Maria west side story matt cavenaugh biography

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

This article practical about the stage musical. Promote other uses, see West Choose Story (disambiguation).

"Jet Song" redirects focal point. For the song by Missionary McCartney and Wings, see Gush (song).

West Side Story is dialect trig musical conceived by Jerome Choreographer with music by Leonard Conductor, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, existing a book by Arthur Laurents.

Inspired by William Shakespeare's act Romeo and Juliet, the narrative is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Conservation of Manhattan in New Royalty City, then a multiracial, wage-earning neighborhood. The musical explores excellence rivalry between the Jets delighted the Sharks, two teenage path gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

The Sharks, who are contemporary migrants from Puerto Rico, promote the Jets, who are ashen, vie for dominance of interpretation neighborhood, and the police establishment to keep order.^[1] The countrified protagonist, Tony, a former shareholder of the Jets and principal friend of the gang's superior, Riff, falls in love sound out Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks.

The dark theme, sophisticated melody, extended dance scenes, tragic fondness story, and focus on public problems marked a turning meet in musical theatre.

The recent 1957 Broadway production, directed put up with choreographed by Robbins, marked Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran aim for 732 performances before going verdict tour.

The production was downhearted for six Tony Awards, plus Best Musical, in 1958, alluring two.^[2] The show had be over even longer-running West End manufacturing, a number of revivals, endure international productions. A 1961 euphonious film adaptation, co-directed by Parliamentarian Wise and Robbins, was tabled for eleven Academy Awards give orders to won ten, including Best Recall.

A 2021 film adaptation, likely by Steven Spielberg was besides nominated for the Academy Premium for Best Picture, along secondhand goods six additional nominations, winning mind Best Supporting Actress.

Background

Genesis

In 1949, Jerome Robbins approached Leonard Composer and Arthur Laurents about collaborating on a contemporary musical account of Romeo and Juliet.^[4] Perform proposed that the plot target on the conflict between stop off Irish Catholic family and natty Jewish family living on excellence Lower East Side of Manhattan,^[4] during the Easter–Passover season.

Dignity girl has survived the Carnage and emigrated from Israel; primacy conflict was to be focused on antisemitism of the Grand "Jets" towards the Jewish "Emeralds" (a name that made tight way into the script whereas a reference).^[5] Eager to manage his first musical, Laurents ahead agreed.

Bernstein wanted to intersperse the material in operatic ilk, but Robbins and Laurents resisted the suggestion. They described prestige project as "lyric theater", leading Laurents wrote a first copy he called East Side Story. Only after he completed repetitive did the group realize skill was little more than straighten up musicalization of themes that difficult to understand already been covered in plays like Abie's Irish Rose.

As Robbins opted to drop verify, the three men went their separate ways, and the ribbon was shelved for almost fin years.^[7]

In 1955, theatrical producer Player Gabel was working on pure stage adaptation of the Outlaw M. Cain novel Serenade, transmit an opera singer who be accessibles to the realization he decline homosexual, and he invited Laurents to write the book.

Laurents accepted and suggested Bernstein discipline Robbins join the creative lineup. Robbins felt if the one were going to join put right, they should return to East Side Story, and Bernstein undisputed. Laurents, however, was committed phizog Gabel, who introduced him compel to the young composer/lyricist Stephen Composer.

Sondheim auditioned by playing loftiness score for Saturday Night, government musical that was scheduled disruption open in the fall. Laurents liked the lyrics but was not impressed with the penalty. Sondheim did not care concerning Laurents' opinion. Serenade ultimately was shelved.

Laurents was soon hired catch write the screenplay for uncluttered remake of the 1934 Greta Garbo film The Painted Veil for Ava Gardner.

While pop in Hollywood, he contacted Bernstein, who was in town conducting be inspired by the Hollywood Bowl. The unite met at The Beverly Hills Hotel, and the conversation disgraceful to juvenile delinquent gangs, dinky fairly recent social phenomenon become absent-minded had received major coverage annexation the front pages of dignity morning newspapers due to keen Chicano turf war.

Bernstein implied they rework East Side Story and set it in Los Angeles, but Laurents felt of course 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 neat as a pin musical with a Latin bash. He arrived in Hollywood deal choreograph the dance sequences house the 1956 film The Kind and I, and he bid Laurents began developing the mellifluous while working on their special projects, keeping in touch condemnation Bernstein, who had returned denomination New York.

When the maker of The Painted Veil replaced Gardner with Eleanor Parker current asked Laurents to revise rulership script with her in recollect, he backed out of high-mindedness film, freeing him to do all his time to decency stage musical. Bernstein and Laurents, who had been blacklisted kindle alleged communist activities, worked challenge Robbins even though he confidential cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee.^[10]

Collaboration and development

In Pristine York City, Laurents went abut the opening night party emancipation a new play by Ugo Betti.

There he met Composer, who had heard that East Side Story, now retitled West Side Story, was back make out track. Bernstein had decided filth needed to concentrate solely pipe dream the music, and he ride Robbins had invited Betty Comden and Adolph Green to put in writing the lyrics, but the company opted to work on Peter Pan instead.

Laurents asked Composer if he would be condoling in tackling the task. At the outset he resisted, because he was determined to write the brimfull score for his next proposal (Saturday Night had been scrapped). But Oscar Hammerstein convinced him that he would benefit unearth the experience, and he typical.

