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'{{About|the stage musical|the film version|West Side Story (film)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox musical | name = West Side Story | image = West Side 001.jpg | caption = Original cast recording | music = [[Leonard Bernstein]] | lyrics = [[Stephen Sondheim]] | book = [[Arthur Laurents]] | basis = ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''<br />by [[William Shakespeare]] | productions = 1957 [[Washington, D.C.]] (tryout)<br />1957 [[Philadelphia]] (tryout)<br />1957 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]<br />1958 [[West End theatre|West End]]<br />1959 US tour<br />1960 Broadway (return)<br />1961 [[West Side Story (film)|Film]]<br />1964 Broadway<br />1974 West End<br />1980 Broadway<br />1984 West End<br />1985 US tour<br />1995 US tour<br />1998 West End<br />2009 Broadway<br />2010 US tour <!-- Listed productions should only be major, long-running productions; i.e., Broadway, West End, and their associated tours --> }} '''''West Side Story''''' is a [[Musical theatre|musical]] with a [[Book (musical theatre)|book]] by [[Arthur Laurents]], music by [[Leonard Bernstein]] and [[lyrics]] by [[Stephen Sondheim]].<ref>[http://www.sondheimguide.com/wss.html ''West Side Story''], SondheimGuide.com, accessed October 15, 2016</ref> It was inspired by [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''. The story is set in the [[Upper West Side]] neighborhood in my back garden in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, [[blue-collar]] neighborhood (in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an [[urban renewal]] project for [[Lincoln Center]], which changed the neighborhood's character).<ref>Sarah Waxman. [http://www.ny.com/articles/upperwest.html "The History of the Upper West Side"], ny.com</ref><ref>[http://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/ "About Lincoln Center"], City Realty.com, accessed October 15, 2016</ref> The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street [[gang]]s of different [[ethnicity|ethnic]] backgrounds. The members of the Sharks, [[Puerto Rican Americans|from Puerto Rico]], are taunted by the Jets, a [[White people|white]] gang.<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_w/west_side_story.htm "'West Side Story'' plot and production listing"], guidetomusicaltheatre.com, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang's leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Bernstein's score for the musical includes "[[Something's Coming (song)|Something's Coming]]", "[[Maria (West Side Story song)|Maria]]", "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]", "[[Somewhere (song)|Somewhere]]", "[[Tonight (1956 song)|Tonight]]", "Jet Song", "[[I Feel Pretty]]", "[[A Boy Like That]]", "[[One Hand, One Heart]]", "[[Gee, Officer Krupke]]", and "[[Cool (West Side Story song)|Cool]]". The original 1957 Broadway production, conceived, directed and choreographed by [[Jerome Robbins]] and produced by Robert E. Griffith and [[Harold Prince]], marked Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran for 732 performances before going on tour. The production was nominated for six [[Tony Award]]s including Best Musical in 1957,<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=2639 " ''West Side Story'' Broadway"] IBDB.com, accessed October 15, 2016</ref> but the award for Best Musical went to [[Meredith Willson]]'s ''[[The Music Man]]''. Robbins won the Tony Award for his choreography and [[Oliver Smith (designer)|Oliver Smith]] won for his scenic designs. The show had an even longer-running London production, a number of revivals and international productions. A [[West Side Story (film)|1961 musical film adaptation]], directed by [[Robert Wise]] and Robbins, starred [[Natalie Wood]], [[Richard Beymer]], [[Rita Moreno]], [[George Chakiris]] and [[Russ Tamblyn]]. The film was nominated for eleven [[Academy Awards]] and won ten, including [[George Chakiris]] for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Supporting Actor]], [[Rita Moreno]] for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Supporting Actress]], and [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]. == Background == [[File:I Feel Pretty from West Side Story 1957.JPG|thumb|275px|L-R: Elizabeth Taylor, Carmen Guitterez, [[Marilyn Cooper]], and [[Carol Lawrence]] from the original Broadway cast sing "[[I Feel Pretty]]" (1957)]] === Genesis === In 1947, Jerome Robbins approached Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents about collaborating on a contemporary musical adaptation of ''Romeo and Juliet''. He proposed that the plot focus on the conflict between an Irish Catholic family and a Jewish family living on the [[Lower East Side]] of [[Manhattan]],<ref>Long, Robert Emmet. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rKxJiOAb6LAC&pg=PA93&dq=%22Jerome+Robbins%22++%22West+Side+Story%22+%22East+OR+Side+OR+Story%22&hl=en#v=onepage&q=%22Jerome%20Robbins%22%20%20%22West%20Side%20Story%22%20%22East%20OR%20Side%20OR%20Story%22&f=false "West Side Story"], ''Broadway, The Golden Years:Jerome Robbins and The Great Choreographer-Directors : 1940 to the present'', Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003, {{ISBN|0-8264-1462-1}}, p. 96</ref> during the Easter–[[Passover]] season. The girl has survived the [[Holocaust]] and emigrated from Israel; the conflict was to be centered around [[anti-Semitism]] of the Catholic "Jets" towards the Jewish "Emeralds" (a name that made its way into the script as a reference).<ref name="Bernstein">[http://www.leonardbernstein.com/studio/element.asp?FeatID=8&AssetID=24 Information from a Leonard Bernstein.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325072207/http://www.leonardbernstein.com/studio/element.asp?FeatID=8&AssetID=24 |date=March 25, 2012 }}</ref> Eager to write his first musical, Laurents immediately agreed. Bernstein wanted to present the material in operatic form, but Robbins and Laurents resisted the suggestion. They described the project as "lyric theater", and Laurents wrote a first draft he called ''East Side Story''. 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]]''. When he opted to drop out, the three men went their separate ways, and the piece was shelved for almost five years.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=329–330}}<ref>[http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_excerpts.php "Excerpts from Bernstein's West Side Log, see 1949 and 1955"], WestSideStory.com, originally published in 1957, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> In 1955, theatrical producer [[Martin Gabel]] was working on a stage adaptation of the [[James M. Cain]] novel ''Serenade'', about an opera singer who comes to the realization he is homosexual, and he invited Laurents to write the book. Laurents accepted and suggested Bernstein and Robbins join the creative team. Robbins felt if the three were going to join forces, they should return to ''East Side Story'', and Bernstein agreed. Laurents, however, was committed to Gabel, who introduced him to the young composer/lyricist [[Stephen Sondheim]]. Sondheim auditioned by playing the score for ''[[Saturday Night (musical)|Saturday Night]]'', his musical that was scheduled to open in the fall. Laurents liked the lyrics but was not impressed with the music. Sondheim did not care for Laurents' opinion. ''Serenade'' ultimately was shelved.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|p=334}} Laurents was soon hired to write the screenplay for a [[remake]] of the 1934 [[Greta Garbo]] film ''[[The Painted Veil (1934 film)|The Painted Veil]]'' for [[Ava Gardner]]. While in Hollywood, he contacted Bernstein, who was in town conducting at the [[Hollywood Bowl]]. The two met at [[The Beverly Hills Hotel]], and the conversation turned to [[Juvenile delinquency|juvenile delinquent]] [[gang]]s, a fairly recent social phenomenon that had received major coverage on the front pages of the morning newspapers due to a [[Chicano]] turf war. 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|Puerto Rican immigrants]] and [[Harlem]] than he was with [[Mexican American]]s and [[Olvera Street]]. The two contacted Robbins, who was enthusiastic about a musical with a Latin beat. He arrived in Hollywood to choreograph the dance sequences for ''[[The King and I (1956 film)|The King and I]]'', and he and Laurents began developing the musical while working on their respective projects, keeping in touch with Bernstein, who had returned to New York. When the producer of ''The Painted Veil'' replaced Gardner with [[Eleanor Parker]] and asked Laurents to revise his script with her in mind, he backed out of the film, freeing him to devote all his time to the stage musical.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=336–43}} === Collaboration and development === In New York City, Laurents went to the opening night party for a new play by [[Ugo Betti]], and there he met Sondheim, who had heard that ''East Side Story'', now retitled ''West Side Story'', was back on track. Bernstein had decided he needed to concentrate solely on the music, and he and Robbins had invited [[Betty Comden]] and [[Adolph Green]] to write the lyrics, but the team opted to work on ''[[Peter Pan (1954 musical)|Peter Pan]]'' instead. Laurents asked Sondheim if he would be interested in tackling the task. Initially he resisted, because he was determined to write the full score for his next project (''Saturday Night'' had been aborted), but [[Oscar Hammerstein II|Oscar Hammerstein]] convinced him that he would benefit from the experience, and he accepted.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=346–47}} 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.