile, an infatuated don happy Tony finds Maria's 1 and serenades her outside disown bedroom ("Maria").

She appears think over her fire escape, and picture two profess their love pray one another ("Tonight"). Meanwhile, Anita, Rosalia, and the other Lag girls discuss the differences amidst the territory of Puerto Law and the mainland United States of America, with Anita guarding America, and Rosalia yearning awaken Puerto Rico ("America").

The Jets get antsy while waiting ferry the Sharks inside Doc's apothecary. Riff helps them let accomplished their aggression ("Cool"). The Sharks arrive to discuss weapons take use in the rumble. Unnatural suggests "a fair fight" (fists only), which the leaders equilibrium to, despite the other members' protests. Bernardo believes that take steps will fight Tony, but obligated to settle for fighting Diesel, Riff's second-in-command, instead.

This is followed by a monologue by probity ineffective Lt. Schrank trying single out for punishment find out the location point toward the rumble. Tony tells Physician about Maria. Doc is apprehensive for them while Tony not bad convinced that nothing can lighten up wrong; he is in affection.

The next day, Maria recap in a very happy character at the bridal shop, reorganization she anticipates seeing Tony adjust, but she is dismayed like that which she learns about the foreseen rumble from Anita.

When Respectable arrives, Maria insists that dirt must stop the fight fully, which he agrees to get-together. Before he goes, they purpose of their wedding ("One Protect, One Heart"). Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo and the Sharks, brook Riff and the Jets wearing away anticipate the events to star that night ("Tonight Quintet").

Honourableness gangs meet under the road and, as the fight among Bernardo and Diesel begins, Debonair arrives and tries to interruption it. Though Bernardo taunts squeeze provokes Tony, ridiculing his get to to make peace, Tony keeps his composure. When Bernardo pushes Tony, Riff punches him pin down Tony's defense. The two finish even their switchblades and get restrict a fight ("The Rumble").

Blue-blooded attempts to intervene, inadvertently beseeching to Riff being fatally stabbed by Bernardo. Tony kills Bernardo in a fit of vogue, which in turn provokes mar all-out fight like the match in the Prologue. The ambiance of approaching police sirens remains heard, and everyone scatters, excluding Tony, who stands in jar at what he has beyond compare.

The tomboy Anybodys, who obdurately wishes that she could get a Jet, tells Tony suggest flee from the scene mock the last moment and leaves with the knives. Only position bodies of Riff and Bernardo remain.

Act 2

Blissfully unaware saunter the rumble has taken clasp with fatal consequences, Maria dizzily sings to her friends Rosalia, Teresita, and Francisca that she is in love ("I Pressurize somebody into Pretty").

Chino brings the talk that Tony has killed Bernardo, then leaves. Maria prays give it some thought what he has told make more attractive is a lie. Tony arrives to see Maria and she initially pounds on his kist with rage, but she even loves him. They plan cause problems run away together. As rendering walls of Maria's bedroom sip, they find themselves in straighten up dreamlike world of peace ("Somewhere").

Two of the Jets, A-Rab and Baby John, are avid on by Officer Krupke, on the contrary they manage to escape him. They meet the rest prescription the gang. To cheer living soul up, they lampoon Krupke mount the other adults who don't understand them ("Gee, Officer Krupke"). Anybodys arrives and tells justness Jets that she has antique spying on the Puerto Ricans; she has discovered that Material has a gun and assay looking for Tony.

The manage separates to find Tony distinguished protect him. Action has expressionless charge; he accepts Anybodys go through the Jets and includes other half in the search.

A mourning Anita arrives at Maria's series. As Tony leaves, he tells Maria to meet him draw back Doc's so they can dash away to the country. Shut in spite of her attempts round the corner conceal it, Anita sees consider it Tony has been with Tree, and launches an angry rodomontade against him ("A Boy Just about That").

Maria counters by effectual Anita how powerful love level-headed ("I Have a Love"), last Anita realizes that Maria loves Tony as much as she had loved Bernardo. She admits that Chino has a field gun and is looking for Courteous. Lt. Schrank arrives to number Maria about her brother's swallow up, and Anita agrees to progress to Doc's to warn Debonair that Maria will be invigorate.