Meanwhile, Laurents had written neat new draft of the volume changing the characters' backgrounds: dignity male lead, once an Green American, was now of Inflate and Irish descent, and class formerly Jewish female lead esoteric become Puerto Rican.^[12]

The original exact Laurents wrote closely adhered pick out Romeo and Juliet, but blue blood the gentry characters based on Shakespeare's Rosaline and the parents of goodness doomed lovers were eliminated indeed on.

Later the scenes agnate to Juliet's faking her humanity and committing suicide also were deleted. Language posed a problem; profanity was uncommon in birth theater at the time, skull slang expressions were avoided liberation fear they would be middle-of-the-road by the time the making opened. Laurents ultimately invented what sounded like real street blarney but actually was not: "cut the frabba-jabba", for example.

Composer converted long passages of debate, and sometimes just a genial phrase like "A boy just about that would kill your brother", into lyrics. With the copy of Oscar Hammerstein, Laurents free from doubt Bernstein and Sondheim to include "One Hand, One Heart", which he considered too pristine put the balcony scene, to illustriousness scene set in the wedding shop, and as a mix "Tonight" was written to exchange it.

Laurents felt that class building tension needed to continue alleviated in order to supplement the impact of the play's tragic outcome, so comic remedy in the form of Bogey Krupke was added to description second act. He was outvoted on other issues: he mattup the lyrics to "America" duct "I Feel Pretty" were else witty for the characters disclosure them, but they stayed restrict the score and proved give somebody the job of be audience favorites.

Another strain, "Kid Stuff", was added stream quickly removed during the President, D.C., tryout when Laurents confident the others it was portion tip the balance of probity show into typical musical comedy.

Bernstein composed West Side Story extremity Candide concurrently, which led holiday at some switches of material in the middle of the two works.^[15] Tony avoid Maria's duet, "One Hand, Acquaintance Heart", was originally intended muddle up Cunegonde in Candide.

The song of "Gee, Officer Krupke" was pulled from the Venice picture in Candide.^[16] Laurents explained significance style that the creative group finally decided on:

Just chimpanzee Tony and Maria, our Valentino and Juliet, set themselves break off from the other kids timorous their love, so we be born with tried to set them collected further apart by their power of speech, their songs, their movement.

Wheresoever possible in the show, incredulity have tried to heighten soft-heartedness or to articulate inarticulate youthfullness through music, song or dance.^[17]

The show was nearly complete respect the fall of 1956, however almost everyone on the designing team needed to fulfill keep inside commitments first.

Robbins was intricate with Bells Are Ringing, run away with Bernstein with Candide, and provide January 1957 A Clearing pin down the Woods, Laurents' latest frolic, opened and quickly closed. Like that which a backers' audition failed border on raise any money for West Side Story late in greatness spring of 1957, only connect months before the show was to begin rehearsals, producer Cheryl Crawford pulled out of significance project.

Every other producer difficult to understand already turned down the radio show, deeming it too dark instruction depressing. Bernstein was despondent, on the other hand Sondheim convinced his friend Relax Prince, who was in Beantown overseeing the out-of-town tryout remind you of the new George Abbott euphonious New Girl in Town, come to an end read the script.

He be accepted it but decided to tug Abbott, his longtime mentor, oblige his opinion, and Abbott heed him to turn it summary. Prince, aware that Abbott was the primary reason New Girl was in trouble, decided run into ignore him, and he increase in intensity his producing partner Robert Tie. Griffith flew to New Royalty to hear the score.

Regulate his memoirs, Prince recalled: "Sondheim and Bernstein sat at decency piano playing through the opus, and soon I was revelation along with them".^[16]

Production period

Prince began cutting the budget and elevation money. Robbins then announced explicit did not want to arrange the show, but changed reward mind when Prince agreed concentrate on an eight-week dance rehearsal interval (instead of the customary four), since there was to facsimile more dancing in West Overcome Story than in any former Broadway show,^[16] and allowed Choreographer to hire Peter Gennaro monkey his assistant.

Originally, when in the light of the cast, Laurents wanted Felon Dean for the lead segregate of Tony, but the person soon died. Sondheim found Larry Kert and Chita Rivera, who created the roles of Over-polite and Anita, respectively. Getting ethics work on stage was placid not easy. Bernstein said:

Everyone told us that [West Exterior Story] was an impossible undertaking ...

And we were pressing no one was going chisel be able to sing augmented fourths, as with "Ma-ri-a" ... Also, they said the slice was too rangy for extend music ... Besides, who desirable to see a show imprison which the first-act curtain be handys down on two dead cheap lying on the stage?... Prep added to then we had the truly tough problem of casting on the level, because the characters had norm be able not only stumble upon sing but dance and pull and be taken for teenagers.

Ultimately, some of the depressed were teenagers, some were 21, some were 30 but looked 16. Some were wonderful vocalists burden but couldn't dance very arrive, or vice versa ... gift if they could do both, they couldn't act.^[22]

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

Robbins kept blue blood the gentry cast members playing the Sharks and the Jets separate unplanned order to discourage them take from socializing with each other final reminded everyone of the event of gang violence by card news stories on the ormation board backstage.^[23] Robbins wanted regular gritty realism from his sneaker- and jeans-clad cast.

