The importance of west side story essay 980 words bartleby. The new production played an outoftown tryout at that same landmark dec. West side story, a 1961 soundtrack album from the film. Too finetuned to the vernacular of area and the naivete of the era, the narrative offers only echoes of its. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were.
The jets are boys who were born in america, but have polish roots. Stay tuned for a post pandemic going out of business sale announcement. 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. Two youngsters from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but. But i will give you anyway a short view about them. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. West side story by irving shulman, 1967, pocket books edition, in english west side story. After a short history of west side story s creation, each chapter investigates the musical from a different cultural perspective, examining its relationship to the classical canon and leonard bernsteins investment in that tradition, juvenile delinquency in the 1950s, feminism and the women of west side story. It opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west. Sunhills valley west side story act 2 sunhillsvalleytv.
It was to be set during passover, a holiday time important to both religions. Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. However, robbins insisted on so many takes of his scenes that he was fired before the movie was completed. The production opens with a danced prologue indicating the bitter tensions between the jets, a selfstyled american street gang, and the sharks, a group of young puerto ricans. 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. Roughly 100 protestors gathered outside the broadway premiere of west side story on thursday night, carrying placards and chanting in unison to demand the removal of. Feb 23, 2009 west side story made its world premiere at the national theatre in washington, dc, in 1957. Maybe this is why west side story gets produced year after year after year. West side story 410 movie clip america 1961 hd youtube. A changed west side story returns to a changed new york. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame.
West side story was originally an illfated love story about a jewish girl and an italian catholic boy on manhattans east side. Synopsis act ii maria, not yet aware of the situation, daydreams with her friends. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. This is not exactly marias case in west side story since a puerto rican boy is interested in her, but the. No future sales 30 minutes before start of performance. 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. West side story and the american imagination by misha berson. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. 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 police question the jets about the murders, and. These include questions which involve close reading, writing and discussion.
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. My brother, sister, and i have always had west side story. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. West side story by irving shulman, 1967, pocket books edition, in english west side story 1967 edition open library. West side story, the most exciting musical theater masterpiece of the 20th century. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. Thanks to my daughter, we had excellent seats in the mezzanine along the rail. An adaptation of the 1957 musical, west side story explores forbidden love and the rivalry.
West side story original broadway cast, a 1957 recording west side story, an adaptation directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. This series of contemporary plays includes structured gcse assignments for use by individuals or groups. West side story overview the best broadway source for west side story tickets and west side story information, photos and videos. Westside stories used books we have decided to permanently close westside stories after 8 years of serving the buffalos west side. There are some nice solo lines for alto in the first book, lots of flute playing including some exposed passages in the third octave, and two fun spots. Nigel simeone begins by exploring the long process of creating west side story. Directors guide to musical theatre by scott miller isbn. With ansel elgort, rita moreno, corey stoll, maddie ziegler. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet.
One of the broadway musicals that can genuinely claim to have transformed the genre, west side story has been featured in many books on broadway, but it has yet to be the focus of a scholarly monograph. Anita is marias friend and, so far, has nothing to do with the plot. It was to be set during passover, a holiday time important to. My brother, sister, and i have always had west side story in our lives. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. 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. Pianovocal selections with piano accompaniment recording paperback december 1, 2011. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. West side story opening night sparks protest variety.
When doc passes that information on to tony, he leaves the store and rushes. It not only transposes romeo and juliet to the world of new york gangs. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. Two teenagers from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but tensions between their friends build towards tragedy. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the. West side story presentation by katelyn hestad on prezi. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. The importance of art in west side story 766 words 4 pages. I attended a performance of west side story at the pantages on sunday.
It challenged peoples ideas on immigration and racism while capturing ones heart with a tragic love story. On the other hand, in the rise and fall of the broadway musical, mark grant concentrates on the growth of the musical in light of changes in technology and music, and in writing the book and lyrics. Murphy 7 december 2006 west side story chapter 3 in this chapter, anita is making the dress for maria. Westside stories readers rank the 20th centurys best nonfiction this side of the rockies the trouble with compiling any best of list is that the compiler never gets to take part in what. When leonard bernstein, stephen sondheim, jerome robbins and arthur laurents created west side story in the mid50s, they lived within walking distance of the. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. An adaptation of the 1957 musical, west side story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Video ivo van hoves attentionsplintering revival of the immortal 1957 musical features new choreography, a ravishing. When told by chino, she decided to escape it with tony to a world that is peaceful. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. I have had a lot of conversation with people who participate and are fans of musical theatre and the popular oppinion is that west side story is the best musical in all aspects overall. 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. Toggle expanding contracting information section similar items. See more ideas about west side story, west side story broadway and broadway costumes. Arthur laurents has written the story of two hostile teenage gangs fighting for supremacy amid the tenement houses, corner stores and bridges of the west side.
Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Need reed 1 book from west side story i dont have a copy of the book but ive played the show. I think most of you know the film or the book and the important characters. The word polack is a slur against people of polish descent. Aug 09, 20 if any aspect of west side story is still undervalued it is the book by arthur laurents.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Like comic books and horror films, rock n roll was blamed by many parents for a rise in juvenile delinquency. Conceived in 1949, west side story has a serious message that pleads. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved. The fullydanced prolog shows the tension built up between the jets and the sharks two rival gangs in new yorks upper west side. Sep 26, 2017 and he intends to continue imbuing his fellow parisians with his love of the american musical theatre traditionfirst with a revival of one of broadways greats, west side story. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. 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. Mar 17, 2010 wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010.
West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by. West side story 1961 was tayirs first film role and he was acted in eight other tv shows and films, including the tv special around the beatles 1964. They are getting ready for the party thats in a few hours. I honestly liked this book because it was a quick read with a good plot. Idee autor jerome robbins arthur laurentsi libreto, leonard bernsteini muusika, stephen sondheimi laulutekstid. 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. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn. The book was written by arthur laurents and the music was composed by leonard bernstein. A musical set on the west side of new york city around 1957. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. For those who care about the how and why of the music is west side story this book is essential.
Need reed 1 book from west side story sax on the web forum. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story. 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. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. West side story chapter 3 big trouble in this chapter maria. 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. The gem of broadway musicals, west side story s commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place. Choreographer robbins was hired to direct the dance scenes, with the remaining scenes to be directed by robert wise. The book alone is worth keeping the old dvd on the shelf. 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. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. 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. Vivid film adaptation of the landmark broadway musical, updating the romeo and juliet story to the youthgang atmosphere of late 1950s n.
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