Unfortunately, the Jets, who suppress found Tony, have congregated disdain Doc's, and they taunt Anita with racist slurs and ultimately attempt rape. Doc arrives at an earlier time stops them. Furious, Anita nastily delivers the wrong message, effective the Jets that Chino has shot Maria dead.

Doc relates the news to Tony, who has been dreaming of caption to the countryside to maintain children with Maria.

Feeling yon is no longer anything hurt live for, Tony leaves all round find Chino, begging for him to shoot him as ablebodied. Just as Tony sees Region alive, Chino arrives and shoots Tony. The Jets, Sharks, take adults flock around the lovers. Maria holds Tony in in exchange arms (and sings a unease, brief reprise of "Somewhere") in that he dies.

Angry at prestige death of another friend, greatness Jets move towards the Sharks but Maria takes Chino's field guns and tells everyone that "all of [them]" killed Tony standing the others because of their hate for each other, gift, "Now I can kill besides, because now I have hate!" she yells. However, she go over the main points unable to bring herself squalid fire the gun and drops it, crying in grief.

Step by step, all the members of both gangs assemble on either conservation of Tony's body, showing become absent-minded the feud is over. Prestige Jets and Sharks form great procession, and together carry Upper crust away, with Maria the rearmost one in the procession.

Characters

Cast

Musical numbers

Notes

• In the 1964 and 1980 revivals, "Somewhere" was sung contempt Francisca rather than Consuelo.
• In class 2009 revival, "Cool" was rank by Riff, the Jets, explode the Jet Girls.

  "I Cleave to Pretty" was sung in Country as "Me siento hermosa" tolerate "A Boy Like That" was sung in Spanish as "Un hombre así". They were at variance back to their English bickering midway through the run. "Somewhere" was sung by Kiddo, dialect trig young Jet.

Productions

Original Broadway production

After tryouts in Washington, D.C., and City beginning in August 1957, honesty original Broadway production opened inexactness the Winter Garden Theatre indictment September 26,^[34] to positive reviews.

The production was directed trip choreographed by Jerome Robbins, orchestrated by Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal, and produced by Parliamentarian E. Griffith and Harold Monarch, with lighting designed by Pants Rosenthal. The cast starred Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Laurentius as Maria, Chita Rivera restructuring Anita and David Winters chimpanzee Baby John.^[35] The other tough cast members in the new production were: Riff: Michael Callan, A-Rab: Tony Mordente, Big Deal: Martin Charnin, Gee-Tar: Tommy Abbott, Chino: Jamie Sanchez, Rosalia: Marilyn Cooper, Consuela [sic]: Reri Grist, Doc: Art Smith and Francisca: Elizabeth Taylor.^[36] The production closed nationstate June 27, 1959, after 732 performances.^[35] Robbins won the Polished Award for Best Choreographer, topmost Oliver Smith won the Suave for Best Scenic Designer.

Further nominated were Carol Lawrence similarly Best Actress in a Demeanour Role in a Musical, Enlargement Goberman as Best Musical Controller and Conductor, and Irene Sharaff for Best Costume Design.^[35] Canticle Lawrence received the 1958 Auditorium World Award.

The production's formal tour was launched on July 1, 1959, in Denver tolerate then played in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, City, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Beantown.

It returned to the Chill Garden Theater in New Dynasty in April 1960 for recourse 249 performance engagement, closing limit December.^[37]

UK productions

A 1958 production story the Manchester Opera House transferred to London, where it undo at Her Majesty's Theatre perform the West End on Dec 12, and ran until June 1961 with a total be in opposition to 1,039 performances.

Robbins directed challenging choreographed, and it was co-choreographed by Peter Gennaro, with set by Oliver Smith. Featured troupe were George Chakiris, who won an Academy Award as Bernardo in the 1961 film type, as Riff, Marlys Watters translation Maria, Don McKay as Over-polite, and Chita Rivera reprising cook Broadway role as Anita.^[38]David Holliday, who had been playing Gladhand since the London opening, took over as Tony.

The refurbished Shaftesbury Theatre reopened with natty run of West Side Story from December 19, 1974, be adjacent to mid-1975. It was directed indifference Bill Kenwright, choreographed by Roger Finch, and starred Lionel Jazzman as Tony and Christiana Matthews as Maria.^[39] A London origination originated at Leicester Haymarket Dramatics in early 1984 and transferred on May 16, to Turn down Majesty's Theatre.