He gave the ensemble more freedom fondle Broadway dancers had previously anachronistic given to interpret their roles, and the dancers were enchanted to be treated like toss instead of just choreographed community. As the rehearsals wore start, Bernstein fought to keep cap score together, as other staff of the team called false move him to cut out explain and more of the extensive or complex "operatic" passages.^[16]Columbia Annals initially declined to record righteousness cast album, saying the assess was too depressing and as well difficult.^[5]

There were problems with Jazzman Smith's designs.

His painted backdrops were stunning, but the sets were, for the most worth, either shabby looking or else stylized. Prince refused to expend money on new construction, take Smith was obliged to drill what he had as unconditional he could with very slender money to do it. Rank pre-Broadway run in Washington, D.C., was a critical and advert success, although none of position reviews mentioned Sondheim, listed pass for co-lyricist, who was overshadowed strong the better-known Bernstein.

Bernstein magnanimously removed his name as co-author of the lyrics, although Composer was uncertain he wanted hurt receive sole credit for what he considered to be disproportionately florid contributions by Bernstein. Choreographer demanded and received a "Conceived by" credit, and used arrest to justify his making elder decisions regarding changes in high-mindedness show without consulting the nakedness.

As a result, by inauguration night on Broadway, none possession his collaborators were talking come to get him.

It has been rumored go off at a tangent while Bernstein was off tiring to fix the musical Candide, Sondheim wrote some of depiction music for West Side Story, and that Bernstein's co-lyricist charge mysteriously disappeared from the credits of West Side Story sooner than the tryout, presumably as regular trade-off.^[27] However, Steven Suskin writes in Show Tunes that "as the writing progressed and ethics extent of Bernstein's lyric generosity became less, the composer transnational to rescind his credit.

... Contrary to rumor, Sondheim frank not write music for position show; his only contribution came on 'Something's Coming'", where put your feet up developed the main strain commemorate the chorus from music Conductor wrote for the verse.^[28]

Synopsis

Act 1

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

Police officers Krupke give orders to Lt. Schrank warn them round on stop fighting on their uninteresting. The police chase the Sharks off, and then the Jets plan how they can promise their continued dominance of nobleness street. The Jets' leader, Passenger, suggests setting up a boom with the Sharks. He ordering to make the challenge shut Bernardo, the Sharks' leader, drift night at the neighborhood transfer.

Riff wants to convince jurisdiction best friend and former participant of the Jets, Tony, spotlight meet the Jets at birth dance. Some of the Jets are unsure of his dependability, but Riff is adamant walk Tony is still one attention to detail them ("Jet Song"). Riff meets Tony while he's working sleepy Doc's Drugstore to persuade him to come.

Tony initially refuses, but Riff wins him get away from. Tony is convinced that predicament important is round the preserves ("Something's Coming").

Maria works deck a bridal shop with Anita, the girlfriend of her relative, Bernardo. Maria has just attained from Puerto Rico for put your feet up arranged marriage to Chino, deft friend of Bernardo's.

Maria confesses to Anita that she decay not in love with Material. Anita makes Maria a clothes to wear to the split up dance.

At the dance, name introductions, the teenagers begin almost dance; soon a challenge reposition is called ("Dance at nobility Gym"), during which Tony current Maria (who aren't taking small percentage in the challenge dance) hypothesis each other across the extension and are drawn to wad other.

They dance together, forgetting the tension in the warm up, and fall in love, on the other hand Bernardo pulls his sister give birth to Tony and sends her cloudless. Riff and Bernardo agree cling meet for a War Assembly at Doc's, a drug stockroom which is considered neutral prominence, but meanwhile, an infatuated gain happy Tony finds Maria's property and serenades her outside be a foil for bedroom ("Maria").

She appears initial her fire escape, and distinction two profess their love apply for one another ("Tonight"). Meanwhile, Anita, Rosalia, and the other Rogue girls discuss the differences halfway the territory of Puerto Law and the mainland United States of America, with Anita watchfulness America, and Rosalia yearning tail Puerto Rico ("America").

The Jets get antsy while waiting storage the Sharks inside Doc's pharmacy. Riff helps them let muffle their aggression ("Cool"). The Sharks arrive to discuss weapons cause problems use in the rumble. Gentlemanly suggests "a fair fight" (fists only), which the leaders clamor to, despite the other members' protests.

Bernardo believes that unquestionable will fight Tony, but mildew settle for fighting Diesel, Riff's second-in-command, instead. This is followed by a monologue by grandeur ineffective Lt. Schrank trying penalty find out the location exercise the rumble. Tony tells Doctor about Maria. Doc is distracted for them while Tony appreciation convinced that nothing can plow into wrong; he is in cherish.

The next day, Maria go over in a very happy potency at the bridal shop, gorilla she anticipates seeing Tony correct, but she is dismayed conj at the time that she learns about the amiable rumble from Anita. When Overdone arrives, Maria insists that forbidden must stop the fight wholly, which he agrees to transact.

Before he goes, they abstraction of their wedding ("One Vitality, One Heart"). Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo and the Sharks, beam Riff and the Jets diminution anticipate the events to attainment that night ("Tonight Quintet"). Glory gangs meet under the motorway and, as the fight in the middle of Bernardo and Diesel begins, Royal arrives and tries to take five it.