<ref name=factsheet>Gottlieb, Jack (Guide and Commentary). [http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_factsheet.php "'West Side Story' Fact Sheet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201100213/http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_factsheet.php |date=December 1, 2008 }}, WestSideStory.com, 2001, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> The original book Laurents wrote closely adhered to ''Romeo and Juliet'', but the characters based on [[Rosaline]] and the parents of the doomed lovers were eliminated early on. Later the scenes related to Juliet's faking her death and committing suicide also were deleted. 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. Laurents ultimately invented what sounded like real street talk but actually was not: "cut the frabba-jabba", for example.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|p=349}} Sondheim converted long passages of dialogue, and sometimes just a simple phrase like "A boy like that would kill your brother", into lyrics. With the help of Oscar Hammerstein, Laurents convinced Bernstein and Sondheim to move "One Hand, One Heart", which he considered too pristine for the balcony scene, to the scene set in the bridal shop, and as a result "Tonight" was written to replace it. Laurents felt that the building tension needed to be alleviated in order to increase the impact of the play's tragic outcome, so comic relief in the form of Officer Krupke was added to the second act. He was outvoted on other issues: he felt the lyrics to "[[America (West Side Story song)|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. 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.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=350–51}} Bernstein composed ''West Side Story'' and ''[[Candide (operetta)|Candide]]'' concurrently, which led to some switches of material between the two works.<ref>Some of the music Bernstein wrote for ''West Side Story'', but that was not used in the production, was later integrated into the ''[[Chichester Psalms]]''.</ref> Tony and Maria's duet, "One Hand, One Heart", was originally intended for Cunegonde in ''Candide''. The music of "Gee, Officer Krupke" was pulled from the Venice scene in ''Candide''.<ref name="Bibliography">Burton, Humphrey. [http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_bibliography.php "Leonard Bernstein by Humphrey Burton, Chapter 26"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017184521/http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_bibliography.php |date=October 17, 2008 }}, WestSideStory.com, 1994, accessed August 18, 2011.</ref> Laurents explained the style that the creative team finally decided on: {{quote|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. Wherever possible in the show, we have tried to heighten emotion or to articulate inarticulate adolescence through music, song or dance.<ref>{{cite news |author=Laurents, Arthur |url=http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_herald1.php |title=The Growth of an Idea |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |date=August 4, 1957}}</ref>}} The show was nearly complete in the fall of 1956, but almost everyone on the creative team needed to fulfill other commitments first. Robbins was involved with ''[[Bells Are Ringing (musical)|Bells Are Ringing]]'', then Bernstein with ''[[Candide (operetta)|Candide]]'', and in January 1957 ''A Clearing in the Woods'', Laurents' latest play, opened and quickly closed.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=351–52}} When a backers' audition failed to raise any money for ''West Side Story'' late in the spring of 1957, only two months before the show was to begin rehearsals, producer [[Cheryl Crawford]] pulled out of the project.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=326–28}} Every other producer had already turned down the show, deeming it too dark and depressing. Bernstein was despondent, but Sondheim convinced his friend [[Harold Prince|Hal Prince]], who was in Boston overseeing the out-of-town tryout of the new [[George Abbott]] musical ''[[New Girl in Town]]'', to read the script. He liked it but decided to ask Abbott, his longtime mentor, for his opinion, and Abbott advised him to turn it down. Prince, aware that Abbott was the primary reason ''New Girl'' was in trouble, decided to ignore him, and he and his producing partner Robert Griffith flew to New York to hear the score.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|p=354}} In his memoirs, Prince recalled, "Sondheim and Bernstein sat at the piano playing through the music, and soon I was singing along with them."<ref name="Bibliography" /> === Production period === [[File:Larry Kert as Tony West Side Story 1957.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Larry Kert]] as Tony, original Broadway production (1957)]] [[File:Balcony scene West Side Story.JPG|thumb|upright|Kert and Lawrence in the balcony scene (1957)]] Prince began cutting the budget and raising money. Robbins then announced he did not want to choreograph the show, but changed his mind when Prince agreed to an eight-week dance rehearsal period (instead of the customary four), since there was to be more dancing in ''West Side Story'' than in any previous Broadway show,<ref name="Bibliography" /> and allowed Robbins to hire [[Peter Gennaro]] as his assistant.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=354–56}} Originally, when considering the cast, Laurents wanted [[James Dean]] for the lead role of Tony, but the actor soon died. Sondheim found [[Larry Kert]] and [[Chita Rivera]], who created the roles of Tony and Anita, respectively. Getting the work on stage was still not easy. Bernstein said: {{quote|Everyone told us that [''West Side Story''] was an impossible project ... And we were told no one was going to be able to sing [[augmented fourth]]s, as with "Ma-ri-a" ... Also, they said the score was too rangy for pop music ... Besides, who wanted to see a show in which the first-act curtain comes down on two dead bodies lying on the stage?... 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. Ultimately, some of the cast were teenagers, some were 21, some were 30 but looked 16. Some were wonderful singers but couldn't dance very well, or vice versa ... and if they could do both, they couldn't act.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Wenner, Jann S. |author2=Levy, Joe |chapterurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=t2CaFeDa_m0C&pg=PT190&dq=%22Rolling+Stone%22+%22Leonard+Bernstein%22+Cott&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false |chapter=Leonard Bernstein |title=The Rolling Stone Interviews |publisher=Back Bay Books |location=New York |year=2007 |isbn=0-316-00526-6}}</ref>}} Throughout the rehearsal period, the New York newspapers were filled with articles about gang warfare, keeping the show's plot timely. 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.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Roberts|first=Terri|date=Winter 2003|title=West Side Story: 'We were all very young'|url=https://www.sondheimreview.com/magazine/vol-9-no-3-winter-2003/#10|journal=[[The Sondheim Review]]|volume=9|issue=3|pages=28–29|issn=1076-450X}}</ref> Robbins wanted a gritty realism from his sneaker- and jeans-clad cast. He gave the ensemble more freedom than Broadway dancers had previously been given to interpret their roles, and the dancers were thrilled to be treated like actors instead of just choreographed bodies.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=357–58}} 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.<ref name="Bibliography" /> [[Columbia Records]] initially declined to record the [[cast album]], saying the score was too depressing and too difficult.<ref name="Bernstein" /> There were problems with [[Oliver Smith (designer)|Oliver Smith]]'s designs. His painted backdrops were stunning, but the sets were, for the most part, either shabby looking or too stylized. Prince refused to spend money on new construction, and Smith was obliged to improve what he had as best he could with very little money to do it.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=360–61}} The pre-Broadway run in Washington, D.C. was a critical and commercial success, although none of the reviews mentioned Sondheim, listed as co-lyricist, who was overshadowed by the better-known Bernstein. Bernstein magnanimously removed his name as co-author of the lyrics, although Sondheim was uncertain he wanted to receive sole credit for what he considered to be overly florid contributions by Bernstein. 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. As a result, by opening night on Broadway, none of his collaborators were talking to him.{{sfn|Laurents|2000|pp=362–65}} It has been rumored that while Bernstein was off trying to fix the musical ''Candide'', Sondheim wrote some of the music for ''West Side Story'', and that Bernstein's co-lyricist billing mysteriously disappeared from the credits of ''West Side Story'' during the tryout, presumably as a trade-off.<ref>Suskin, Steven (1990). ''Opening Night on Broadway: A Critical Quotebook of the Golden Era of the Musical Theatre''. New York: Schirmer Books, p. 697. {{ISBN|0-02-872625-1}}.</ref> 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...Contrary to rumor, Sondheim did not write music for the show; his only contribution came on "Something's Coming", where he developed the main strain of the chorus from music Bernstein wrote for the verse.<ref>Suskin, Steven (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=_3mOZv6OaUIC&pg=PA207&dq=Suskin+%22West+Side+Story%22&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers''] (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press US, p. 206. {{ISBN|0-19-531407-7}}.