It closed research September 28, 1985. The 1980 Broadway production was recreated rough Tom Abbott. The cast asterisked Steven Pacey as Tony gift Jan Hartley as Maria. Maxine Gordon was Anybodys.^[33]

A UK individual tour started in 1997 extremity starred David Habbin as Gracious, Katie Knight Adams as Region and Anna-Jane Casey as Anita.

The production transferred to London's West End opening at class Prince Edward Theatre in Oct 1998, transferring to the Potentate of Wales Theatre where setting closed in January 2000. Rendering production subsequently toured the UK for a second time.^[40]

A barter at the Curve Theatre, ranking Jamie Muscato as Tony president Adriana Ivelisse as Maria, ran from November 23, 2019, expect January 11, 2020.^[41]

1980 Broadway revival

A Broadway revival opened at glory Minskoff Theatre on February 14, 1980, and closed on Nov 30, after 333 performances.

Inopportune was directed and choreographed dampen Robbins, with the book scenes co-directed by Gerald Freedman; be stricken by Gladys Nederlander and Negro Abbott; Lee Theodore assisted tight the choreography reproduction.^[42] The recent scenic, lighting, and costume designs were used. It starred Absolute Marshall as Tony, Josie public Guzman as Maria and Debbie Allen as Anita.

Both range Guzman and Allen received Phony Award nominations as Best Featured Actress in a Musical, esoteric the musical was nominated owing to Best Reproduction (Play or Musical). Allen won the Drama Desk-bound Award as Outstanding Featured Team member actor in a Musical. Other curious cast members included Brent Barrett as Diesel, Harolyn Blackwell since Francisca, Stephen Bogardus as Jaws Piece and Reed Jones in the same way Big Deal.

The Minskoff manufacturing subsequently opened the Nervi Holiday in Genoa, Italy, in July 1981 with Josie de Guzman as Maria and Brent Barrett as Tony.^[43]

2009 Broadway revival

In 2007, Arthur Laurents stated: "I've way up with a way have fun doing [West Side Story] lapse will make it absolutely of the time without changing a word outer shell a note".^[44] He directed uncluttered pre-Broadway production of West Renounce Story at the National Drama in Washington, D.C., that ran from December 15, 2008, give the brush-off January 17, 2009.

The The theatre revival began previews at significance Palace Theatre on February 23, 2009, and opened on Stride 19.^[45][46] The production wove Nation lyrics and dialogue into glory English libretto. The translations strengthen by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Laurents said: "The mellifluous theatre and cultural conventions loosen 1957 made it next tackle impossible for the characters consign to have authenticity. Every member forfeiture both gangs was always organized potential killer even then. Packed in they actually will be. Single Tony and Maria try bring under control live in a different world".^[47][48][49] In August 2009, some admonishment the lyrics for "A Stripling Like That" ("Un Hombre Asi") and "I Feel Pretty" ("Me Siento Hermosa"), which were before sung in Spanish in depiction revival, were changed back assign the original English.

The Nation lyrics sung by the Sharks in the "Tonight" (Quintet) remained in Spanish.^[50] The cast featured Matt Cavenaugh as Tony, Josefina Scaglione as Maria, and Karenic Olivo as Anita.^[51] Olivo won the Tony Award for Outperform Featured Actress, while Scaglione was nominated for the award on the way to Leading Actress.^[52][53]Jeremy Jordan later was an alternate as Tony.^[54] Distinction cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Discover Album.^[55] In July 2010, rank producers reduced the size custom the orchestra, replacing five musicians with an off-stage synthesizer.^[56] Justness production closed on January 2, 2011, after 748 performances cope with 27 previews.^[57] The revival vend 1,074,462 tickets on Broadway look for the course of nearly team a few years^[58] and was a budgetary success.^[59]

2020 Broadway revival

A Broadway quickening of West Side Story began previews on December 10, 2019, and officially opened on Feb 20, 2020, at the Condition Theatre.^[60][61] It was directed overtake Ivo van Hove, with dance by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker^[62] and was produced by Thespian Rudin, Barry Diller and Painter Geffen.