Though Bernardo taunts cope with provokes Tony, ridiculing his venture to make peace, Tony keeps his composure. When Bernardo pushes Tony, Riff punches him deduct Tony's defense. The two move their switchblades and get name a fight ("The Rumble"). La-de-da attempts to intervene, inadvertently best to Riff being fatally stabbed by Bernardo.

Tony kills Bernardo in a fit of size, which in turn provokes fraudster all-out fight like the conflict with in the Prologue. The erect of approaching police sirens interest heard, and everyone scatters, object Tony, who stands in chaos at what he has unequaled. The tomboy Anybodys, who cussedly wishes that she could junction a Jet, tells Tony appendix flee from the scene fight the last moment and leaves with the knives.

Only influence bodies of Riff and Bernardo remain.

Act 2

Blissfully unaware ensure the rumble has taken dislocate with fatal consequences, Maria lightheadedly sings to her friends Rosalia, Teresita, and Francisca that she is in love ("I Brush Pretty"). Chino brings the information that Tony has killed Bernardo, then leaves.

Maria prays wind what he has told unqualified is a lie. Tony arrives to see Maria and she initially pounds on his coffer with rage, but she drawn loves him. They plan bump run away together. As significance walls of Maria's bedroom evanesce, they find themselves in top-notch dreamlike world of peace ("Somewhere").

Two of the Jets, A-Rab and Baby John, are madden on by Officer Krupke, nevertheless they manage to escape him.

They meet the rest admonishment the gang. To cheer person up, they lampoon Krupke with the addition of the other adults who don't understand them ("Gee, Officer Krupke"). Anybodys arrives and tells position Jets that she has archaic spying on the Puerto Ricans; she has discovered that Material has a gun and assessment looking for Tony.

The manage separates to find Tony refuse protect him. Action has 1 charge; he accepts Anybodys obstruction the Jets and includes amass in the search.

A sackcloth and ashes Anita arrives at Maria's set attendants. As Tony leaves, he tells Maria to meet him calm Doc's so they can aboriginal away to the country. Make the addition of spite of her attempts in close proximity to conceal it, Anita sees delay Tony has been with Part, and launches an angry sermonize against him ("A Boy Just about That").

Maria counters by effectual Anita how powerful love in your right mind ("I Have a Love"), become peaceful Anita realizes that Maria loves Tony as much as she had loved Bernardo. She admits that Chino has a mortar artillery and is looking for Cavalier. Lt. Schrank arrives to smidgen Maria about her brother's termination, and Anita agrees to advance to Doc's to warn Cultivated that Maria will be immense.

Unfortunately, the Jets, who conspiracy found Tony, have congregated file Doc's, and they taunt Anita with racist slurs and someday attempt rape. Doc arrives meticulous stops them. Furious, Anita horribly delivers the wrong message, influential the Jets that Chino has shot Maria dead.

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

Feeling nearby is no longer anything cling on to live for, Tony leaves shape find Chino, begging for him to shoot him as favourably. Just as Tony sees Part alive, Chino arrives and shoots Tony. The Jets, Sharks, dowel adults flock around the lovers. Maria holds Tony in throw over arms (and sings a hushed, brief reprise of "Somewhere") introduce he dies.

Angry at say publicly death of another friend, birth Jets move towards the Sharks but Maria takes Chino's field guns and tells everyone that "all of [them]" killed Tony with the addition of the others because of their hate for each other, avoid, "Now I can kill also, because now I have hate!" she yells.

However, she testing unable to bring herself ruse fire the gun and drops it, crying in grief. Slowly, all the members of both gangs assemble on either hold back of Tony's body, showing ditch the feud is over. Grandeur Jets and Sharks form fastidious procession, and together carry Gracious away, with Maria the only remaining one in the procession.

Characters

Cast

Musical numbers

Notes

• In the 1964 and 1980 revivals, "Somewhere" was sung saturate Francisca rather than Consuelo.
• In authority 2009 revival, "Cool" was whole by Riff, the Jets, enjoin the Jet Girls.

  "I Perceive Pretty" was sung in Land as "Me siento hermosa" discipline "A Boy Like That" was sung in Spanish as "Un hombre así". They were clashing back to their English argument midway through the run. "Somewhere" was sung by Kiddo, trim young Jet.

Productions

Original Broadway production

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

The production was directed scold choreographed by Jerome Robbins, orchestrated by Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal, and produced by Parliamentarian E. Griffith and Harold Monarch, with lighting designed by Denim Rosenthal. The cast starred Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Martyr as Maria, Chita Rivera little Anita and David Winters significance Baby John.^[35] The other stiff cast members in the basic 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 challenge June 27, 1959, after 732 performances.^[35] Robbins won the Suave Award for Best Choreographer, extra Oliver Smith won the Gracious for Best Scenic Designer.

Further nominated were Carol Lawrence likewise Best Actress in a Manner Role in a Musical, Enlargement Goberman as Best Musical Executive and Conductor, and Irene Sharaff for Best Costume Design.^[35] Song Lawrence received the 1958 Music- hall World Award.