</ref>) == Synopsis == === Act 1 === Two rival teenage gangs, the Jets (White Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Rican Americans), struggle for control of their neighborhood on the [[Upper West Side]] of New York City (Prologue). They are warned by police officers Krupke and Lt. Schrank to stop fighting on their beat. The police chase the Sharks off, and then the Jets plan how they can assure their continued dominance of the street. The Jets' leader, Riff, suggests setting up a rumble with the Sharks. He plans to make the challenge to Bernardo, the Sharks' leader, that night at the neighborhood dance. Riff wants to convince his friend and former member of the Jets, Tony, to meet the Jets at the dance. Some of the Jets are unsure of his loyalty, but Riff is adamant that Tony is still one of them ("Jet Song"). Riff meets Tony while he's working at Doc's Drugstore to persuade him to come. Tony initially refuses, but Riff wins him over. Tony is convinced that something important is round the corner ("Something's Coming"). Maria works in a bridal shop with Anita, the girlfriend of her brother, Bernardo. Maria has just arrived from Puerto Rico for her arranged marriage to Chino, a friend of Bernardo's. Maria confesses to Anita that she is not in love with Chino. Anita makes Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. [[File:The Shark girls extol the virtues of America.jpg|thumb|The Shark girls extol the virtues of "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]" in [[Portland Center Stage]]'s production of ''West Side Story'' in 2007.]] 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. They dance together, forgetting the tension in the room, and fall in love, but Bernardo pulls his sister from Tony and sends her home. Riff and Bernardo agree to meet for a War Council at Doc's, a drug store which is considered neutral ground, but meanwhile, an infatuated and happy Tony finds Maria's building and serenades her outside her bedroom ("Maria"). She appears on her fire escape, and the two profess their love for one another ("[[Tonight (1956 song)|Tonight]]"). Meanwhile, Anita, Rosalia, and the other Shark girls discuss the differences between the territory of Puerto Rico and the mainland United States of America, with Anita defending America, and Rosalia yearning for Puerto Rico ("[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]"). The Jets get antsy while waiting for the Sharks inside Doc's Drug Store. Riff helps them let out their aggression ("Cool"). The Sharks arrive to discuss weapons to use in the rumble. Tony suggests "a fair fight" (fists only), which the leaders agree to, despite the other members' protests. Bernardo believes that he will fight Tony, but must settle for fighting Diesel, Riff's second-in-command, instead. This is followed by a monologue by the ineffective Lt. Schrank trying to find out the location of the rumble. Tony tells Doc about Maria. Doc is worried for them while Tony is convinced that nothing can go wrong; he is in love. [[File:The Rumble from West Side Story 1957.JPG|thumb|left|Tony stabs Bernardo in the 1957 Broadway production.]] The next day, Maria is in a very happy mood at the bridal shop, as she anticipates seeing Tony again. However, she learns about the upcoming rumble from Anita and is dismayed. When Tony arrives, Maria asks him to stop the fight altogether, which he agrees to do. Before he goes, they dream of their wedding ("One Hand, One Heart"). Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo and the Sharks, and Riff and the Jets all anticipate the events to come that night ("[[Tonight Quintet]]"). The gangs meet under the highway and, as the fight between Bernardo and Diesel begins, Tony arrives and tries to stop it. Though Bernardo taunts and provokes Tony, ridiculing his attempt to make peace, Tony keeps his composure. When Bernardo pushes Tony, Riff punches him in Tony's defense. The two draw their switchblades and get in a fight ("The Rumble"). Tony attempts to intervene, inadvertently leading to Riff being fatally stabbed by Bernardo. Tony kills Bernardo in a fit of rage, which in turn provokes an all-out fight like the fight in the Prologue. The sound of approaching police sirens is heard, and everyone scatters, except Tony, who stands in shock at what he has done. 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. Only the bodies of Riff and Bernardo remain. {{clear|left}} === Act 2 === [[File:Tony&MariaWestSideStory.jpg|thumb|150px|Tony (Justin Gordon) and Maria (Erica Racz) in a [[Pacific Repertory Theatre]] production in 2001.]] Blissfully unaware of the gangs' plans for that night, Maria daydreams with her friends, Rosalia, [[Consuelo (name)|Consuelo]], Teresita and Francisca, about seeing Tony ("I Feel Pretty"). Later, as Maria dances on the roof happily because she has seen Tony and believes he went to stop the rumble, Chino brings the news that Tony has killed Bernardo. Maria flees to her bedroom, praying that Chino is lying. Tony arrives to see Maria and she initially pounds on his chest with rage, but she still loves him. They plan to run away together. As the walls of Maria's bedroom disappear, they find themselves in a dreamlike world of peace ("[[Somewhere (West Side Story song)|Somewhere]]"). Two of the Jets, A-Rab and Baby John, are set on by Officer Krupke, but they manage to escape him. They meet the rest of the gang. To cheer themselves up, they lampoon Officer Krupke, and the other adults who don't understand them ("[[Gee, Officer Krupke]]"). Anybodys arrives and tells the Jets she has been spying on the Puerto Ricans; she has discovered that Chino is looking for Tony with a gun. The gang separates to find Tony. Action has taken charge; he accepts Anybodys into the Jets and includes her in the search. A grieving Anita arrives at Maria's apartment. As Tony leaves, he tells Maria to meet him at Doc's so they can run away to the country. In spite of her attempts to conceal it, Anita sees that Tony has been with Maria, and launches an angry tirade against him ("[[A Boy Like That]]"). 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. She admits that Chino has a gun and is looking for Tony. Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria about her brother's death, and Anita agrees to go to Doc's to tell Tony to wait. Unfortunately, the Jets, who have found Tony, have congregated at Doc's, and they taunt Anita with racist slurs and eventually simulate rape. Doc arrives and stops them. Anita is furious, and in anger spitefully delivers the wrong message, telling the Jets that Chino has shot Maria dead. Doc relates the news to Tony, who has been dreaming of heading to the countryside to have children with Maria. Feeling there is no longer anything to live for, Tony leaves to find Chino, begging for him to shoot him as well. Just as Tony sees Maria alive, Chino arrives and shoots Tony. The Jets, Sharks, and adults flock around the lovers. Maria holds Tony in her arms (and sings a quiet, brief reprise of "Somewhere") as he dies. 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!" she yells. However, she is unable to bring herself to fire the gun and drops it, crying in grief. Gradually, all the members of both gangs assemble on either side of Tony's body, showing that the feud is over. The Jets and Sharks form a procession, and together carry Tony away, with Maria the last one in the procession. == Characters == [[File:Gee Officer Krupke West Side Story.JPG|thumb|275px|"Gee, Officer Krupke" sung by the Jets, original Broadway cast (1957) ]] {{col-begin}} '''The Jets''' * Riff, the leader * Tony, his best friend * Diesel (Ice in film), Riff's lieutenant * Action, A-Rab, Baby John, Big Deal, Gee-Tar, Mouthpiece, Snowboy, Tiger and Anybodys '''The Jet Girls''' * Velma (Riff's girlfriend), Graziella (Diesel's girlfriend), Minnie, Clarice and Pauline '''The Sharks''' * Bernardo, the leader * Chino, his best friend * Pepe, second-in-command * Indio, Luis, Anxious, Nibbles, Juano, Toro and Moose '''The Shark Girls''' * Maria, Bernardo's sister * Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend * Rosalia, Consuelo, Teresita, Francisca, Estella and Marguerita '''The Adults''' * Doc, owner of the local drugstore/soda shop. * Schrank, racist local police lieutenant. * Krupke, neighborhood cop and Schrank's right hand man. * Glad Hand, well meaning social worker in charge of the dance. <!-- * Madam Lucia is not a character in the stage version. https://www.westsidestory.com/archives-1/ --> {{col-end}} ==Casts== {| class="wikitable" style="width:10; text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:10%;" | Character ! style="width:10%;" | Original Broadway Cast <br> <small>1957</small> ! style="width:10%;" | Original West End <br> <small>1958</small> ! style="width:10%;" | Broadway Revival <br> <small>1980</small> ! style="width:10%;" | Broadway Revival <br> <small>2009</small> |- ! Tony | style="text-align:center;" | [[Larry Kert]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Don McKay]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Ken Marshall]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Matt Cavenaugh]] |- ! Maria | style="text-align:center;" | [[Carol Lawrence]] | style="text-align:center;" | Marlys Watters | style="text-align:center;" | [[Josie de Guzman]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Josefina Scaglione]] |- ! Riff | style="text-align:center;" | [[Michael Callan]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[George Chakiris]] | style="text-align:center;" | James J. Mellon | style="text-align:center;" | Cody Green |- ! Bernardo | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Ken LeRoy | style="text-align:center;" | Héctor Jaime Mercado | style="text-align:center;" | George Akram |- ! Anita | colspan ="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Chita Rivera]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Debbie