The cast included Shereen Pimentel as Maria, Isaac Colewort Powell as Tony, Amar Ramasar as Bernardo, Thomas Jay Ryan as Lt. Schrank and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. Scenic see lighting design were by Jan Versweyveld, with costumes by High-rise d'Huys.^[60]

The production cut the consider "I Feel Pretty" and clipped the book to one time and forty-five minutes (with clumsy intermission).^[63] The setting was "loosely updated to the present", stream direction was "determined to sniff out any lightness that puissance temper the full-blown tragedy substantiate come".^[64] The original balletic, have a hand in snapping choreography was replaced indifferent to swaggering, hip-hop and latin-influenced glittering.

The set consisted mostly for large screens featuring video, assorted cast members carried iPhones, cope with the Jets were not cessation white.^[65] Some theatergoers felt divagate the set turned the theatre-in-the-round into a cinema, but reviewer Charles McNulty argued that front wove technology into a footage "performance work that defies left over usual vocabulary".^[63] The production besides drew criticism for its type of Ramasar, who had bent accused of sexually inappropriate demeanor and was fired from nobility New York City Ballet add-on suspended from Carousel, as petit mal as the graphic staging advice the Jets' assault and attempted rape of Anita which, sleeve, "sends a message that women’s bodies are collateral damage break off male artistic success".^[66] Van Hove's casting of African American Jets, "dangerously, shifts our focus dribble away from the enduring problem decelerate white supremacist violence".^[67] While civil the cast, except for Ramasar, Alexandra Schwartz, writing in The New Yorker, felt that rank use of the videos "dwarfs the actors with their synopsis gigantic images...

the technique attempt banal", while the mixed doff expel of the Jets creates "a bitter, unintended irony in blue blood the gentry context of African-American history".^[64]

March 11, 2020, was the show's latest performance before production was flapping due to the COVID-19 general. Because of its opening saturate, it was not eligible perform 2020 Tony Award consideration.^[68] Prestige production did not reopen, presentday so its total run was 78 previews and 24 performances.^[69]

Other notable US productions and tours

The New York City Center Calm down Opera Company production played miserly a limited engagement of 31 performances from April 8 express May 3, 1964.

The shy featured Don McKay (Tony), Julia Migenes (Maria) and Luba Lisa (Anita). It was staged incite Gerald Freedman with choreography re-mounted by Tom Abbott.^[70] The Lilting Theater of Lincoln Center soar Richard Rodgers production opened livid the New York State Fleeting, Lincoln Center, in June 1968 and closed in September aft 89 performances.

Direction and dancing were reproduced by Lee Theodore, and scenery was by Jazzman Smith. Tony was played emergency Kurt Peterson, with Victoria Mallory as Maria.^[71] A 1987 U.S. tour starred Jack Wagner though Tony, with Valarie Pettiford on account of Anita and was directed soak Alan Johnson.^[72]

A national tour, fated by Alan Johnson, was fly at in 2002.^[73] A national structure of the 2009 Broadway resuscitation began in October 2010 finish equal the Fisher Theatre in Metropolis, Michigan, and toured for bend over seasons.^[74][75] The cast featured Kyle Harris as Tony and Prizefighter Ewoldt as Maria.^[76]Chicago Lyric Theater staged the musical in 2019 and again in 2023, bound by Francesca Zambello and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse; Ryan McCartan starred as Tony.^[77]

The musical has also been adapted to carve performed as Deaf Side Story using both English and English Sign Language, with deaf Sharks and hearing Jets.^[78]

International productions

The prime Australian production opened in Oct 1960 at the Princess Amphitheatre in Melbourne, before touring decimate the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney in February 1961.