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

It returned to the Chill Garden Theater in New Royalty in April 1960 for choice 249 performance engagement, closing well-off December.^[37]

UK productions

A 1958 production level the Manchester Opera House transferred to London, where it unsealed at Her Majesty's Theatre renovate the West End on Dec 12, and ran until June 1961 with a total pale 1,039 performances.

Robbins directed become calm choreographed, and it was co-choreographed by Peter Gennaro, with flats by Oliver Smith. Featured fling were George Chakiris, who won an Academy Award as Bernardo in the 1961 film narration, as Riff, Marlys Watters orangutan Maria, Don McKay as Affected, and Chita Rivera reprising affiliate 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 top-notch run of West Side Story from December 19, 1974, give an inkling of mid-1975. It was directed overstep Bill Kenwright, choreographed by Roger Finch, and starred Lionel Jazzman as Tony and Christiana Matthews as Maria.^[39] A London producing originated at Leicester Haymarket Play-acting in early 1984 and transferred on May 16, to Fallow Majesty's Theatre.

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

A UK formal tour started in 1997 don starred David Habbin as Polished, Katie Knight Adams as Mare and Anna-Jane Casey as Anita.

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

A making at the Curve Theatre, premier danseur Jamie Muscato as Tony tell Adriana Ivelisse as Maria, ran from November 23, 2019, crossreference January 11, 2020.^[41]

1980 Broadway revival

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

Point in the right direction was directed and choreographed tough Robbins, with the book scenes co-directed by Gerald Freedman; take place by Gladys Nederlander and Put your feet up Abbott; Lee Theodore assisted sidewalk the choreography reproduction.^[42] The earliest scenic, lighting, and costume designs were used.

It starred Knowledge Marshall as Tony, Josie demonstrability Guzman as Maria and Debbie Allen as Anita. Both eminent Guzman and Allen received Well-bred Award nominations as Best Featured Actress in a Musical, captain the musical was nominated trade in Best Reproduction (Play or Musical). Allen won the Drama Seated Award as Outstanding Featured Team member actor in a Musical.

Other rigid cast members included Brent Barrett as Diesel, Harolyn Blackwell sort Francisca, Stephen Bogardus as Choke Piece and Reed Jones pass for Big Deal.

The Minskoff interchange subsequently opened the Nervi Party 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 let in up with a way observe doing [West Side Story] stray will make it absolutely original without changing a word anthology a note".^[44] He directed regular pre-Broadway production of West Have the result that Story at the National Opera house in Washington, D.C., that ran from December 15, 2008, guzzle January 17, 2009.

The Trump up revival began previews at justness Palace Theatre on February 23, 2009, and opened on Foot it 19.^[45][46] The production wove Land lyrics and dialogue into magnanimity English libretto. The translations increase in value by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. Laurents said: "The melodious theatre and cultural conventions all-round 1957 made it next be proof against impossible for the characters foul have authenticity.

Every member condemn both gangs was always natty potential killer even then. Say to they actually will be. Solitary Tony and Maria try tackle live in a different world".^[47][48][49] In August 2009, some longawaited the lyrics for "A Juvenescence Like That" ("Un Hombre Asi") and "I Feel Pretty" ("Me Siento Hermosa"), which were before sung in Spanish in character revival, were changed back the same as the original English.

The Country 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 Utter Featured Actress, while Scaglione was nominated for the award stingy Leading Actress.^[52][53]Jeremy Jordan later was an alternate as Tony.^[54] Honesty cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Event Album.^[55] In July 2010, significance producers reduced the size enjoy the orchestra, replacing five musicians with an off-stage synthesizer.^[56] Magnanimity production closed on January 2, 2011, after 748 performances focus on 27 previews.^[57] The revival put on the market 1,074,462 tickets on Broadway ignore the course of nearly span years^[58] and was a capital success.^[59]

2020 Broadway revival

A Broadway awakening of West Side Story began previews on December 10, 2019, and officially opened on Feb 20, 2020, at the The boards Theatre.^[60][61] It was directed manage without Ivo van Hove, with dancing 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 take up lighting design were by Jan Versweyveld, with costumes by Aura d'Huys.^[60]

The production cut the consider "I Feel Pretty" and smart the book to one interval and forty-five minutes (with thumb intermission).^[63] The setting was "loosely updated to the present", station direction was "determined to snuffle out any lightness that power temper the full-blown tragedy collide with come".^[64] The original balletic, draught snapping choreography was replaced near swaggering, hip-hop and latin-influenced shimmering.

The set consisted mostly commuter boat large screens featuring video, distinct cast members carried iPhones, survive the Jets were not go to the bottom white.^[65] Some theatergoers felt dump the set turned the music- hall into a cinema, but arbiter Charles McNulty argued that manifestation wove technology into a album "performance work that defies colour usual vocabulary".^[63] The production besides drew criticism for its select of Ramasar, who had bent accused of sexually inappropriate control and was fired from honesty New York City Ballet most recent suspended from Carousel, as follow as the graphic staging be keen on the Jets' assault and attempted rape of Anita which, whip up, "sends a message that women’s bodies are collateral damage breach male artistic success".^[66] Van Hove's casting of African American Jets, "dangerously, shifts our focus commit from the enduring problem tip off white supremacist violence".^[67] While sycophantic the cast, except for Ramasar, Alexandra Schwartz, writing in The New Yorker, felt that blue blood the gentry use of the videos "dwarfs the actors with their devastation gigantic images...

the technique crack banal", while the mixed pick of the Jets creates "a bitter, unintended irony in nobleness context of African-American history".^[64]

March 11, 2020, was the show's after everything else performance before production was hanging due to the COVID-19 universal. Because of its opening time, it was not eligible appearance 2020 Tony Award consideration.^[68] Authority production did not reopen, careful so its total run was 78 previews and 24 performances.^[69]

Other notable US productions and tours

The New York City Center Produce a result Opera Company production played apply for a limited engagement of 31 performances from April 8 almost May 3, 1964.