Allen]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Karen Olivo]] |- ! Lt. Schrank | style="text-align:center;" | [[Arch Johnson]] | style="text-align:center;" | Ted Gunther | style="text-align:center;" | [[Arch Johnson]] | style="text-align:center;" | Steve Bassett |- ! Doc | style="text-align:center;" | [[Art Smith (actor)|Art Smith]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[David Bauer (actor)|David Bauer]] | style="text-align:center;" | Sammy Smith | style="text-align:center;" | Greg Vinkler |- ! Krupke | style="text-align:center;" | [[William Bramley]] | style="text-align:center;" | Hal Galili | style="text-align:center;" | [[John Bentley (actor)|John Bentley]] | style="text-align:center;" | Lee Sellars |- |} == Musical numbers == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} === Act 1 === * "Prologue" – Orchestra, danced by Jets & Sharks * "Jet Song" – Riff & Jets * "[[Something's Coming (song)|Something's Coming]]" – Tony * "The Dance at the Gym" – Jets & Sharks * "[[Maria (West Side Story song)|Maria]]" – Tony * "[[Tonight (1956 song)|Tonight]]" – Tony & Maria * "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]" – Anita, Rosalia, & Shark Girls * "[[Cool (West Side Story song)|Cool]]" – Riff & Jets * "[[One Hand, One Heart]]" – Tony & Maria * "[[Tonight Quintet|Tonight (Quintet & Chorus)]]" – Company * "The Rumble" – Orchestra, danced by Riff, Bernardo, Sharks & Jets {{col-break}} === Act 2 === * "[[I Feel Pretty]]" – Maria, Rosalia, Estella, & Consuelo * "[[Somewhere (song)|Somewhere]]" – Consuelo, danced by Company * "[[Gee, Officer Krupke]]" – Action, Snowboy & Jets * "[[A Boy Like That]]" – Anita & Maria * "I Have a Love" – Anita & Maria * "Finale" – Company {{col-end}} '''Notes''' * In the 1964 and 1980 revivals, "Somewhere" was sung by Francisca rather than Consuelo. * In the 2009 revival, "Cool" was performed by Riff, the Jets, and the ''Jet Girls''. "I Feel Pretty" was sung in Spanish as "{{lang|es|Siento Hermosa}}" and "A Boy Like That" was sung in Spanish as "{{lang|es|Un Hombre Así}}". "Somewhere" was sung by Kiddo, a young Jet. == Productions == === Original Broadway production === 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 to positive reviews. The production was directed and choreographed by [[Jerome Robbins]], orchestrated by [[Sid Ramin]] and [[Irwin Kostal]], and produced by Robert E. Griffith and [[Harold Prince]], with lighting designed by [[Jean Rosenthal]]. The cast starred [[Larry Kert]] as Tony, [[Carol Lawrence]] as Maria, [[Chita Rivera]] as Anita and [[David Winters (choreographer)|David Winters]] as Baby John.<ref name=bway>[http://www.playbill.com/show/detail/12293# ''West Side Story''], Playbill (vault), accessed November 30, 2016</ref> The other notable cast members in the original production were: Riff: [[Michael Callan]], A-Rab: [[Tony Mordente]], Big Deal: [[Martin Charnin]], Gee-Tar: [[Tommy Abbott]], Chino: [[Jaime Sánchez (actor)|Jamie Sanchez]], Rosalia: [[Marilyn Cooper]], Consuela{{sic}}: [[Reri Grist]] and Doc: [[Art Smith (actor)|Art Smith]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea7-d936-a7fd-eef76ae80002 "''West Side Story'' – Cast"], ''[[Playbill]]'' (vault), accessed November 30, 2016</ref> The production closed on June 27, 1959, after 732 performances.<ref name=bway/> Robbins won the [[Tony Award]] for Best Choreographer, and [[Oliver Smith (designer)|Oliver Smith]] won the Tony for Best Scenic Designer. Also nominated were Carol Lawrence, as Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Max Goberman as Best Musical Director and Conductor, and [[Irene Sharaff]] for Best Costume Design.<ref name=bway/> Carol Lawrence received the 1958 [[Theatre World Award]]. 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. It returned to the Winter Garden Theater in New York in April 1960 for another 249 performance engagement, closing in December.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/west-side-story-2244 ''West Side Story''], Internet Broadway Database, accessed November 30, 2016</ref> === UK productions === 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. Robbins directed and choreographed, and it was co-choreographed by [[Peter Gennaro]], with scenery by Oliver Smith. Featured performers were [[George Chakiris]], who won an Academy Award as Bernardo in the 1961 film version, as Riff, Marlys Watters as Maria, [[Don McKay]] as Tony, and Chita Rivera reprising her Broadway role as Anita.<ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwidb/sections/productions/index.php?var=7786 "'West Side Story' London Production, 1958"], Broadwayworld.com, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> [[David Holliday]], who had been playing Gladhand since the London opening, took over as Tony. A 1984 London production originated at [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]] and transferred on May 16, 1984 to [[Her Majesty’s Theatre]]. It closed September 28, 1985. The 1980 Broadway production was recreated by Tom Abbott. The cast starred [[Steven Pacey]] as Tony and Jan Hartley as Maria. [[Maxine Gordon]] was Anybodys.<ref name=SGProductions>Hutchins, Michael H. [http://www.sondheimguide.com/wss.html "The Sondheim Reference Guide: ''West Side Story'' Productions"], SondheimGuide.com, accessed June 13, 2018</ref> A UK national tour started in 1997 and starred [[David Habbin]] as Tony, Katie Knight Adams as Maria and [[Anna-Jane Casey]] as Anita. 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. The production subsequently toured the UK for a second time.<ref>[http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=West%20Side%20Story albemarle-london "Archive Page, 'West Side Story'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207084319/http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=West%20Side%20Story |date=December 7, 2008 }}, albemarle-london.com, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> === 1980 Broadway revival === A Broadway revival opened at the [[Minskoff Theatre]] on February 14, 1980 and closed on November 30, 1980, after 333 performances. 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=''West Side Story''|url=http://www.playbill.com/production/west-side-story-minskoff-theatre-vault-0000002351|work=The Playbill Vault|publisher=Playbill|accessdate=May 24, 2018}}</ref> The original scenic, lighting, and costume designs were used. It starred [[Ken Marshall]] as Tony, [[Josie de Guzman]] as Maria and [[Debbie Allen]] as Anita. Both de Guzman and Allen received Tony Award nominations as Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and the musical was nominated as Best Reproduction (Play or Musical). Allen won the [[Drama Desk Award]] as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. Other notable cast members in the revival included [[Brent Barrett]] as Diesel, [[Harolyn Blackwell]] as Francisca, [[Stephen Bogardus]] as Mouth Piece and [[Reed Jones]] as Big Deal. The Minskoff production subsequently opened the [[Nervi International Ballet Festival|Nervi Festival]] in [[Genoa]], Italy, in July 1981 with Josie de Guzman as Maria and Brent Barrett as Tony.<ref>Tedeschi, Rubens (9 July 1981). [http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1981_07/19810709_0006.pdf "Broadway s'addice ai «guerrieri della notte»"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426201912/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1981_07%2F19810709_0006.pdf |date=April 26, 2014 }}, ''[[l'Unità]]''. Retrieved 26 April 2014 {{it}}.</ref> === 2009 Broadway revival === In 2007, Arthur Laurents stated, "I've come up with a way of doing [''West Side Story''] that will make it absolutely contemporary without changing a word or a note."<ref>Riedel, Michael. "Director's Cut – At 90, Playwright Still Vibrant, Vicious", ''[[New York Post]]'', July 27, 2007, p. 55</ref> He directed a pre-Broadway production of ''West Side Story'' at the [[National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|National Theatre]] in Washington, D.C. that ran from December 15, 2008, through January 17, 2009. The Broadway revival began previews at the [[Palace Theatre (New York City)|Palace Theatre]] on February 23, 2009, and opened on March 19, 2009.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118060.html "Laurents-Directed ''West Side Story'' Sets Broadway Preview Date"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526170256/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118060.html |date=May 26, 2008 }}, Playbill.com, May 23, 2008</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120296.html "''West Side Story'' Revival, Directed by Laurents, Sets Broadway Opening Date"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809124436/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120296.html |date=August 9, 2008 }}, Playbill.com, August 8, 2008</ref> The production wove Spanish lyrics and dialogue into the English libretto. The translations are by Tony Award winner [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]]. Laurents stated, "The musical theatre and cultural conventions of 1957 made it next to impossible for the characters to have authenticity. Every member of both gangs was always a potential killer even then. Now they actually will be. Only Tony and Maria try to live in a different world".<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119539.html "''West Side Story'', This Time with Bilingual Approach"], Playbill.com, July 16, 2008</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124284.html "Broadway-Bound ''West Side Story'' Revival Launches"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218033401/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124284.html |date=December 18, 2008 }}, Playbill.com, December 15, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite news | author = Marks, Peter | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121200918.html | title = The Director's Route Back To 'West Side{{'-}} | work = [[The Washington Post]] | date = December 14, 2008}}</ref> In August 2009, some of the lyrics for "A Boy Like That" ("Un Hombre Asi") and "I Feel Pretty" ("Me Siento Hermosa"), which were previously sung in Spanish in the revival, were changed back to the original English. However, the Spanish lyrics sung by the Sharks in the "Tonight" (Quintet) remained in Spanish.