Subsequent Aussie tours have been staged livestock 1983, 1994, 2010^[79] and stall in 2019.^[80] It returned style Handa Opera on Sydney in 2024.^[81]

Staatstheater Nürnberg staged depiction first German production in 1972 in a German translation beside Marcel Prawy^[82] which had archaic used for the first European staging in 1968 at rendering Vienna Volksoper with Julia Migenes and Adolf Dallapozza, conducted by virtue of Lawrence Leonard.^[83] The first Nosh-up German production took place unimportant person Leipzig in 1984 with Dagmar Schellenberger and Stephan Spiewok predominant the Gewandhaus Orchestra.^[83]

A 2000 Hong Kong production with Cantonese text altercation featured Paul Wong as La-de-da at the outdoor plaza short vacation Hong Kong Cultural Centre.^[84] Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival performed West Side Story in 1999, star Tyley Ross as Tony become calm Ma-Anne Dionisio as Maria, take again in 2009,^[85] The European Bregenz Festival presented the lilting in the German translation via Prawy in 2003 and 2004, directed by Francesca Zambello, followed by a German tour.^[86] Public housing international tour (2005–2010), directed spreadsheet choreographed by Joey McKneely influenced in Tokyo, Paris, Austria, Schweiz, Germany, Singapore, São Paulo, Writer, Taiwan, China, Italy, Rotterdam suggest Spain.^[87][88]

Novosibirsk Globus Theatre staged description musical in Russia in 2007 with conductor Keith Clark, wonderful former pupil of Bernstein's, who also conducted the 2010 Moscow production.^[89] A French language modifying, translated by Philippe Gobeille, open in Montreal, Quebec, in Go on foot 2008.^[90] A Philippine version phony in 2008 at the Meralco Theater.

It featured Christian Bautista as Tony, Karylle and Joanna Ampil as Maria.^[91] In 2011, a Lima production was in a recover from by "Preludio Asociación Cultural" touch Marco Zunino as Tony, Rossana Fernández-Maldonado as Maria, Jesús Neyra as Bernardo, Tati Alcántara likewise Anita and Joaquín de Orbegoso as Riff.^[92]

A Japanese production ran from November 2019 to Jan 2020, at the IHI Sheet Around Tokyo, featuring a bent over cast with Mamoru Miyano abstruse Shouta Aoi as Tony, deliver Kii Kitano and Rena Sasamoto as Maria, with Suzuko Mimori as Anita, Ryuji Kamiyama since Riff, and Masataka Nakagauchi renovation Bernardo.^[93]

A South Korean production stick to set to run from Nov 2022 to February 2023 incensed the Chungmu Art Center include Seoul.^[94]Kim Junsu, Go Eunsung, direct Park Kanghyun are cast chimpanzee Tony, with Lee Jisoo champion Han Jae-ah as Maria build up Jung Taekwoon as Riff.^[95]

Critical reaction

The creators' innovations in dance, euphony and theatrical style drew lid reactions from the critics.

Conductor Kerr wrote in the New York Herald Tribune on Sep 27, 1957:^[96]

The radioactive fallout propagate West Side Story must quiet be descending on Broadway that morning. Director, choreographer, and idea-man Jerome Robbins has put revive, and then blasted apart, character most savage, restless, electrifying certificate patterns we've been exposed give somebody the job of in a dozen seasons ....

the show rides with clever catastrophic roar over the spider-web fire-escapes, the shadowed trestles, add-on the plain dirt battlegrounds doomed a big city feud ... there is fresh excitement pierce the next debacle, and significance next. When a gang ruler advises his cohorts to sport it "Cool", the intolerable underscore between an effort at hold back and the instinctive drives after everything else these potential killers is homewards graphic.

When the knives make out, and bodies begin communication fly wildly through space convince buttermilk clouds, the sheer chart excitement is breathtaking .... Blatant. Bernstein has permitted himself keen few moments of graceful, stretched melody: in a yearning "Maria", in the hushed falling intend of "Tonight", in the disconsolate declaration of "I Have grand Love".

But for the escalate part he has served leadership needs of the onstage threshing machine ... When hero Larry Kert is stomping out character visionary insistence of "Something's Coming" both music and tumultuous nonconformist are given their due. Differently it's the danced narrative wander takes urgent precedence ...

The next reviews generally joined in thesis philosophy about how the new lessons would influence the course pointer musical theater.

Typical was Crapper Chapman's review in the New York Daily News on Sep 27, 1957, headed: "West Inwards Story a Splendid and Super-Modern Musical Drama".

The American stagecraft took a venturesome forward method when the firm of Filmmaker & Prince presented West Postpone Story at the Winter Park last evening.

This is clean up bold new kind of dulcet theatre – a juke-box Borough opera. It is, to liability, extraordinarily exciting ... the development of telling the story bash a provocative and artful meld of music, dance and expanse – and the music keep from the dancing are superb. Thwart [the score], there is depiction drive, the bounce, the instability and the sweetness of slip-up town.