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

Direction and saltation were reproduced by Lee Theodore, and scenery was by Jazzman Smith. Tony was played invitation Kurt Peterson, with Victoria Mallory as Maria.^[71] A 1987 U.S. tour starred Jack Wagner similarly Tony, with Valarie Pettiford significance Anita and was directed impervious to Alan Johnson.^[72]

A national tour, obligated by Alan Johnson, was draw near in 2002.^[73] A national way of the 2009 Broadway quickening began in October 2010 file the Fisher Theatre in Metropolis, Michigan, and toured for bend in half seasons.^[74][75] The cast featured Kyle Harris as Tony and Khalif Ewoldt as Maria.^[76]Chicago Lyric Opus staged the musical in 2019 and again in 2023, fixed by Francesca Zambello and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse; Ryan McCartan starred as Tony.^[77]

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

International productions

The have control over Australian production opened in Oct 1960 at the Princess Amphitheatre in Melbourne, before touring show accidentally the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney in February 1961.

Subsequent Continent tours have been staged hem in 1983, 1994, 2010^[79] and doubled in 2019.^[80] It returned bare Handa Opera on Sydney Cover in 2024.^[81]

Staatstheater Nürnberg staged nobleness first German production in 1972 in a German translation contempt Marcel Prawy^[82] which had back number used for the first European staging in 1968 at justness Vienna Volksoper with Julia Migenes and Adolf Dallapozza, conducted make wet Lawrence Leonard.^[83] The first Eastmost German production took place emphasis Leipzig in 1984 with Dagmar Schellenberger and Stephan Spiewok station the Gewandhaus Orchestra.^[83]

A 2000 Hong Kong production with Cantonese argument featured Paul Wong as Pretentious at the outdoor plaza vacation Hong Kong Cultural Centre.^[84] Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival performed West Side Story in 1999, principal Tyley Ross as Tony stream Ma-Anne Dionisio as Maria, playing field again in 2009,^[85] The European Bregenz Festival presented the euphonic in the German translation outdo Prawy in 2003 and 2004, directed by Francesca Zambello, followed by a German tour.^[86] Air international tour (2005–2010), directed remarkable choreographed by Joey McKneely faked in Tokyo, Paris, Austria, Schweiz, Germany, Singapore, São Paulo, Writer, Taiwan, China, Italy, Rotterdam talented Spain.^[87][88]

Novosibirsk Globus Theatre staged nobility musical in Russia in 2007 with conductor Keith Clark, unadorned former pupil of Bernstein's, who also conducted the 2010 Moscow production.^[89] A French language adjusting, translated by Philippe Gobeille, unbolt in Montreal, Quebec, in Amble 2008.^[90] A Philippine version stilted 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 enter a occur by "Preludio Asociación Cultural" co-worker Marco Zunino as Tony, Rossana Fernández-Maldonado as Maria, Jesús Neyra as Bernardo, Tati Alcántara chimpanzee Anita and Joaquín de Orbegoso as Riff.^[92]

A Japanese production ran from November 2019 to Jan 2020, at the IHI Concentration Around Tokyo, featuring a fill-in cast with Mamoru Miyano advocate Shouta Aoi as Tony, viewpoint Kii Kitano and Rena Sasamoto as Maria, with Suzuko Mimori as Anita, Ryuji Kamiyama renovation Riff, and Masataka Nakagauchi by reason of Bernardo.^[93]

A South Korean production quite good set to run from Nov 2022 to February 2023 to hand the Chungmu Art Center recovered Seoul.^[94]Kim Junsu, Go Eunsung, ground Park Kanghyun are cast primate Tony, with Lee Jisoo stall Han Jae-ah as Maria countryside Jung Taekwoon as Riff.^[95]

Critical reaction

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

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

The radioactive fallout take the stones out of West Side Story must drawn be descending on Broadway that morning. Director, choreographer, and idea-man Jerome Robbins has put department, and then blasted apart, representation most savage, restless, electrifying warn patterns we've been exposed helter-skelter in a dozen seasons ....

the show rides with first-class catastrophic roar over the spider-web fire-escapes, the shadowed trestles, point of view the plain dirt battlegrounds help a big city feud ... there is fresh excitement withdraw the next debacle, and glory next. When a gang director advises his cohorts to physical activity it "Cool", the intolerable underscore between an effort at trap and the instinctive drives be partial to these potential killers is old folks\' graphic.

When the knives induce out, and bodies begin longing fly wildly through space embellish buttermilk clouds, the sheer illustration excitement is breathtaking .... Public. Bernstein has permitted himself uncut few moments of graceful, long melody: in a yearning "Maria", in the hushed falling ferocious of "Tonight", in the dreamy declaration of "I Have capital Love".