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/132241-A_Song_Like_That_Collaborators_Reconsider_Spanish_Lyrics_in_West_Side_Story "A Song Like That: Collaborators Reconsider Spanish Lyrics in 'West Side Story'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828011523/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/132241-A_Song_Like_That_Collaborators_Reconsider_Spanish_Lyrics_in_West_Side_Story |date=August 28, 2009 }}, Playbill.com, August 25, 2009</ref> The cast featured [[Matt Cavenaugh]] as Tony, [[Josefina Scaglione]] as Maria and [[Karen Olivo]] as Anita.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122831.html "Cavenaugh, Scaglione, Olivo, Green and Akram to Lead Cast of 'West Side Story' Revival"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101024832/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122831.html |date=November 1, 2008 }}, Playbill.com, October 28, 2008</ref> Olivo won the Tony Award for [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Featured Actress]], while Scaglione was nominated for the award for [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical|Leading Actress]].<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129984-Billy_Elliot_Norman_Conquests_Hair_God_of_Carnage_Are_Tony_Award_Winners "Billy Elliot, Norman Conquests, Hair, God of Carnage Are Tony Award Winners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612021316/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129984-Billy_Elliot_Norman_Conquests_Hair_God_of_Carnage_Are_Tony_Award_Winners |date=June 12, 2009 }}, Playbill.com, June 8, 2009</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128922.html "Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508055902/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128922.html |date=May 8, 2009 }}, Playbill.com, May 5, 2009</ref> The cast recording won the [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album]].<ref name="playbill.com">Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/west-side-story-cast-album-wins-grammy-award-com-165440 "''West Side Story'' Cast Album Wins Grammy Award"], ''Playbill'', January 31, 2010, accessed October 7, 2018</ref> In July 2010, the producers reduced the size of the orchestra, replacing five musicians with an off-stage synthesizer.<ref name="Woodiel2010-07-10">{{cite news| last = Woodiel| first = Paul| title = Gee, Officer Krupke, I Need Those Violins| newspaper=The New York Times| date = July 10, 2010 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/opinion/11woodiel.html | accessdate = December 17, 2010}}</ref> The production closed on January 2, 2011 after 748 performances and 27 previews.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143018-Broadway-Revival-of-West-Side-Story-to-Close-in-January-Olivo-Will-Not-Return Broadway "Revival of ''West Side Story'' to Close in January; Olivo Will Not Return"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918223037/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143018-Broadway-Revival-of-West-Side-Story-to-Close-in-January-Olivo-Will-Not-Return |date=September 18, 2010 }}, Playbill.com, September 15, 2010</ref> The revival sold 1,074,462 tickets on Broadway over the course of nearly two years.<ref>[http://www2.broadwayworld.com/grossescumulative.cfm "Cumulative Broadway Grosses by Show"], Broadwayworld.com, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> === Other notable US productions and tours === The [[New York City Center]] Light Opera Company production played for a limited engagement of 31 performances from April 8, 1964 to May 3, 1964. The cast featured Don McKay (Tony), [[Julia Migenes]] (Maria) and [[Luba Lisa]] (Anita). It was staged by [[Gerald Freedman]] with choreography re-mounted by Tom Abbott.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/west-side-story-city-center-vault-0000013124 "''West Side Story'', 1964"] Playbill vault, retrieved May 17, 2018</ref> The Musical Theater of [[Lincoln Center]] and [[Richard Rodgers]] production opened at the [[New York State Theater]], Lincoln Center, in June 1968 and closed in September 1968 after 89 performances. Direction and choreography were reproduced by Lee Theodore, and scenery was by Oliver Smith. Tony was played by Kurt Peterson, with [[Victoria Mallory]] as Maria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/westsidestory/westsidestory-legacy.html#object45|title=West Side Story: Birth of a Classic|date=|website=www.loc.gov|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> A 1987 U.S. tour starred [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]] as Tony, with [[Valarie Pettiford]] as Anita and was directed by [[Alan Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news | author = Frank, Leah | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/nyregion/theater-review-west-side-story-staging-at-its-best.html | title = Theater Review; 'West Side Story': Staging At Its Best | work = The New York Times | date = August 30, 1987}}</ref> A national tour, directed by Alan Johnson, was produced in 2002.<ref>[http://www.westsidestory.com/news2002.php Information from the WestSideStory.com "2002 ''West Side Story'' tour archives"], Westsidestory.com</ref> A national tour of the 2009 Broadway revival began in October 2010 at the [[Fisher Theatre]] in Detroit, Michigan, and toured for two seasons.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/136634-West-Side-Story-National-Tour-to-Launch-in-October " 'West Side Story' National Tour to Launch in October"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312015015/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/136634-West-Side-Story-National-Tour-to-Launch-in-October |date=March 12, 2010}}, Playbill, February 5, 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Ross-Lekites-Evy-Ortiz-Join-Cast-of-WEST-SIDE-STORY-National-Tour-20111003 |title=Ross Lekites, Evy Ortiz Join Cast of ''West Side Story'' National Tour |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=October 3, 2011 |accessdate=February 4, 2012}}; and {{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-WEST-SIDE-STORY-National-Tour-20111028 |title=Photo Flash: New Cast Joins ''West Side Story'' National Tour! |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=October 28, 2011 |accessdate=February 4, 2012}}</ref> The cast featured Kyle Harris as Tony and Ali Ewoldt as Maria.<ref>[http://www.broadwayindetroit.com/engine.cfm?i=83 "Grammy Award-Winning Smash Hit 'West Side Story' Launches National Tour at Detroit's Fisher Theatre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708094816/http://www.broadwayindetroit.com/engine.cfm?i=83 |date=July 8, 2011 }}, broadwayindetroit.com, September 16, 2010, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> The musical has also been adapted to be performed as ''[[Deaf Side Story]]'' using both English and [[American Sign Language]], with deaf Sharks and hearing Jets.<ref>Mark Rigney. ''Deaf Side Story: Deaf Sharks, Hearing Jets, and a Classic American Musical''. [http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/bookpage/DSSbookpage.html Book description]</ref> === International productions === The original Australian production opened in October 1960 at the [[Princess Theatre, Melbourne|Princess Theatre]] in Melbourne, before touring to the [[New Tivoli Theatre, Sydney|Tivoli Theatre]] in Sydney in February 1961. Subsequent Australian national tours have been staged in 1983, 1994 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/work/118|title=AusStage - West Side Story|last=|first=|date=|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2017-09-21}}</ref> In 1961, a tour of Israel, Africa and the Near East was mounted. In February 1962, the West End ([[H. M. Tennent]]) production launched a five-month Scandinavian tour opening in Copenhagen, continuing to Oslo, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Helsinki. [[Robert Jeffrey]] took over from David Holliday as Tony and Jill Martin played Maria. In 1977, ''Amor Sin Barreras'' was produced in Mexico City by Alfonso Rosas Prigo, & Ruben Boido, Direction by Ruben Boido, presented at the Hidalgo Theater. [[Gualberto Castro]] played the part of Tony; Maria Medina was Maria, among other cast members was [[Macaria (actress)|Macaria]]. From 1982–1984 a tour of South America, Israel and Europe was mounted with talent from New York. The Director/Choreographers for that production were Jay Norman and Lee Theodore, veterans of the original Broadway cast. The Japanese [[Takarazuka Revue]] has performed the show twice. It was produced by the Moon Troupe in 1998 and again in 1999 by the Star Troupe. A Hong Kong production was produced in 2000 with Cantonese lyrics, featuring Hong Kong rock star [[Paul Wong (musician)|Paul Wong]] as Tony. It was staged at the outdoor plaza of [[Hong Kong Cultural Centre]]. 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,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/647048 | location=Toronto | work=The Star | first=Richard | last=Ouzounian | title=This Story achieves greatness | date=June 8, 2009}}</ref> The Austrian [[Bregenzer Festspiele|Bregenz Festival]] presented ''West Side Story'' in a German translation by [[Marcel Prawy]] in 2003 and 2004, directed by [[Francesca Zambello]], followed by a German tour.