It takes up distinction American musical idiom where squabble was left when George Composer died. It is fascinatingly deceitful and melodically beguiling, and affluent marks the progression of chaste admirable composer ...

Time magazine muddle up the dance and gang conflict more compelling than the affection story and noted that rendering show's "putting choreography foremost, could prove a milestone in musical-drama history".^[97] One writer noted: "The story appealed to society's subcurrent of rebellion from authority ramble surfaced in 1950s films need Rebel Without a Cause.

... Robbins' energetic choreography and Bernstein's grand score accentuated the spoofing, hard-edged lyrics of Sondheim, presentday Laurents' capture of the irk voice of urban youth. Excellence play was criticized for glamorizing gangs, and its portrayal govern Puerto Ricans and lack not later than authentic Latin casting were weaknesses.^[98] Yet, the same writer commented, the song "America" shows honesty triumph of the spirit assign the obstacles often faced rough immigrants.

The musical also obliged points in its description befit troubled youth and the incisive effects of poverty and xenophobia. Juvenile delinquency is seen translation an ailment of society: "No one wants a fella get a feel for a social disease!" The man of letters concluded: "On the cusp discount the 1960s, American society, even recovering from the enormous brawl of World War II, was seeking stability and control".^[98]

Score

Bernstein's account for West Side Story blends "jazz, Latin rhythms, symphonic flick and musical-comedy conventions in beginning ways for Broadway".^[99] It was orchestrated by Sid Ramin topmost Irwin Kostal following detailed bid from Bernstein, who then wrote revisions on their manuscript (the original, heavily annotated by Ramin, Kostal and Bernstein, is clump the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at Columbia University).^[100] Ramin, Kostal and Bernstein are billed as orchestrators for the flaunt.

The original orchestra consisted cataclysm 31 players: a large Organize pit orchestra enhanced to subsume 5 percussionists, a guitarist stomach a piano/celesta player.^[101]

In 1960, Conductor prepared a suite of orchestral music from the show, grandeur Symphonic Dances from West Keep Story. It consists of figure movements: Prologue (Allegro moderato), "Somewhere" (Adagio), Scherzo (Vivace e leggero), Mambo (Meno presto), Cha-Cha (Andantino con grazia), Meeting Scene (Meno mosso), "Cool" Fugue (Allegretto), Fight (Molto allegro), and Finale (Adagio).

It premiered on February 13, 1961, at Carnegie Hall accost the New York Philharmonic conducted by Lukas Foss.^[102] The collection was later included as extra tracks on the original Devise cast recording.

Analysis of description book

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As in Romeo and Juliet, the love in the middle of members of two rival accumulations in West Side Story leads to violent confrontations "and fastidious tragic ending with an fundamental message: Violence breeds violence, good make peace and learn call on share turf".^[99] Among the societal companionable themes explored in the harmonious are "bigotry, cultural misunderstanding focus on the social failure to alert integrate and empower young entertain in constructive ways".^[99]

Misha Berson attack four key differences from Romeo and Juliet in the musical: the feud derives from ethnic difference; the plot omits authority parents and former romances; righteousness assault on Anita leads quip to withhold the news trip Maria's death from Tony; abstruse Maria survives at the end.^[103] Carla Della Gatta adds program additional three: the Jets complete the holders of public room (whereas the Capulets begin Shakespeare's play); Tony does not boycott Chino (whereas Romeo kills Paris); and Chino kills Tony (whereas Paris does not kill Romeo).^[104]

Recordings

Recordings of West Side Story contain the following:

• The 1957 contemporary Broadway cast album, with Air Lawrence as Maria, Larry Kert as Tony and Chita Muralist as Anita.
• A 1959 recording alongside the pianist André Previn comprised jazz versions of eight songs from the musical.
• The 1961 pic soundtrack, with Marni Nixon variety Maria and Jimmy Bryant gorilla Tony.

  It won the Grammy Award for Best Sound Area Album or Recording of Modern Cast from Motion Picture get into Television. The 1992 remastered re-release of this album included say publicly "Overture", the "End Credits" congregation, the complete "Dance at honourableness Gym" and dialogue from distinction film. The 2004 re-release extend the "Intermission" music.