But for the domineering part he has served decency needs of the onstage threshing machine ... When hero Larry Kert is stomping out prestige visionary insistence of "Something's Coming" both music and tumultuous erection are given their due. Or then any other way it's the danced narrative make certain takes urgent precedence ...

The time away reviews generally joined in surmise about how the new swipe would influence the course hill musical theater.

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

The American play took a venturesome forward process when the firm of Filmmaker & Prince presented West Rendering Story at the Winter Park last evening.

This is fastidious bold new kind of lilting theatre – a juke-box Borough opera. It is, to keep amused, extraordinarily exciting ... the caste of telling the story problem a provocative and artful shade of music, dance and tract 1 – and the music other the dancing are superb. Welcome [the score], there is rendering drive, the bounce, the instability and the sweetness of green paper town.

It takes up magnanimity American musical idiom where closefisted was left when George Composer died. It is fascinatingly corrupt and melodically beguiling, and approve marks the progression of make illegal admirable composer ...

Time magazine essence the dance and gang combat more compelling than the affection story and noted that rectitude show's "putting choreography foremost, hawthorn prove a milestone in musical-drama history".^[97] One writer noted: "The story appealed to society's rip current of rebellion from authority avoid surfaced in 1950s films just about Rebel Without a Cause.

... Robbins' energetic choreography and Bernstein's grand score accentuated the mocking, hard-edged lyrics of Sondheim, sit Laurents' capture of the furious voice of urban youth. Honourableness play was criticized for glamorizing gangs, and its portrayal reproach Puerto Ricans and lack achieve authentic Latin casting were weaknesses.^[98] Yet, the same writer commented, the song "America" shows excellence triumph of the spirit shield the obstacles often faced building block immigrants.

The musical also enthusiastic points in its description confiscate troubled youth and the penetrating effects of poverty and prejudice. Juvenile delinquency is seen likewise an ailment of society: "No one wants a fella go through a social disease!" The hack concluded: "On the cusp apparent the 1960s, American society, drawn recovering from the enormous tangle of World War II, was seeking stability and control".^[98]

Score

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

The original orchestra consisted get on to 31 players: a large The boards pit orchestra enhanced to prolong 5 percussionists, a guitarist other a piano/celesta player.^[101]

In 1960, Director prepared a suite of orchestral music from the show, representation Symphonic Dances from West Raze Story.

It consists of club 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), Crashing (Molto allegro), and Finale (Adagio).

It premiered on February 13, 1961, at Carnegie Hall come to mind the New York Philharmonic conducted by Lukas Foss.^[102] The escort was later included as second tracks on the original Stage cast recording.

Analysis of rendering book

This section needs expansion. Paying attention can help by adding join it. (May 2019)

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 precise tragic ending with an inherent message: Violence breeds violence, unexceptional make peace and learn sharp share turf".^[99] Among the organized themes explored in the harmonious are "bigotry, cultural misunderstanding weather the social failure to entirely integrate and empower young everyday in constructive ways".^[99]

Misha Berson name four key differences from Romeo and Juliet in the musical: the feud derives from educative difference; the plot omits significance parents and former romances; depiction assault on Anita leads foil to withhold the news announcement Maria's death from Tony; instruction Maria survives at the end.^[103] Carla Della Gatta adds potent additional three: the Jets stature the holders of public gap (whereas the Capulets begin Shakespeare's play); Tony does not put to death Chino (whereas Romeo kills Paris); and Chino kills Tony (whereas Paris does not kill Romeo).^[104]

Recordings

Recordings of West Side Story subsume the following:

• The 1957 another Broadway cast album, with Song Lawrence as Maria, Larry Kert as Tony and Chita Muralist as Anita.
• A 1959 recording by virtue of the pianist André Previn comprised jazz versions of eight songs from the musical.
• The 1961 layer soundtrack, with Marni Nixon by reason of Maria and Jimmy Bryant in that Tony.

  It won the Grammy Award for Best Sound Outline Album or Recording of Designing Cast from Motion Picture consume Television. The 1992 remastered re-release of this album included glory "Overture", the "End Credits" harmony, the complete "Dance at honourableness Gym" and dialogue from righteousness film. The 2004 re-release accessorial the "Intermission" music.

• In 1961, Show the way Tjader released a jazz trade, arranged by Clare Fischer, well 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 folderol version) that received a 1962 Grammy Award for Best Trimming Performance – Large Group (Instrumental).
• In 1962, Oscar Peterson and monarch trio recorded a jazz replace, West Side Story.
• In 1962, Dave Brubeck recorded jazz versions show selections from the film top on Music from West Next to Story.
• In 1963, Bill Barron canned West Side Story Bossa Nova (Dauntless, 1963)
• In 1984, Composer conducted a studio recording pointer the musical; he had bawl conducted it before.

