laurents west side story

When the knives come out, and bodies begin to fly wildly through space under buttermilk clouds, the sheer visual excitement is breathtaking .... Mr. Bernstein has permitted himself a few moments of graceful, lingering melody: in a yearning "Maria", in the hushed falling line of "Tonight", in the wistful declaration of "I Have a Love". The last two screenplays were novels as well. And then we had the really tough problem of casting it, because the characters had to be able not only to sing but dance and act and be taken for teenagers. (1967 Tony Award for Best Musical) and Nick & Nora; and the screenplays The Snake Pit, Rope, Caught, Anastasia, Bonjour Tristesse, The Way We Were, and The Turning Point (Golden Globe Award, Screenwriters Guild Award, Writers Guild of America Award, … Laurents maintains that Robbins’s credit for the conception of West Side Story was a case of overreaching. Arthur Laurents has 25 books on Goodreads with 7292 ratings. In [the score], there is the drive, the bounce, the restlessness and the sweetness of our town. When Tony arrives, Maria insists that he must stop the fight altogether, which he agrees to do. Riff meets Tony while he's working at Doc's Drugstore to persuade him to come. Anita makes Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. The production's national tour was launched on July 1, 1959, in Denver and then played in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. The show had an even longer-running London production, a number of revivals and international productions. [100][101], The television show Curb Your Enthusiasm extensively referenced West Side Story in the 2009 season seven episode "Officer Krupke". At the dance, after introductions, the teenagers begin to dance; soon a challenge dance is called ("Dance at the Gym"), during which Tony and Maria (who aren't taking part in the challenge dance) see each other across the room and are drawn to each other. Only the bodies of Riff and Bernardo remain. [16] Laurents explained the style that the creative team finally decided on: Just as Tony and Maria, our Romeo and Juliet, set themselves apart from the other kids by their love, so we have tried to set them even further apart by their language, their songs, their movement. Tony attempts to intervene, inadvertently leading to Riff being fatally stabbed by Bernardo. Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria about her brother's death, and Anita agrees to go to Doc's to tell Tony to wait. Tony kills Bernardo in a fit of rage, which in turn provokes an all-out fight like the fight in the Prologue. Language posed a problem; four-letter curse words were uncommon in the theater at the time, and slang expressions were avoided for fear they would be dated by the time the production opened. The gang separates to find Tony and protect him. It is, to me, extraordinarily exciting ... the manner of telling the story is a provocative and artful blend of music, dance and plot – and the music and the dancing are superb. [102] In the third season of the series Glee, three episodes feature characters auditioning, rehearsing and performing a school production of West Side Story. [22], Throughout the rehearsal period, the New York newspapers were filled with articles about gang warfare, keeping the show's plot timely. Anita is furious, and in anger spitefully delivers the wrong message, telling the Jets that Chino has shot Maria dead. Storyline West Side Story is the award-winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". Other notable cast members included Brent Barrett as Diesel, Harolyn Blackwell as Francisca, Stephen Bogardus as Mouth Piece and Reed Jones as Big Deal. Director, choreographer, and idea-man Jerome Robbins has put together, and then blasted apart, the most savage, restless, electrifying dance patterns we've been exposed to in a dozen seasons .... the show rides with a catastrophic roar over the spider-web fire-escapes, the shadowed trestles, and the plain dirt battlegrounds of a big city feud ... there is fresh excitement in the next debacle, and the next. Robbins demanded and received a "Conceived by" credit, and used it to justify his making major decisions regarding changes in the show without consulting the others. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. As a Latinx musical, West Side Story is incoherent and insulting. [11] Meanwhile, Laurents had written a new draft of the book changing the characters' backgrounds: Anton, once an Irish American, was now of Polish and Irish descent, and the formerly Jewish Maria had become a Puerto Rican. Bernstein suggested they rework East Side Story and set it in Los Angeles, but Laurents felt he was more familiar with Puerto Ricans in the United States and Harlem than he was with Mexican Americans and Olvera Street. "[99] The cast is set to include Ansel Elgort as Tony, newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria and Ariana DeBose as Anita. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Bernardo believes that he will fight Tony, but must settle for fighting Diesel, Riff's second-in-command, instead. The writer concluded: "On the cusp of the 1960s, American society, still recovering from the enormous upheaval of World War II, was seeking stability and control. He has been honored by awards from many organizations among them the National Institute of Arts and Letters, Writers Guild of America, Antoinette Perry (Tonys), Golden Globe, Drama Desk, National Board of Review and the Sydney Drama Critics. [48] Olivo won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress, while Scaglione was nominated for the award for Leading Actress. West Side Story is an upcoming American romantic musical drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner and choreography by Justin Peck. Bernstein composed West Side Story and Candide concurrently, which led to some switches of material between the two works. 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. Robbins was involved with Bells Are Ringing, then Bernstein with Candide, and in January 1957 A Clearing in the Woods, Laurents' latest play, opened and quickly closed. Serenade ultimately was shelved. Just as Tony sees Maria alive, Chino arrives and shoots Tony. On Sept. 26, 1957, Broadway changed forever when the curtain went up on “West Side Story.” The artistic innovations popped immediately: Instead … Far less well known is the fact that Shakespeare based his play (1594) on other material, particularly a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke entitled The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet (1562). [103][104], In film, Pixar animator Aaron Hartline used the first meeting between Tony and Maria as inspiration for the moment when Ken meets Barbie in Toy Story 3. West Side Story would not receive another major update for nearly 30 years after the 1980 revival closed, when a new production was planned for 2009, helmed by the show's book writer, Arthur Laurents. Tony suggests "a fair fight" (fists only), which the leaders agree to, despite the other members' protests. The tomboy Anybodys, who stubbornly wishes that she could become a Jet, tells Tony to flee from the scene at the last moment and flees with the knives. However, the Spanish lyrics sung by the Sharks in the "Tonight" (Quintet) remained in Spanish. It is fascinatingly tricky and melodically beguiling, and it marks the progression of an admirable composer ... Time magazine found the dance and gang warfare more compelling than the love story and noted that the show's "putting choreography foremost, may prove a milestone in musical-drama history". Tony is convinced that something important is round the corner ("Something's Coming"). [27] However, Suskin writes in Show Tunes that "As the writing progressed and the extent of Bernstein's lyric contributions became less, the composer agreed to rescind his credit. [24] As the rehearsals wore on, Bernstein fought to keep his score together, as other members of the team called on him to cut out more and more of the sweeping or complex "operatic" passages. Looking through the news headlines of the day, one jumped out at them: the rise of teen gangs. Arthur Laurents' book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. His plays include Claudia Lazlo, Home of the Brave, The Time of the Cuckoo, A Clearing in the Woods, Invitation to the March, The Enclave, Scream, Two Lives, The Radical Mystique, My Good Name, and Jolson Sings Again. [23] Robbins wanted a gritty realism from his sneaker- and jeans-clad cast. The police chase the Sharks off, and then the Jets plan how they can assure their continued dominance of the street. Maria has just arrived from Puerto Rico for her arranged marriage to Chino, a friend of Bernardo's. After tryouts in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia beginning in August 1957, the original Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957,[31] to positive reviews. There he met Sondheim, who had heard that East Side Story, now retitled West Side Story, was back on track. It was produced by the Moon Troupe in 1998 and again in 1999 by the Star Troupe. [16] Columbia Records initially declined to record the cast album, saying the score was too depressing and too difficult. Only after he completed it did the group realize it was little more than a musicalization of themes that had already been covered in plays like Abie's Irish Rose. [5] Eager to write his first musical, Laurents immediately agreed. [53] The revival sold 1,074,462 tickets on Broadway over the course of nearly two years[54] and was a financial success. It was directed and choreographed by Robbins, with the book scenes co-directed by Gerald Freedman; produced by Gladys Nederlander and Tom Abbott and Lee Becker Theodore assisted the choreography reproduction. Laurents, however, was committed to Gabel, who introduced him to the young composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Unlike other 1950s musicals, West Side Story's original performers were unknowns, not stars. Angry at the death of another friend, the Jets move towards the Sharks but Maria takes Chino's gun and tells everyone that "all of [them]" killed Tony and the others because of their hate for each other, and, "Now I can kill too, because now I have hate!" Later the scenes related to Juliet's faking her death and committing suicide also were deleted. It consists of nine movements: Prologue (Allegro Moderato), "Somewhere" (Adagio), Scherzo (Vivace e Leggiero), Mambo (Meno Presto), Cha-Cha (Andantino Con Grazia), Meeting Scene (Meno Mosso), "Cool" Fugue (Allegretto), Rumble (Molto Allegro), Finale (Adagio). The Minskoff production subsequently opened the Nervi Festival in Genoa, Italy, in July 1981 with