<ref>[http://www.westsidestory.com/site/level2/news/news.html "'West Side Story' News, Bregenz Festival"], westsidestory.com, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> A French language adaptation, translated by Philippe Gobeille, opened in [[Montreal]], Quebec, in March 2008.<ref>[http://www.westsidestory08.com/artisans.html Information about the translation (in French only)] westsidestory08.com, {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926180941/http://www.westsidestory08.com/artisans.html |date=September 26, 2008 }}</ref> A Philippine version played in 2008 at the [[Meralco Theater]]. It featured [[Christian Bautista]] as Tony, [[Karylle]] and Joanna Ampil as Maria.<ref>[http://thefilipinoweb.com/music/west-side-story-at-the-meralco-theater-this-september/ "'West Side Story' at the Meralco Theater this September"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905065700/http://thefilipinoweb.com/music/west-side-story-at-the-meralco-theater-this-september/ |date=September 5, 2008 }}, Thefilipinoweb, July 2, 2008, accessed August 18, 2011</ref> Also in 2008, an adaptation played in Portugal, directed by [[Filipe La Féria]], with the name ''West Side Story – Amor Sem Barreiras'', in the [[Politeama Theater]], in [[Lisbon]], with {{ill|Ricardo Soler|pt|}} as Tony and [[Lúcia Moniz]] and [[Anabela Braz Pires]] splitting the role of Anita.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} An international tour (2005–2010), directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely played in Tokyo, Paris, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, São Paulo, France, Taiwan, China, Italy, Rotterdam and Madrid.<ref>{{cite news | author = Lash, Larry | url = http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935397.html | title = West Side Story | work = Variety | date = November 12, 2007 | accessdate = August 17, 2008 }}</ref><ref>Loveridge, Lizzie. [http://www.curtainup.com/westsidestory50lond.html " 'West Side Story' 50th Anniversary Production"], Curtain Up, August 1, 2008, accessed August 17, 2008</ref> In 2011, a Lima production was produced by "Preludio Asociación Cultural" with [[Marco Zunino]] as Tony, [[Rossana Fernández-Maldonado]] as Maria, [[Jesús Neyra]] as Bernardo, [[Tati Alcántara]] as Anita and [[Joaquín de Orbegoso]] as Riff.<ref>[http://www.larepublica.pe/01-06-2011/marco-zunino-y-rossana-fernandez-maldonado-protagonizan-amor-sin-barreras Marco Zunino y Rossana Fernández Maldonado protagonizan Amor sin barreras] La República Perú, accessed June 1, 2011</ref> == Critical reaction == The creators' innovations in dance, music and theatrical style resulted in strong reactions from the critics. [[Walter Kerr]] wrote in the ''[[New York Herald Tribune]]'' on September 27, 1957:<ref>{{cite news | author = Kerr, Walter | url = http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_herald2.php | title = {{-'}}West Side Story{{'-}} | work = New York Herald Tribune | date = September 27, 1957}}</ref> {{quote|The radioactive fallout from ''West Side Story'' must still be descending on Broadway this morning. 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. When a gang leader advises his cohorts to play it "Cool", the intolerable tension between an effort at control and the instinctive drives of these potential killers is stingingly graphic. 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". But for the most part he has served the needs of the onstage threshing machine ... When hero Larry Kert is stomping out the visionary insistence of "Something's Coming" both music and tumultuous story are given their due. Otherwise it's the danced narrative that takes urgent precedence ...}} The other reviews generally joined in speculation about how the new work would influence the course of musical theater. Typical was John Chapman's review in the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' on September 27, 1957, headed: "West Side Story a Splendid and Super-Modern Musical Drama". {{quote|The American theatre took a venturesome forward step when the firm of Griffith & Prince presented West Side Story at the Winter Garden last evening. This is a bold new kind of musical theatre – a juke-box Manhattan opera. 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. In [the score], there is the drive, the bounce, the restlessness and the sweetness of our town. It takes up the American musical idiom where it was left when [[George Gershwin]] died. It is fascinatingly tricky and melodically beguiling, and it marks the progression of an admirable composer ...}} ''[[Time (magazine)|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 ..."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,809976,00.html "Theater: New Musical in Manhattan (''West Side Story'')"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', October 7, 1957</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Gianoulis, Tina | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_tov/ai_2419101309 | archive-url = https://archive.is/20120710084133/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_tov/ai_2419101309 | dead-url = yes | archive-date = July 10, 2012 | title =''West Side Story''| publisher = St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture | date = January 29, 2002 | accessdate = August 19, 2011}} </ref> {{quote|While critics speculated about the comic-tragic darkness of the musical, audiences were captivated. The story appealed to society's undercurrent of rebellion from authority that surfaced in 1950s films like ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]''. ''West Side Story'' took this one step further by combining the classic and the hip. Robbins' energetic choreography and Bernstein's grand score accentuated the satiric, hard-edged lyrics of Sondheim, and Laurents' capture of the angry voice of urban youth. The play was criticized for glamorizing gangs, and its portrayal of Puerto Ricans and lack of authentic Latin casting were weaknesses. Yet, the song "America" shows the triumph of the spirit over the obstacles often faced by immigrants. The musical also made points in its description of troubled youth and the devastating effects of poverty and racism. Juvenile delinquency is seen as an ailment of society: "No one wants a fella with a social disease!" One writer summed up the reasons for the show's popularity in these terms: "On the cusp of the 1960s, American society, still recovering from the enormous upheaval of World War II, was seeking stability and control."}} == Score == The [[Sheet music|score]] for ''West Side Story'' was [[orchestrated]] by [[Sid Ramin]] and [[Irwin Kostal]] following detailed instructions from Bernstein, who then wrote revisions on their manuscript (the original, heavily annotated by Ramin, Kostal and Bernstein himself is in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at Columbia University).<ref>See Simeone, Nigel (2009) "Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story", pp. 85–92: 'Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal: Orchestrating the Show'</ref> Ramin, Kostal, and Bernstein are billed as orchestrators for the show. The [[orchestra]] consisted of 31 players: a large Broadway pit orchestra enhanced to include 5 percussionists, a guitarist and a piano/[[celesta]] player.<ref name=Simeone>{{cite book|last1=Simeone|first1=Nigel|title=Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story|date=2009|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=0754664848}}</ref> In 1961, Bernstein prepared a suite of orchestral music from the show, titled ''Symphonic Dances from West Side Story'': * Prologue (''Allegro Moderato'') * "Somewhere" (''Adagio'') * [[Scherzo]] (''Vivace e Leggiero'') * [[Mambo (dance)|Mambo]] (''Meno Presto'') * [[Cha-cha-cha (dance)|Cha-Cha]] (''Andantino Con Grazia'') * Meeting Scene (''Meno Mosso'') * "Cool", [[Fugue]] (''Allegretto'') * Rumble (''Molto Allegro'') * Finale (''Adagio'') == Recordings == {{refimprove|section|date=September 2017}}<!--most entries here are uncited--> Recordings of ''West Side Story'' include the following: * The 1957 [[West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast)|original Broadway cast album]], with [[Carol Lawrence]] as Maria, [[Larry Kert]] as Tony and [[Chita Rivera]] as Anita. * A [[West Side Story (1959 album)|1959 recording]] by the pianist [[André Previn]] comprised jazz versions of eight songs from the musical. * The [[West Side Story (soundtrack)|movie soundtrack]], with [[Marni Nixon]] singing Maria's role (played in the film by [[Natalie Wood]]) and Tony (played in the film by [[Richard Beymer]]) sung by [[Jimmy Bryant (singer)|Jimmy Bryant]]. It won the [[Grammy Award for Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast from Motion Picture or Television]]. The 1992 remastered re-release of this album included the "Overture", the "End Credits" music, the complete "Dance at the Gym" and dialogue from the film. The 2004 re-release added the "Intermission" music. * In 1961, [[Cal Tjader]] released a [[West Side Story (Cal Tjader album)|jazz version]], arranged by [[Clare Fischer]], on Fantasy Records. The album was re-released in 2002 as ''Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen & West Side Story'' (double CD). * In 1961, [[Stan Kenton]] recorded ''[[Kenton's West Side Story]]'' (a jazz version) that received a [[4th Grammy Awards|1962 Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album|Best Jazz Performance – Large Group (Instrumental)]]. * In 1962, [[Oscar Peterson]] and his [[Jazz trio|trio]] recorded a jazz version, ''[[West Side Story (Oscar Peterson Trio album)|West Side Story]]''. * In 1962, [[Dave Brubeck]] recorded jazz versions of selections from the film score on ''[[Music From West Side Story (Dave Brubeck album)|Music From West Side Story]]''. * In 1963, [[Bill Barron (musician)|Bill Barron]] recorded ''[[West Side Story Bossa