The feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. West side story jet song official dance scene 50th. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. What makes the book unique is its focus on new york and the urban experience as central to the storys appeal at a time when the city was undergoing massive urban renewal, particularly on the west side, throwing the urban poor into ethnic and. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and rhapsodic. The jets meet the sharks there, with both sides bringing their girlfriends. A comprehensive database of west side story quizzes online, test your knowledge with west side story quiz questions. The question and answer section for west side story 1961 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. West side story 1961 is an energetic, widelyacclaimed, melodramatic musical a modernday, loose retelling of shakespeares romeo and juliet tragedy of feuding families, although the setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. The jet song from the 10time academy award winning musical film west side story, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on november 15.
West side story addresses the tension between established white youths like the jets, a gang that laurents dubs an anthology of what is called american, and puerto rican teenagers who represent a new wave of immigrants laurents, et al, west side story, p. Youll be the first to hear about exclusive presales and any news about west side story. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families.
Jun 29, 2019 a comprehensive database of west side story quizzes online, test your knowledge with west side story quiz questions. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. The show, with music by leonard bernstein, marked the first collaboration between robbins and stephen sondheim, who wrote the lyrics, as well as arthur laurents, who wrote the book. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. West side story book by irving shulman official publisher page.
From the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest. Interesting facts about the creation of west side story. However, robbins insisted on so many takes of his scenes that he was fired before the movie was completed. Choreographer robbins was hired to direct the dance scenes, with the remaining scenes to be directed by robert wise. In 2019, the landmark musical takes the iconic stage at handa opera on sydney harbour, with famous songs including tonight, i feel pretty and america ringing out into the balmy night air. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. They are getting ready for the party thats in a few hours. West side story exploded onto broadway in a sensational storm of exuberant dance and wistful romance. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. West side story overview the best broadway source for west side story tickets and west side story information, photos and videos.
West side story original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city sep 26, 1957 and played through jun 27, 1959. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Rival street gangs engage in relatively harmless activities until one fight spells tragedy for two young lovers. West side story by irving shulman from the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. An excellent account of west side story and its central role as a play and movie in american musical history and in american culture more generally. From the mambo craze of the 1950s to the works ongoing permeation of popular culture, wells looks at the myriad ways in which this canonic musical reflects and refracts american culture. A musical set on the west side of new york city around 1957. I do not own any rights to the music, i simply wish to share the amazing music with other fans, if the owners want the music. This is the place for you if youve ever been involved in, or infatuated with, west side story as an actor, singer, dancer, musician, producer, director, designer, crew or just as important as a fan. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. Interesting facts about the creation of west side story message board log in register.
Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. West side story chapter 4 instead bernardo is kind of. On september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. It opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12 december 1958. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides.
Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 4 this is the party chapter. It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration and bigotry to economic inequality and gang. Createspace independent publishing platform availability. One of the ideas bounced around early on by choreographer jerome robbins was having the. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side story in a single volume. The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. Cultural perspectives on an american musical, wells presents a major scholarly study of the famous american musical west side story, viewing the work from cultural, historical, and musical perspectives.
Screenwriter ernest lehman adapted the film west side story from the hit play of the same name, which opened on broadway in 1957 and ran there for 732 performances. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. Our online west side story trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top west side story quizzes. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. The title was changed to west side story when the creators realized that gang warfare in new york had moved from the east side to the west. This groundbreaking collaboration among bernstein, jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american society through its best and worst characteristics. West side story is a contemporary version of romeo and juliet, set in hells kitchen.
Six facts you didnt know about west side story as it returns to london in a striking production at sadlers wells. West side story by irving shulman book cover, description, publication history. Music from the original motion picture west side story disclaimer. When they first conceived the show in 1949, robbins, bernstein and laurents set their story on the east side of manhattan, and gave it the working title east side story. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. West side story by irving shulman fantastic fiction.
As west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. Jul 10, 2019 leonard bernstein was one of the first americanborn conductors to receive worldwide fame. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. West side story chapter 3 big trouble in this chapter. Jerome robbins october 11, 1918 july 29, 1998 was an american choreographer, director, dancer, and theater producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film.
By subscribing, you agree to receive email from the promoters regarding west side story and future events. West side story chapter 3 big trouble in this chapter maria. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story romeo and juliet. Jun 05, 2011 music from the original motion picture west side story disclaimer. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. In the sixteenth century, william shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the worlds great plays. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more in. The film version of 1961 was a smashing success, earning 10 oscars, including. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. The making and impact of west side story has so far been recounted only in vestiges. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time.
West side story was originally about jews and catholics. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The sharks mostly recent puerto rican immigrants and the jets mostly second generation european immigrants circa 1960. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and. West side story opened at new yorks winter garden theater on september 26, 1957, and has remained in the repertory ever since. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place. West side story mass market paperback april 15, 1990. In the pages of this book, the backstage tale comes to life along with.
The official website the official website, in all its glory. The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. West side story the musical the original broadway classic. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 3 in this chapter, anita is making the dress for maria. He composed the score for the broadway musical west side story. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that ancient grudges are no match for true love. West side story, adapted from romeo and juliet, could have been east side story. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding.
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