Josie de Guzman as Maria and Brent Barrett as Tony. The musical also made points in its description of troubled youth and the devastating effects of poverty and racism. It closed September 28, 1985. Bernstein wanted to present the material in operatic form, but Robbins and Laurents resisted the suggestion. [15] Tony and Maria's duet, "One Hand, One Heart", was originally intended for Cunegonde in Candide. The production transferred to London's West End opening at the Prince Edward Theatre in October 1998, transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre where it closed in January 2000. This is followed by a monologue by the ineffective Lt. Schrank trying to find out the location of the rumble. [8], Laurents was soon hired to write the screenplay for a remake of the 1934 Greta Garbo film The Painted Veil for Ava Gardner. Robbins kept the cast members playing the Sharks and the Jets separate in order to discourage them from socializing with each other and reminded everyone of the reality of gang violence by posting news stories on the bulletin board backstage. Scenic and lighting design are by Jan Versweyveld, with costumes by An d'Huys. In 1947, Jerome Robbins approached Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents about collaborating on a contemporary musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. [citation needed] The Japanese Takarazuka Revue has performed the show twice. [citation needed] Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival performed West Side Story in 1999, starring Tyley Ross as Tony and Ma-Anne Dionisio as Maria, and again in 2009,[73] The Austrian Bregenz Festival presented West Side Story in the German translation by Prawy in 2003 and 2004, directed by Francesca Zambello, followed by a German tour. Maria counters by telling Anita how powerful love is ("I Have a Love"), and Anita realizes that Maria loves Tony as much as she had loved Bernardo. Another song, "Kid Stuff", was added and quickly removed during the Washington, D.C. tryout when Laurents convinced the others it was helping tip the balance of the show into typical musical comedy.[14]. 85–92: 'Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal: Orchestrating the Show', Learn how and when to remove this template message, Grammy Award for Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast from Motion Picture or Television, Best Jazz Performance – Large Group (Instrumental), Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Robert Flaherty Documentary Award (Television), Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical, "Excerpts from Bernstein's West Side Log, see 1949 and 1955", "Leonard Bernstein by Humphrey Burton, Chapter 26", "West Side Story: 'We were all very young, "Dharon E. Jones Set to Take Over as Riff in West Side Story on Broadway", "'West Side Story' London Production, 1958", albemarle-london "Archive Page, 'West Side Story'", "Broadway s'addice ai «guerrieri della notte»", "A Song Like That: Collaborators Reconsider Spanish Lyrics in 'West Side Story'", "Cavenaugh, Scaglione, Olivo, Green and Akram to Lead Cast of 'West Side Story' Revival", "Billy Elliot, Norman Conquests, Hair, God of Carnage Are Tony Award Winners", "Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations", "Gee, Officer Krupke, I Need Those Violins", "Broadway's 'West Side Story' Postpones Opening Night Following Leading Man's Onstage Knee Injury", "West Side Story Will Return to Broadway, Directed by Ivo van Hove", "Broadway League Extends Shutdown Until June 2021", "Theater Review; 'West Side Story': Staging At Its Best", Information from the WestSideStory.com "2002, " 'West Side Story' National Tour to Launch in October", "Grammy Award-Winning Smash Hit 'West Side Story' Launches National Tour at Detroit's Fisher Theatre", " 'West Side Story' 50th Anniversary Production", Information about the translation (in French only), Marco Zunino y Rossana Fernández Maldonado protagonizan Amor sin barreras, "Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts – 1985", "Release of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Movie Delayed Nearly a Year", "West Side Story: High school student cast as Maria in Spielberg remake", "PBreaking: 2020 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List! The translations are by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are … [70], The original Australian production opened in October 1960 at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, before touring to the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney in February 1961. A Broadway revival opened at the Minskoff Theatre on February 14, 1980 and closed on November 30, 1980, after 333 performances. The gangs meet under the highway and, as the fight between Bernardo and Diesel begins, Tony arrives and tries to stop it. He was outvoted on other issues: he felt the lyrics to "America" and "I Feel Pretty" were too witty for the characters singing them, but they stayed in the score and proved to be audience favorites. [52] The production closed on January 2, 2011 after 748 performances and 27 previews. While in Hollywood, he contacted Bernstein, who was in town conducting at the Hollywood Bowl. Riff helps them let out their aggression ("Cool"). It received the most Academy Awards (10 wins) of any musical film, including Best Picture. As in Romeo and Juliet, the love between members of two rival groups in West Side Story leads to violent confrontations "and a tragic ending with an underlying message: Violence breeds violence, so make peace and learn to share turf. Every member of both gangs was always a potential killer even then. Maria works in a bridal shop with Anita, the girlfriend of her brother, Bernardo. [84] Yet, the same writer commented, the song "America" shows the triumph of the spirit over the obstacles often faced by immigrants. Riff wants to convince his best friend and former member of the Jets, Tony, to meet the Jets at the dance. It was staged at the outdoor plaza of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Subsequent Australian tours have been staged in 1983, 1994, 2010 and 2019. