Based on hisher attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces. I was more than ready for a brash, new west side story, especially after the anodyne sweetness of its last broadway outing in 2009, staged by arthur laurents, who. The book tells the story of maria, a firstgeneration immigrant from puerto rico, and tony, who was born in america. I believe from the book of mormon musical on the 65th tony awards. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the story.
West side story, the movie, was produced in 1961, featured natalie wood as maria, and was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an urban renewal project for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhoods. West side story is a musical tragedy film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins, which is an awardwinning and adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet. Even decades later, the music, choreography and effect of. There are some major differences between the two works. The other boys complain that tony hasnt been around for a month, but riff doesnt care.
West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard. The story revolves around quarrelsome families of two new york city gangs the white jets led by the riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Tony richard beymer is the lead male character in west side story. Maria was young and innocent and had never known loveuntil tony. He and riff agree to meet at docs drugstore, where. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story explores racial, ethnic, political. While it seems only natural now, the idea of filming on actual city streets took some time in.
Department of labor reports the unemployment rate in new york city spiked 6. In fact, it is said that bernstein stole a couple songs from himself to put into west side story. But marias brother was leader of the sharks and tony had once. West side story, 1961, tony and maria story of love and tragedy. Tonys singing voice in the film was performed by jimmy bryant.
Jan versweyveld maria shereen pimentel and tony isaac powell in west side story. Riff goes to see tony, who is now working at docs drugstore. 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. Tonys the romantic who thinks that their love will transcend that. The young protagonist, tony, a former member of the jets and best friend of the. I honestly liked this book because it was a quick read with a good plot.
West side story is remarkable for its seamless transference from stage musical to screen classic, with the complete leonard bernsteinstephen sondheim song score intact, as well as the choreography of jerome robbins. From the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. Both characters are portrayed as growing out of youthful pastimes in favour of romantic pursuits. West side story 1961 frequently asked questions imdb. It stars natalie wood, richard beymer, russ tamblyn, rita moreno, and george chakiris, and was. Tony is the exleader of the jets and still maintains his friendship with riff russ tamblyn, the new leader.
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. And while his wild changes sometimes clash with arthur laurents celebrated book, this bold and gritty new west side story stands apart from any production before it in a fresh and admirable way. And he, who had been seeking something beyond the savagery of the streets, discovered it with her. Tony award winner ivo van hoves new production of west side story opens tonight at the broadway theatre directed by tonywinner ivo van hove, the show stars isaac powell, who. After the release of the goldfinch, the golden globenominated actor will finish filming his role as tony in west side story, alongside newcomer rachel zegler and legend rita moreno. Ansel elgort talks west side story style lessons, ralph. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. He explains his side of the story as maria pounds on his chest in a hopeless rage. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story tells a story of how tony a polish america who used to lead the local gang, the jets and maria a puerto rican teen part of the rivaling gang find love despite their backgrounds and public opinions. The original production, despite all the acclaim, only netted a tony for robbins as. The story, derived from romeo and juliet, works on a symbolic rather than realistic level. Marias brother bernardo george chakiris belongs to the. Thats our tony, best buddies with riff and cofounder of the jets back in the day.
Jan versweyveld a new america laurents set the stage for west. Riff played by russ tamblyn we fucked hard for this turf, and we aint jus gonna give it up. Play eatteaate the play, west side story, was written by arthur laurents. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. Perhaps that is why those lines in the song, which takes place between the characters maria the puerto rican heroine of west side story who. With pimentel as a tougher, more streetwise maria than natalie wood could have imagined, and a starmaking performance by powell as a thoroughly lovable tony, this west side story disregards, or. When jets member tony richardbeymer falls for maria natalie wood, the sister of the sharks leader, its more than these two warring gangs can handle. The action takes place on the west side of new york city.
Riff riff russ tamblyn is the leader and cofounder of the jets. Essentially a modernized version of william shakespeares romeo and juliet, west side story resets the tale of starcrossed lovers maria natalie wood and tony richard beymer to the gangridden streets of west side manhattan. While the movie version of west side story is among the most faithful of hollywood adaptations, a number of changes were made in translating the work to film, some to suit the medium, others to suit the audience sensibilities, and one or two socalled artistic choices. West side story musical west side story wiki fandom. With a screenplay by ernest lehman, the film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. Riff presses him to come to the school dance for the war council, but tony resists. West side story school edition music theatre international. But marias brother was leader of the sharks and tony had once led the rival jets. Marias more practical, probably because as an immigrant, shes been on the receiving end of racist attitudes. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet.
West side story tony awards info including both nominations and wins for the productions, cast members and creative teams. Scenes from ivo van hoves revival of west side story at the broadway theatre. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. Riff lorton, tony wyzek, bernardo and maria nunez, chino martin.
Laurents, who wrote the book for west side story, decided that, at 91, he was ready not only to revive this classic musical but also, for the first. And as mounting tensions rise, a battle to the death ensues, and innocent blood is shed in a heartbreaking finale. Maria understands what happened the moment he describes riffs death at bernardos hands. West side story is a tragic love story of tony and maria that touches all in many ways. Modernday montague, from a rival gang instead of a rival family. How west side story then and now uses music, dance and. Even though west side story was not written by latinos, and there are many problematic choices in the text and the movie, including brownface and the stereotyping of puerto rican people, there is still a lot of resonance in the text for modern latinx people around issues like immigration, colorism, belonging, and assimilation, she said, adding that the musical, with a book by. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. West side story it was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet.
Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. His character is based on shakespeares romeo, who falls in love with juliet during their first encounter. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. Tonys had enough of gang life, and has taken a job at the local soda fountain. The music for the musical was written by a bisexual jewish male. West side story by jerome robbins, robert wise jerome. West side story study guide character counterparts tony romeo. Yesenia ayala, who plays anita, and the cast of the 2020 west side story.
Meanwhile, bernardo has a war council to set up the rumble. The production was nominated for six tony awards including best musical in 1957, but the award for best musical went to meredith willsons the. With additional resources for students and directors, west side story school edition makes the iconic musical more accessible and meaningful for high school performers. 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 based on a play by a white christian male. Instead of feuding families, west side storys starcrossed lovers, tony and. Tony and maria sing somewhere, still hopeful that they can find a way out of their damaged world. 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. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free.
720 834 644 1231 226 1290 811 35 1080 141 274 47 522 607 795 1317 1407 1148 362 321 3 575 1140 1539 1255 677 859 473 511 183 565 357 546 1213 521 529 1484 770 1050 684 1009 37