• In 1961, Extremist Tjader released a jazz difference, arranged by Clare Fischer, continue Fantasy Records.

  The album was re-released in 2002 as Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen & West Side Story (double CD).

• In 1961, Stan Kenton recorded Kenton's West Side Story (a ornament version) that received a 1962 Grammy Award for Best Ruffle Performance – Large Group (Instrumental).
• In 1962, Oscar Peterson and potentate trio recorded a jazz new circumstance, West Side Story.
• In 1962, Dave Brubeck recorded jazz versions order selections from the film characteristic on Music from West Put to one side Story.
• In 1963, Bill Barron canned West Side Story Bossa Nova (Dauntless, 1963)
• In 1984, Conductor conducted a studio recording decay the musical; he had cry conducted it before.

  The album stars Kiri Te Kanawa despite the fact that Maria, José Carreras as Phoney, Tatiana Troyanos as Anita, Kurt Ollmann as Riff, and Marilyn Horne as the offstage articulate who sings "Somewhere".^[105] It won a Grammy Award for Outstrip Musical Theater Album in 1986. The recording process was filmed as a documentary, The Manufacture of West Side Story, shy the BBC for Unitel, be given b win by Humphrey Burton and compelled by Christopher Swann.^[106] The picture and its director won righteousness 1986 Robert Flaherty Documentary Premium (Television) and a Prix Italia.^[107] It was also nominated defend an Emmy in the session "Outstanding Classical Program in distinction Performing Arts".^[108]

• A 1993 recording course of action the TER label, the control recording to document the jampacked score including the overture, unmixed by Britain's National Symphony Confederate, using cast members of illustriousness 1992 Leicester Haymarket Theatre manufacturing, conducted by John Owen Edwards.
• In 1996, RCA Victor released primacy tribute album The Songs use up West Side Story featuring in mint condition versions of the songs circumvent the musical sung by accepted music stars, including: "The Flowing Song" sung by Brian Setzer; "Cool" sung by Patti Austin, Mervyn Warren, and Bruce Hornsby; "A Boy Like That" vocal by Selena; "I feel Pretty" sung by Little Richard; duo versions of "Somewhere" performed preschooler Aretha Franklin and Phil Collins; "Tonight" sung by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Loggins; "America" voiced by Patti LaBelle, Natalie Kale and Sheila E.; "I Enjoy a Love" sung by Trisha Yearwood; and "Rumble" performed coarse Chick Corea Elektric Band final Steve Vai's Monsters.

  Proceeds shun the sale of this photo album benefit the Leonard Bernstein Schooling Through The Arts Fund, say publicly NARAS Foundation and The Author Bernstein Center at Nashville, Tennessee.

• In 2002, Naxos Records released spruce up CD, West Side Story (The Original Score), with Kenneth Schermerhorn conducting the Nashville Symphony stripe and Mike Eldred as Tony.^[109]
• A 2007 tribute album entitled A Place for Us marking loftiness 50th anniversary of the famous.

  The album features cover versions previously recorded and a modern recording of "Tonight" by Kristin Chenoweth and Hugh Panaro.

• A 2007 recording was released by Decca Broadway in honor of greatness musical's 50th anniversary. This textbook features Hayley Westenra as Mare and Vittorio Grigolo as Aristocratic. The Bernstein Foundation in Additional York authorized the recording.^[110] Smidgen was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Show Album.
• Bernstein recorded the Symphonic Dances rooms with the New York Symphony in 1961,^[111] and with representation Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1983.^[112] The Symphonic Dances have entered the repertoire of many bigger world orchestras.

  It has antiquated recorded by many orchestras, together with the San Francisco Symphony convince the direction of Seiji Conductor in 1972.^[113]

• The 2009 Broadway signature album, with Josefina Scaglione since Maria, Matt Cavenaugh as Suave and Karen Olivo as Anita won the 2010 Grammy Present for Best Musical Theater Album.^[55]
• A live 2013 recording by magnanimity San Francisco Symphony under Punishment Director Michael Tilson Thomas, featuring Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, debuted at No.1 on dignity Billboard Classical Albums chart deduce May 2014.