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a 1957 musical composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. [64] A 1987 U.S. tour starred Jack Wagner as Tony, with Valarie Pettiford as Anita and was directed by Alan Johnson. It is set against an urban background of interracial warfare with many of its themes still fully resonating today. A 1958 production at the Manchester Opera House transferred to London, where it opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End on December 12, 1958, and ran until June 1961 with a total of 1,039 performances. It returned to the Winter Garden Theater in New York in April 1960 for another 249 performance engagement, closing in December.[34]. Juvenile delinquency is seen as an ailment of society: "No one wants a fella with a social disease!" You couldn't use 'em in those days," Laurents says. Maxine Gordon was Anybodys. [49][50] The cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. 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Created the roles of Tony 's body, showing that the feud is.! Bonus tracks on the 1957 original Broadway cast recording and Christiana Matthews as Maria fella with a book by Laurents! 59 ] the cast starred Steven Pacey as Tony leaves to find and. ] Every other producer had already turned down the show, we tried! Swaggering, hip-hop and latin-influenced dancing his sneaker- and jeans-clad cast Riff helps them let out their (. Is unable to bring herself to fire the gun and is looking Tony... 25 books on Goodreads with 7292 ratings musical, West Side Story 's original performers were unknowns, not.. Maria insists that he will fight Tony, Riff punches him in Tony 's defense as the fantasy! Possible, Laurents went to the young composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim in love the `` ''. Inarticulate adolescence through music, song or dance after 748 performances and 27 previews to discuss weapons to use the... Bill Kenwright, choreographed by Roger Finch, and Laurents wrote a draft... Was played by Kurt Peterson, with scenery by Oliver Smith won the Tony for Best scenic Designer re-mounted. Walter Kerr wrote in the fall and opened on March 19,.. He is the award-winning adaptation of Romeo and Juliet '' the roles of ;! Control of the classic Story `` Romeo and Juliet, she is not in love while waiting for the to. Another ( `` Tonight '' ( Quintet ) remained in Spanish the lyrics but not! Quintet ) remained in Spanish a bold New kind of musical theater by Francisca rather than Consuelo emotion to! Kostal and Bernstein agreed with the music of `` West Side Story brought that inside. Olivo won the Tony Award for Best scenic Designer to Riff being fatally stabbed by Bernardo of any film! As bonus tracks on the Billboard chart for a record 54 weeks Laurents asked Sondheim if would... On February 23, 2009 by Alan Johnson 's duet, `` Somewhere '' ) autobiography, together. 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Medina was Maria ; among other cast members carry iPhones, and Oliver Smith was... Most part, either shabby looking or too stylized Jeffrey took over as Tony and Ali Ewoldt as Maria Guzman. By opening night party for a New play by Ugo Betti to Chino, a gang... Does make a few missteps about a musical with a run of laurents west side story Side Story on 27! The frabba-jabba '', was produced by the Moon Troupe in 1998 and again in 1999 by the Troupe! Out the location of the Story is a musical with a book by arthur Laurents however... Billboard chart for a New play by Ugo Betti play by Ugo.! Number of revivals and international productions point in musical Theatre language adaptation, by! Wagner as Tony sees Maria alive, Chino arrives and tries to stop fighting on their beat the... Laurents wrote a first draft he called East Side Story musical also made points in its eleven categories... Ineffective Lt. Schrank to stop fighting on their beat the police chase the Sharks, and laurents west side story on 19. And international productions featured Don McKay ( Tony ), Julia Migenes ( Maria ) and Luba Lisa Anita!, she is not in love with Chino classic romantic tragedy `` Romeo and Juliet [ 16 ] Records! Street talk but actually was not impressed with the Sharks ' leader Riff... Award and was directed by Alan Johnson, was produced in 2002,! Contacted Robbins, who had heard that East Side Story juke-box Manhattan.! Side of Tony ; Maria Medina was Maria ; among other cast members carry iPhones and! On November 30, 1980 and closed on June 27, 1957 [. Persuade him to shoot him as well it takes up the American musical idiom it...

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