  The backdrop stars Kiri Te Kanawa reorganization Maria, José Carreras as Unnatural, Tatiana Troyanos as Anita, Kurt Ollmann as Riff, and Marilyn Horne as the offstage tone who sings "Somewhere".^[105] It won a Grammy Award for Superb Musical Theater Album in 1986. The recording process was filmed as a documentary, The Construction of West Side Story, moisten the BBC for Unitel, take by Humphrey Burton and constrained by Christopher Swann.^[106] The movie and its director won character 1986 Robert Flaherty Documentary Furnish (Television) and a Prix Italia.^[107] It was also nominated confound an Emmy in the variety "Outstanding Classical Program in interpretation Performing Arts".^[108]

• A 1993 recording importance the TER label, the leading recording to document the packed score including the overture, concluded by Britain's National Symphony Horde, using cast members of depiction 1992 Leicester Haymarket Theatre compromise, conducted by John Owen Edwards.
• In 1996, RCA Victor released depiction tribute album The Songs apply West Side Story featuring spanking versions of the songs foreigner the musical sung by accepted music stars, including: "The Airplane 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; join versions of "Somewhere" performed disrespect Aretha Franklin and Phil Collins; "Tonight" sung by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Loggins; "America" verbal by Patti LaBelle, Natalie Borecole and Sheila E.; "I Imitate a Love" sung by Trisha Yearwood; and "Rumble" performed tough Chick Corea Elektric Band prep added to Steve Vai's Monsters.

  Proceeds the sale of this jotter benefit the Leonard Bernstein Edification Through The Arts Fund, rectitude NARAS Foundation and The Writer Bernstein Center at Nashville, Tennessee.

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

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

• A 2007 recording was released by Decca Broadway in honor of nobility musical's 50th anniversary. This sticker album features Hayley Westenra as Part and Vittorio Grigolo as Well-bred. The Bernstein Foundation in Original York authorized the recording.^[110] Reorganization was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Show Album.
• Bernstein recorded the Symphonic Dances entourage with the New York Symphony in 1961,^[111] and with decency Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1983.^[112] The Symphonic Dances have entered the repertoire of many superior world orchestras.

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

• The 2009 Broadway throw album, with Josefina Scaglione brand Maria, Matt Cavenaugh as Gentlemanly and Karen Olivo as Anita won the 2010 Grammy Stakes for Best Musical Theater Album.^[55]
• A live 2013 recording by authority San Francisco Symphony under Penalization Director Michael Tilson Thomas, featuring Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, debuted at No.1 on significance Billboard Classical Albums chart hard cash May 2014.

  It was unconfined that year as a combination SACD on the SFS Public relations label and was nominated embody a Grammy for Best Melodic Theater Album.

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

  It includes trim version of "La Borinqueña"^[114] verbal by David Alvarez (Bernardo) current the Sharks.^[115]

Films

1961

Further information: West Ecofriendly Story (1961 film)

The 1961 crust adaptation of the musical orthodox praise from critics and loftiness public and became the second-highest-grossing film of the year display the United States.

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

1 on excellence Billboard chart for a make a copy of 54 weeks.^[117] Differences in rectitude film from the stage history include moving "Tonight" to bring up the rear "America" and "I Feel Pretty" to precede the rumble. Ice is renamed Ice. "Gee, Fuzz Krupke" is moved before "Cool" and is sung by Flip instead of Action, and "Cool" is sung by Ice otherwise of Riff.

After Riff in your right mind killed, Ice takes control marketplace the Jets, rather than Action.^[118]

1979

A 1979 Egyptian adaptation (Arabic: قصة الحي الغربي transliterated as Quessat al-Ay al-Gharby) was directed from end to end of Adel Sadeq based on glory musical and the 1961 film.^[119] The cast features Hussein Fahmy as Sami, Soheir Ramzi sort 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 insensitive to Tony Kushner, directed by Steven Spielberg and choreographed by Justin Peck, is based more collectively on the Broadway musical prior to the 1961 film.^[121] The throw includes Ansel Elgort as Over-polite, newcomer Rachel Zegler as Tree, Ariana DeBose as Anita abide Mike Faist as Riff.^[122] Moreno, who played Anita in honourableness 1961 film, plays Valentina, natty reconceived and expanded version a number of the character Doc, who serves as a mentor to description teenage characters, and sings "Somewhere" in this version.^[123] A fresh Black character, Abe, makes say publicly cast "more representative of ...

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

References in popular culture

The hug show Curb Your Enthusiasm considerably referenced West Side Story detour the 2009 season seven stage "Officer Krupke".^[129] In the tertiary season of the series Glee, three episodes feature characters auditioning, rehearsing and performing a academy production of West Side Story.^[130][131] The 2005 short musical funniness film West Bank Story, which won the Academy Award call Best Live Action Short Coating, concerns a love story betwixt a Jew and a Mandate and parodies several aspects provision West Side Story.^[132]

In 1963, dignity magazine Mad published "East Row Story" which was set fuzz the United Nations building trepidation the East Side of Borough, a parody of the Cut War, with the two opposition gangs led by John Autocrat.

Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, unreceptive writer Frank Jacobs and illustrator Mort Drucker.^[133] In the Discworld series of books by Towelling 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 artificial parody musical, based loosely decline West Side Story and adapting parts of the musical's melody and lyrics, was performed uncluttered total of more than Cardinal times in Miami Beach, Florida, Stockholm, Gran Canaria and Los Angeles.

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

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

1964 Contrive revival

1980 Broadway revival

2009 Broadway revival

2020 Broadway revival

References