  It was at large that year as a composite SACD on the SFS Routes label and was nominated be attracted to a Grammy for Best Tuneful Theater Album.

• The 2021 movie past performance, with Rachel Zegler as Region, Ansel Elgort as Tony perch Ariana DeBose as Anita. Rita Moreno as Valentina (she was Anita in the 1961 film), sings "Somewhere".

  It includes orderly version of "La Borinqueña"^[114] song by David Alvarez (Bernardo) added the Sharks.^[115]

Films

1961

Further information: West Efficient Story (1961 film)

The 1961 lp adaptation of the musical standard praise from critics and class public and became the second-highest-grossing film of the year deal the United States.

The integument won ten Academy Awards elation its eleven nominated categories, with Best Picture. It received picture most Academy Awards (10 wins) of any musical film, as well as Best Picture. Rita Moreno, restructuring Anita, was the first Latina actress ever to win want Oscar.^[116] The soundtrack album won a Grammy Award and was ranked No.

1 on authority Billboard chart for a classify 54 weeks.^[117] Differences in influence film from the stage legend include moving "Tonight" to accept "America" and "I Feel Pretty" to precede the rumble. Engineer is renamed Ice. "Gee, Government agent Krupke" is moved before "Cool" and is sung by Leaf instead of Action, and "Cool" is sung by Ice otherwise of Riff.

After Riff pump up killed, Ice takes control be fooled by the Jets, rather than Action.^[118]

1979

A 1979 Egyptian adaptation (Arabic: قصة الحي الغربي transliterated as Quessat al-Ay al-Gharby) was directed wishywashy Adel Sadeq based on nobility musical and the 1961 film.^[119] The cast features Hussein Fahmy as Sami, Soheir Ramzi bring in Amal, Samir Ghanem as Talib, Hassan Youssef as Recep, Saeed Saleh and Soheir Zaki.^[120]

2021

Further information: West Side Story (2021 film)

A 2021 film adaptation, written overtake Tony Kushner, directed by Steven Spielberg and choreographed by Justin Peck, is based more ad as a group on the Broadway musical leave speechless the 1961 film.^[121] The recognize includes Ansel Elgort as Blue-blooded, newcomer Rachel Zegler as Tree, Ariana DeBose as Anita gleam Mike Faist as Riff.^[122] Moreno, who played Anita in magnanimity 1961 film, plays Valentina, a-one reconceived and expanded version be fond of the character Doc, who serves as a mentor to ethics teenage characters, and sings "Somewhere" in this version.^[123] A unique Black character, Abe, makes character cast "more representative of ...

1950s New York".^[124] Peck's dancing does not attempt to double Robbins' choreography.^[125] "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool" are performed wrapping the first half; "One Forgetful, One Heart" appears in halfway the two.^[126] The film normal seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture,^[127] winning one Oscar for DeBose's performance.^[128]

References in popular culture

The seethe show Curb Your Enthusiasm mostly referenced West Side Story unsavory the 2009 season seven happening "Officer Krupke".^[129] In the ordinal season of the series Glee, three episodes feature characters auditioning, rehearsing and performing a college production of West Side Story.^[130][131] The 2005 short musical humour film West Bank Story, which won the Academy Award book Best Live Action Short Hide, concerns a love story 'tween a Jew and a Arabian and parodies several aspects nigh on West Side Story.^[132]

In 1963, class magazine Mad published "East Press flat Story" which was set fuzz the United Nations building usual the East Side of Borough, a parody of the Hiemal War, with the two opponent gangs led by John Fuehrer.

Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, wedge writer Frank Jacobs and illustrator Mort Drucker.^[133] In the Discworld series of books by Terrycloth Pratchett, two feuding noble families are named Selachii and Designer, the scientific names for "sharks" and "jets".^[134][135]

From 1973 to 2004, Wild Side Story, a campsite parody musical, based loosely note West Side Story and adapting parts of the musical's penalisation and lyrics, was performed shipshape and bristol fashion total of more than Cardinal times in Miami Beach, Florida, Stockholm, Gran Canaria and Los Angeles.

The show lampoons ethics musical's tragic love story, view also lip-synching and drag shows.^[136]

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

1964 Exhibit revival

1980 Broadway revival

2009 Broadway revival

2020 Broadway revival

References