This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more in. Ending spoiler for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. West side story questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on west side story. The official website the official website, in all its glory. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Language arts classes can draw close comparisons between west side story and romeo and juliet with a lesson that compares and contrasts the characters and plot points from both stories.
Tensions exist between the jets, a selfstyled american street gang, and the sharks, a group of young puerto ricans. The leader of the sharks, riff, swears to drive the sharks, led by bernardo, from the streets. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a pattern for. 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. Leonard bernsteins most significant contribution to the world of shakespeare was west side story, the 1957 smash broadway hit adaptation of romeo and juliet. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. As west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art.
Find books like romeo and juliet and west side story from the worlds largest community of readers. West side story was originally about jews and catholics. 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. 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. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. 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.
Steven spielberg is remaking musical classic west side story, with ansel elgort as tony and newcomer rachel zegler playing maria. The trio was enthusiasticlaurents would have his muchdesired chance to write a book of a. It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration and bigotry to economic inequality and gang. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan. Romeo and juliet west side story a comparison contrast. A comprehensive database of west side story quizzes online, test your knowledge with west side story quiz questions.
It is fundamentally a retelling of the tragedy of romeo and juliet set in 1960s new york, with street gangs substituted for the squabbling families and presented as broadway musical from that period. 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. It is a workingclass neighborhood with a mixture of ethnic groups. The 1957 musical west side story was a collaboration among composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, and choreographer jerome robbins. West side story full plot summary including detailed synopsis and summaries for each scene. 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. The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s.
Plot the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s. Setting compare and contrast plot the book west side story takes place on the west side of new york city in the 1950s. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. At the time, the phrase broadway musical was synonymous with musical comedy. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. 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. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. 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. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story. Jan 22, 2020 the west side story book is famously lean its one of the shortest books in broadway history and propulsive.
In news that will thrill musical theatre fans, steven spielberg is at the helm of a new cinematic version of west side story. Video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class. If broadway isnt your thing, then west side story might not be, either. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides.
Author and authors purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. With ansel elgort, rita moreno, corey stoll, talia ryder. Mistakestrivia books movie mistakes subreddit movie trivia subreddit. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. 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. This tragic play tells the story of two teenagers from opposing families, the capulets and the montagues, who fall in love with each other against all odds. The sharks and the jets are two feuding street gangs in 1950s new york, the jets being white and the sharks being puerto rican. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. One of the ideas bounced around early on by choreographer jerome robbins was having the plot. The 85 best movies on amazon prime uk, from green book.
Additionally, an activity encourages readers to compare the 1961 film version west side story directed by robert wise with the 1996 film version of romeo and. 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. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by. The slight differences in west side story school edition include in conjunction with the jerome robbins estate, the choreography has been modified from the original to make it more accessible to high school performers while keeping the choreographys original story telling intact. Books similar to romeo and juliet and west side story.
The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. West side story written by arthur laurents is actually a modern adaptation of shakespeares romeo and juliet. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. It possess qualities of a musical, thriller, crime, drama, and romance to create a captivating performance. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. They know they cant be together because of the gangs war, but that doesnt stop them. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the story. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Eventually, the tensions between their families are too intense for them to bear, and the lead lovers of the story, romeo and juliet, commit suicide. 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. What changes were made in the plot and action of romeo and juliet in the. This shakespeare unlimited podcast episode honors bernsteins legacy, in the runup to the 100th anniversary of his birth. The leader of the sharks, riff, swears to drive the.
I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. West side story 1961 soundtrack complete list of songs. The question and answer section for west side story 1961 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Im a film major, so i thought i might as well use that to my advantage. Aug 22, 2018 as west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. West side story compared to romeo and juliet 3084 words pages. Dec 05, 2011 video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class.
It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. 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. All 38 songs from the west side story 1961 movie soundtrack, with scene descriptions. The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. The west side story book is famously lean its one of the shortest books in broadway history and propulsive. Sondheim was careful to make the distinction between story and plot.
A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. West side story hit broadways winter garden theatre. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid1950s. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. In the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood would be cleared to make room for lincoln center, which changed the neighborhood. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. When west side story opened on broadway in 1957, it was a new kind of musical. West side story 1961 film essay questions gradesaver.
West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. With additional resources for students and directors, west side story school edition makes the iconic musical more accessible and meaningful for high school performers. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. At a dance at a gym, jet tony falls in love with a sharks sister, maria. Steven spielberg to remake west side story but will it. 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. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. A galvanizing new revival of west side story opened thursday night on broadway, minus some familiar sights and sounds. West side story school edition music theatre international. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture.
I honestly liked this book because it was a quick read with a good plot. Our online west side story trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top west side story quizzes. Listen to and download the music, ost, score, list of songs and trailers. Leonard bernstein and west side story folger shakespeare. West side story 1961 ending spoiler movie mistakes. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. For many years ive avoided writing about west side story. Musical theatre typically took a lighthearted approach, even when broaching serious issues. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story romeo and juliet. West side story, adapted from romeo and juliet, could have been east side story. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. As a puerto rican critic, i resent the expectation that i have something to say about a musty old musical from.