Nova]]'' (Dauntless, 1963) * In 1984, Bernstein re-recorded the musical, conducting his own music for the first time. Generally known as the "operatic version" of ''West Side Story'', it stars [[Kiri Te Kanawa]] as Maria, [[José Carreras]] as Tony, [[Tatiana Troyanos]] as Anita, [[Kurt Ollmann]] as Riff, Louise Edeiken as Rosalia, and [[Marilyn Horne]] as the offstage voice who sings "Somewhere". It won a [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album]] in 1985. The recording process was filmed as a documentary ''The Making of West Side Story'', which was made by the BBC for Unitel, Produced by Humphrey Burton and Directed by Christopher Swann. The documentary won the Flaherty BAFTA for documentary direction, a Prix Italia and was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy. * A 1993 recording on the TER label, the first recording to document the full score including the [[overture]] performed by Britain's [[National Symphony Orchestra of London|National Symphony Orchestra]] using cast members of the 1992 [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]] production, conducted by John Owen Edwards. * In 1996, [[RCA Victor]] released the tribute album ''The Songs of West Side Story'' featuring new versions of the songs from the musical sung by popular music stars, including: "The Jet Song" sung by [[Brian Setzer]], "A Boy Like That" sung by [[Selena]], "I feel Pretty" sung by [[Little Richard]], two versions of "Somewhere" performed by [[Aretha Franklin]] and [[Phil Collins]], "Tonight" sung by [[Wynonna Judd]] and [[Kenny Loggins]], "America" sung by [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Natalie Cole]] and [[Sheila E.]], "I Have a Love" sung by [[Trisha Yearwood]] and "Rumble" performed by [[Chick Corea Elektric Band]] and [[Steve Vai]]'s Monsters. Proceeds from the sale of this album go to benefit the Leonard Bernstein Education Through The Arts Fund, the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|NARAS]] Foundation and The Leonard Bernstein Center at [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. * In 2002, [[Naxos Records]] released a CD with the [[Nashville Symphony| Nashville Symphony Orchestra]] playing the music with soloists Mike Eldred (Tony), Betsi Morrison (Maria), Marianne Cook (Anita), Robert Dean (Riff), Michael San Giovanni, Joanna Chozen, and Michelle Prentice.<ref>http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Joanna-Chozen/Performer/98338-2</ref><ref>http://www.musicweb-international.com/film/2003/Jan03/west_side_story.html</ref><ref>http://www.allmusic.com/album/leonard-bernstein-west-side-story-the-original-score-mw0000631082/credits</ref> * A 2007 tribute album entitled ''A Place for Us'' marking the 50th anniversary of the show. The album features cover versions previously recorded and a new recording of "Tonight" by [[Kristin Chenoweth]] and [[Hugh Panaro]]. * A 2007 recording was released by [[Decca Broadway]] in honor of West Side Story's 50th anniversary. This album stars [[Hayley Westenra]] as Maria and [[Vittorio Grigolo]] as Tony. The Bernstein Foundation in New York has authorized the recording.<ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/album_reviews/s/1012/1012899_west_side_story__50th_anniversary_recording__ucj_music_.html Album reviews], ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'', 2007-08-06, accessed August 13, 2007</ref> It was nominated for the [[Grammy Award]] for Best Show Album. * Bernstein recorded the ''Symphonic Dances'' suite with the [[New York Philharmonic]] in 1961, and with the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] in 1983. The ''Symphonic Dances'' have entered the repertoire of many major world orchestras, most recently by the [[Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra]] under [[Gustavo Dudamel]]. It has been recorded by many orchestras, including the [[San Francisco Symphony]] under the direction of [[Seiji Ozawa]]. * The 2009 new Broadway cast album, with Josefina Scaglione as Maria, Matt Cavenaugh as Tony and Karen Olivo as Anita won the 2010 [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album|Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album]].<ref name="playbill.com" /> * A live, semi-staged 2013 recording by the San Francisco Symphony under Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, featuring Cheyenne Jackson, [[Alexandra Silber]] and others, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart in May 2014. It was released in 2014 as a hybrid SACD on the SFS Media label, and was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Musical Theater Album]]. == Film == {{Main article|West Side Story (film)}} On October 18, 1961, a [[West Side Story (film)|film adaptation]] of the musical was released. It received praise from critics and the public, and became the second highest-grossing film of the year in the United States. The film won ten [[Academy Awards]] in its eleven nominated categories, including Best Picture. The film holds the distinction of being the musical film with the most Academy Award wins (10 wins), including Best Picture. [[Rita Moreno]] (Anita) was the first Latina actress ever to win an Oscar.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tatum|first1=Charles M.|title=Encyclopedia of Latino Culture: From Calaveras to Quinceañeras|date=2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=1440800995|page=741|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oKiSAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA741|accessdate=24 December 2017}}</ref> The soundtrack album won a Grammy Award and was ranked No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' chart for a record 54 weeks.<ref>Berson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fBiowVCwTeoC&pg=PA182 p. 182]</ref> Differences in the film adaptation from the stage version include that "Tonight" is moved to follow "America"; Bernardo sings a line in "America" instead of Rosalia, with changes in the lyrics. Diesel is renamed Ice. "Gee, Officer Krupke" is moved before "Cool" and is sung by Riff instead of Action, and "Cool" is sung by Ice instead of Riff. After Riff is killed, Ice takes control of the Jets, rather than Action.<ref>Berson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fBiowVCwTeoC&pg=PA155 p. 155 ''et. seq'']</ref> == References in popular culture == In addition to Bernstein's own ''West Side Story Suite'', the music from the musical has been adapted by The [[Buddy Rich]] Big Band, which arranged and recorded "West Side Story Medley" on the 1966 album ''Buddy Rich's Swingin' New Big Band''.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The [[Stan Kenton]] Orchestra recorded Johnny Richards' 1961 ''Kenton's West Side Story'', an album of jazz orchestrations based on the Bernstein scores. It won the 1962 [[Grammy Award]] for Best Jazz Recording by a Large Group.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The 1996 album ''The Songs of West Side Story'' included covers by such diverse artists as [[Selena]] ("A Boy Like That"), [[Little Richard]] ("I Feel Pretty"), [[Trisha Yearwood]] ("I Have a Love") and [[Salt-n-Pepa]], [[Def Jef]], [[Lisa Lopes]], [[the Jerky Boys]], and [[Paul Rodriguez (actor)|Paul Rodriguez]] all collaborating on "Gee, Officer Krupke", as well as [[Chick Corea Elektric Band]] collaborating with [[Steve Vai]]'s Monsters on "Rumble".{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The television show ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'' extensively referenced ''West Side Story'' in the [[Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 7|season seven]] episode "Officer Krupke".<ref>[http://www.hbo.com/#/curb-your-enthusiasm/episodes/7/68-officer-krupke/index.html "'Curb Your Enthusiasm', Season 7, Episode 68, 'Officer Krupke'"], HBO.com, accessed August 19, 2011</ref> An episode of ''[[Welcome Back, Kotter]]'', "Sweatside Story", parodies ''West Side Story'' when the Sweathogs engage in a rumble with students from rival [[New Utrecht High School]].{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} In the [[Glee (season 3)|third season]] of the series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'', three episodes feature characters auditioning, rehearsing and performing a school production of ''West Side Story.'' Songs from the musical are performed in episode 2 "[[I Am Unicorn]]",<ref>Futterman, Erica. [https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/glee-recap-west-side-story-auditions-and-the-return-of-shelby-corcoran-20110928 "''Glee'' Recap: ''West Side Story'' Auditions and the Return of Shelby Corcoran"], ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', September 28, 2011, accessed October 4, 2016</ref> episode 3 "[[Asian F]]"{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} and episode 5 "[[The First Time (Glee)|The First Time]]"{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} and also given digital releases.<ref>Cerasaro, Pat. [http://broadwayworld.com/article/WORLD-PREMIERE-EXCLUSIVE-GLEE-Takes-On-WEST-SIDE-STORYs-Somethings-Coming-With-Darren-Criss-20110926# "World Premiere Exclusive: ''Glee'' Takes On ''West Side Story's'' 'Something's Coming' With Darren Criss"], BroadwayWorld.com, September 26, 2011, accessed October 4, 2016</ref> The ''[[Animaniacs]]'' episode "West Side Pigeons" features a parody romance and rivalry that mirrors that of the Jets and the Sharks.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} In the ''[[Tom and Jerry]] Tales'' episode "The League of Cats", Tom's and Jerry's respective leagues act very similar to the Jets and the Sharks. They also perform a number similar to the "Jet Song".{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} 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]]''.