The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. Prologue instrumental the neighborhood the months before the opening, half danced half mimed, is a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teenage gangs. Jul 30, 20 west side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. 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. Everything free in america for a small fee in america.
The idea of taking one of the most famous and tragic love stories of all time and translating it to modern america, focusing it around the racial and inner city problems arising at that time and which still exist today. In the slums of the upper west side of manhattan, new york, a gang of polishamerican teenagers called the jets compete with a rival gang of recently immigrated puerto ricans, the sharks, to own the neighborhood streets. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. My brother, sister, and i have always had west side story in our lives. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeare s romeo and juliet. Bifr szcr, lnnocenccl buddy boys are gonea play ball witb me. Through each chapter, the writer slowly develops his. Bernardo they do not know the country any better than she does. It is a workingclass neighborhood with a mixture of ethnic groups. And were kind of okay with it being a classic, just look at the recent revival of south paci directorlibrettist arthur laurents contd and what will annoy you is that im not going to tell you what it is. A musical set on the west side of new york city around 1957. As we approach the centennial of leonard bernsteins birth on august 25, 2018 cultural institutions around the world are beginning to celebrate the varied life of this decidedly american icon. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was.
The opening is a halfdanced, halfmimed, dance of sorts. Location and time upper west side, new york, 1950s, during the last days of summer. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds. When it opened on september 26, 1957, west side story received a mixed critical response. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. 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. West side story script taken from a transcript of the screenplay andor the natalie wood musical movie based on the broadway play. For me west side story beats both titanic and ben hur by a zillion points. Tensions are high between the gangs but two kids, one from each rival gang, fall in love leading to tragedy.
Nigel simeone begins by exploring the long process of creating west side story, including a discussion of bernsteins sketches, early drafts of the score and script, as well as cut songs. 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. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid1950s. West side story 410 movie clip america 1961 hd youtube. The movie, filled with exhilarating dance sequences choreographed by jerome robbins and memorable songsincluding tonight, maria, and somewhereby leonard bernstein music and stephen sondheim lyrics, won 10. It opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12 december 1958. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. When this film arrived i noted the script on the rear of the cover were in italian and also the same on the very small heading over the main title very hard to spot on the small amazon illustration. West side story was born eight years before that day when robbins, then at new york city ballet, approached bernstein and laurents, then a californiabased screenwriter, about creating a. Short a chance meeting between two people from different backgrounds and with little in common, proves that you cant judge a book by its cover. In the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood would be cleared to make room for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhood. An incident between the jets and shark leader bernardo escalates into an all out fight between the two gangs.
It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. This area is full of west side story has been a play that i have been wanting to read for quite a long time. For example, let us take a novel or short story and comprehend the specific elements that can be seen in a story. Like bernstein and robbins, stephen sondheim was a name to note in the broadway world of the 1950s. Opened on broadway september 26, 1957 script by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim directed and choreographed by jerome robbins producted by robert. Stephen spielberg west side story news, premiere date. West side story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet. If you are looking to purchase tickets to opera australias west side story on sydney harbour, please click here. Mar 18, 2020 west side story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home.
Griffith and hal prince based on shakespeares romeo and juliet. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Your task in pairs will be to take a scripted scene from west side story and perform it as a duologue script between two people. The sharks and the jets are two feuding street gangs in 1950s new york, the jets being white and the sharks being puerto rican. 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. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Short scripts multiple genre a showcase for original scripts on the net. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. Rival street gangs engage in relatively harmless activities until one fight spells tragedy for two young lovers. West side story script transcript from the screenplay and. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The timeless musical australia needs right now e news lights up the stage with passion, drama and brilliant orchestrations herald sun if you buy.
It is primarily a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teenage games, the jets and the. As we approach the centennial of leonard bernsteins birth on august 25, 2018 cultural institutions around the world are beginning to celebrate the varied life of this decidedly american icon this composer, conductor, teacher, and activist. West side story full script free download as pdf file. See new additions below or pick your genre on the left. Short a man takes the phrase jumping to your death to a new height. They needed someone else to pump them up, and suddenly west side story scored a dream team for its songs. 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.
Because it is set in 1950s new york city the scenes, characters, and plot have their own interpretations. The fullydanced prolog shows the tension built up between the jets and the sharks two rival gangs in new yorks upper west side. The photos are amazing, the bios of the participants, the cast lists, and more, make this purchase the most valuable in recent history. 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 won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. Sep 24, 2019 when it opened on september 26, 1957, west side story received a mixed critical response. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. West side story has been one of my favourite films since it first appeared. Aug 22, 2018 as west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. West side story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
West side story script broadway musical act i scene one 5. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story that ended in tragedy. The sharks are puerto ricans, the jets an anthology of what is called american. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story was originally about jews and catholics. The film west side story is based on the 1950s broadway stage play, from an idea inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. West side story west side story was first presented by robert e. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. West side story script transcript from the screenplay andor natalie. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. I absconded with itthis was the cast album from the 1957 broadway musicaland just fell. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them.
Prologue the opening is a halfdanced, halfmimed, dance of sorts. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its. May 07, 2015 unlike a script, a story can be defined as an account of imaginary or real events. This little book is worth ten times its weight in gold. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. 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. Mar 02, 2009 west side story was born eight years before that day when robbins, then at new york city ballet, approached bernstein and laurents, then a californiabased screenwriter, about creating a modern. This was put into place to keep dopey spammers from harvesting email addresses from the site.
This brilliant the new republic film sets the ageless story of romeo and juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950s new york. West side story the musical the original broadway classic. It is primarily a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teenage games, the. Debuting one day after the forced integration of central high school in little rock, the musicals story. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Directed by robert wise and jerome robbins and scripted by ernest lehman, the film combines leonard bernstein and stephen sondheims unforgettable score maria, america, somewhere, tonight with robbins own exuberant choreography to achieve an exhilarating. West side story is a musical adapted from shakespeares play and was first performed in 1957. Both are stories of unrequited love that end tragically, but there are many elements that make them very different. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of west side story. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future.
Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. A story has a clear plot and maybe a few subplots as well. By the time west side story began development, he was famous. West side story is one of the few broadway musicals that can make a genuine claim to transforming the genre. Difference between story and script compare the difference. Fasten your seat belts for the upcoming film remake of west side story with a script by tony kushner, and directed by no less than steven spielberg. Although west side story was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 academy awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse singin in the rain is probably more seen and certainly better loved. West side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Principal, linde, bailey, sally, kasia until end of. Some quick facts about the broadway production of west side story. At a dance at a gym, jet tony falls in love with a sharks sister, maria.
Thewestmenu gives you the possibility to rearrange the menus of the west. The core of the book is the commentary on the music itself. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. Here on this site, you can indulge your fascination with this groundbreaking musical in any number of ways. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet.
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