Wide Side Story is a musical tragedy based on William Shakespeare’s timeless love story, “Romeo and Juliet”. It is set in the early 1950’s when gang warfare in big cities led to injuries and even death. West Side Story transformed the Montagues and Capulets of Shakespeare’s play into rival street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. The Sharks were newly arrived immigrants to New York from Puerto Rico, the Jets native-born New Yorkers. The play chronicles the rising tension between these gangs and focuses on the story of Maria, a Puerto Rican whose brother Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks, and of Tony, a member of the Jets. As the rival gangs battle in the streets of New York, these two meet and fall in love. The famous balcony scene of Shakespeare drama takes place on a fire escape of an ugly New York tenement. While trying to stop a fight between the two gangs, Tony inadvertently kills Maria’s brother Bernardo and is ultimately killed himself.The talents of a trio of theatrical legends went into the creation of West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein, who composed the brilliant score, was a classical composer and the conductor of the New York Philharmonic symphony. Stephen Sondheim, making his Broadway debut, revealed a remarkable talent for writing lyrics. Among the hit songs of the play are “Tonight,” “Maria,” “America,” “Gee Officer Krupe,” and “ I Feel Pretty.” Jerome Robbin’s electrifying choreography broke new ground for musical theater in 1950. Before West Side Story, no one thought that dance could be as integral to a narrative as the music or the lyrics. But the hyper-athletic dances in West Side Story are among the most thrilling elements of the play.The play opened in New York City on September 26, 1957, and immediately was a hit with critics and audiences alike. It ran for 734 performances, toured the United States for ten months and then returned to New York for an additional 246 performances. It won a Tony Award in 1958. It opened to great acclaim in London that same year. The play was revived on the Broadway stage in 1980, 1995, and 2002. It is often performed by school drama departments and community theaters.The classic motion picture “West Side Story” was released in 1961. It was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and starred Natalie Wood as Maria and Richard Beyner as Tony. It won ten Academy Awards, including ones for Best Picture and Best Director.
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