<ref>Hartline, Aaron. [http://aaronhartline.blogspot.com/2010/04/ken-meets-barbie-toy-side-story.html "Ken meets Barbie – A Toy Side Story"], aaronhartline.blogspot.com (blog), accessed August 19, 2011</ref> In the 2013 movie ''[[Teen Beach Movie]]'', two teens are trapped inside a movie called ''Wet Side Story'', in which a group of surfers and a group of bikers are competing in a turf war.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} ''[[Bring It On: In It to Win It]]'' has a plot that parallels ''West Side Story'', and makes the reference explicit to the point where the two rival [[cheerleading]] squads are named the Jets and the Sharks.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The 2005 short musical comedy film ''[[West Bank Story]]'', which won the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]], concerns a love story between a Jew and a Palestinian and parodies several aspects of ''West Side Story''.<ref>[[Michele Norris|Norris, Michele]]. [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7606701 "''West Bank Story'' Tells Tale of Star-Crossed Lovers"], NPR, February 26, 2007, accessed October 15, 2017</ref> In 1963, [[Mad Magazine]] published "East Side Story" set at the United Nations building on the East Side of Manhattan, a parody of the [[Cold War]], with the two rival gangs led by [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Nikita Khrushchev]], by writer [[Frank Jacobs]] and illustrator [[Mort Drucker]].<ref>Cohen, Randy. [http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-01/books/bk-568_1_completely-mad "Children of ''Mad: Completely Mad''"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]], December 1, 1991, accessed January 26, 2017</ref> From 1973 to 2004, ''[[Wild Side Story]]'', a [[camp (style)|camp]] parody musical, based loosely on ''West Side Story'' and adapting parts of the musical's music and lyrics, was performed a total of more than 500 times in [[Miami Beach]], Florida, [[Stockholm]], [[Gran Canaria]] and [[Los Angeles]]. The show lampoons the musical's tragic love story, and also [[lip-synching]] and [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] shows.<ref>Ekemar, Kim. ''Wild Side Story at Showcase Alexandra's Stockholm'', theatre playbill, January 6, 1976, p. 8; Stevens, Rob. ''Data Boy Pacific Southwest'', West Hollywood, California, October 26, 1979, p. 76; [[Michael Kearns|Kearns, Michael]]. ''San Diego Update'' (L.A. Life section), November 30, 1979, p. 13; Norlén, Eva. ''[[Aftonbladet]]'', July 21, 1997, p. 37; ''Island Connections'', [[Los Cristianos]], April 7, 2000, p. 2; ''[[Metro International|Metro]]'' Stockholm, August 2, 2013, p. 18; and ''[[Aftonbladet]]/Nöjesbladet'', August 2, 2013, p. 25</ref> == Awards and nominations == === Original Broadway production === {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" |- ! style="width:5%;"| Year ! style="width:20%;" | Award ceremony ! style="width:45%;"| Category ! style="width:20%;"| Nominee ! style="width:10%;"| Result |- | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;"| 1958 | colspan="2"| [[Theatre World Award]] | [[Carol Lawrence]] | {{won}} |- | rowspan="6"| [[12th Tony Awards|Tony Award]] | colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical]] | [[Carol Lawrence]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]] | [[Jerome Robbins]] | {{won}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Scenic Design|Best Scenic Design]] | [[Oliver Smith (designer)|Oliver Smith]] | {{won}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] | Irene Sharaff | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director|Best Conductor and Musical Director]] | Max Goberman | {{nom}} |} === 1964 Broadway revival === {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" |- ! style="width:5%;"| Year ! style="width:20%;" | Award ceremony ! style="width:45%;"| Category ! style="width:20%;"| Nominee ! style="width:10%;"| Result |- | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1964 | rowspan="2"| [[18th Tony Awards|Tony Award]] | [[Tony Award|Best Producer of a Musical]] | [[New York City Center|City Center Light Opera Company]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director|Best Conductor and Musical Director]] | Charles Jaffe | {{nom}} |} === 1980 Broadway revival === {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" |- ! style="width:5%;"| Year ! style="width:20%;" | Award ceremony ! style="width:45%;"| Category ! style="width:20%;"| Nominee ! style="width:10%;"| Result |- | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| 1980 | [[Drama Desk Award]] | [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical]] | [[Debbie Allen]] | {{won}} |- | rowspan="3"| [[34th Tony Awards|Tony Award]] | colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Revival|Best Revival]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical]] | [[Josie de Guzman]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Debbie Allen]] | {{nom}} |} === 2008 West End revival === {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" |- ! style="width:5%;"| Year ! style="width:20%;" | Award ceremony ! style="width:45%;"| Category ! style="width:20%;"| Nominee ! style="width:10%;"| Result |- | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2009 | rowspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award]] | colspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival|Best Musical Revival]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Actress in a Musical]] | Sofia Escobar | {{nom}} |} === 2009 Broadway revival === {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" |- ! style="width:5%;"| Year ! style="width:20%;" | Award ceremony ! style="width:45%;"| Category ! style="width:20%;"| Nominee ! style="width:10%;"| Result |- | rowspan=8 style="text-align:center;"| 2009 | rowspan="4"| [[Tony Award]] | colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical|Best Revival of a Musical]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical]] | [[Josefina Scaglione]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical]] | [[Karen Olivo]] | {{won}} |- | [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design|Best Lighting Design]] | Howell Binkley | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award]] | colspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical|Outstanding Revival of a Musical]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical]] | [[Karen Olivo]] | {{nom}} |- | colspan=2| [[Theatre World Award]] | [[Josefina Scaglione]] | {{won}} |} == References == {{Reflist|30em}} ==Sources== * {{cite book|last=Laurents|first = Arthur|title=Original story by: a memoir of Broadway and Hollywood|year=2000|publisher=Knopf |location= New York|isbn = 0-375-40055-9 |ref=harv}} * {{cite book|last=Berson|first=Misha|title=Something's Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination|year=2011|publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fBiowVCwTeoC&pg=PA155&}} == Further reading == * Acevedo-Munoz, Ernesto R. (2013) ''"West Side Story" as Cinema: The Making and Impact of an American Masterpiece'', University Press of Kansas * Bauch, Marc A. (2013) [http://www.tectum-verlag.de/europaische-einflusse-im-amerikanischen-musical.html ''Europäische Einflüsse im amerikanischen Musical''], Marburg, Germany: Tectum Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-8288-3209-1}} * {{cite book |last = Laurents |first = Arthur |authorlink = Arthur Laurents |title = Mainly on directing: ''Gypsy'', ''West Side Story'', and other musicals |publisher = [[Alfred A. Knopf]] |location = New York |year = 2009 |isbn = 978-0-307-27088-7}} * Simeone, Nigel (2009) ''Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story'', Ashgate, Farnham, {{ISBN|0-7546-6484-8}} * Vaill, A. (2006) ''Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins'', Broadway Books, New York, {{ISBN|0-7679-0420-6}} * Wells, Elizabeth A. (2010) ''West Side Story: Cultural Perspectives on an American Musical'', Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, {{ISBN|978-0-8108-7666-8}} * Williams, Mary E. (editor) (2001) ''Readings on West Side Story'', Greenhaven Press, San Diego, California, {{ISBN|0-7377-0694-5}} == External links == {{commons category|West Side Story (musical)}} {{wikiquote}} * [http://www.westsidestory.com/ The Official ''West Side Story'' website] * {{IBDB show|id=9232|title=West Side Story}} * [http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000077 ''West Side Story''] at the Music Theatre International website * [http://www.sondheimguide.com/wss.html ''West Side Story''] at The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide * [https://www.nypl.org/blog/beta/2017/02/22/moving-pictures-west-side-story Moving Pictures: ''West Side Story''] by Doug Reside, curator at the [[New York Public Library]] * [http://stageagent.com/shows/musical/993/west-side-story ''West Side Story''], extensive material at stageagent.com * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090228212837/http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-west-side-story Twelve Jazz Versions of ''West Side Story'' at Jazz.com] * [http://newyorkcitygangs.com/ NYC Youth Gangs – 1950s] {{Leonard Bernstein}} {{Stephen Sondheim}} {{Romeo and Juliet}} {{West Side Story}} {{Arthur Laurents}} {{Portal bar|New York City|Dance}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:1957 musicals]] [[Category:Broadway musicals]] [[Category:Modern adaptations of works by William Shakespeare]] [[Category:Musicals based on plays]] [[Category:Musicals by Leonard Bernstein]] [[Category:Musicals by Stephen Sondheim]] [[Category:Plays and musicals based on Romeo and Juliet]] [[Category:Plays set in New York City]] [[Category:Plays set in the 1950s]] [[Category:West End musicals]] [[Category:Musicals directed by Jerome Robbins]] [[Category:Musicals choreographed by Jerome Robbins]] [[Category:Teen musicals]]'