West side story book turned musical was written in 1957 by arthur laurents. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books 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. The groundbreaking musical west side story reenvisioning romeo and juliet in the gangridden new york of its daydefined a theatrical generation and launched the career of its lyricist stephen sondheim. 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. When young lovers tony and maria find themselves starcrossed between two warring street gangs, the struggle to survive the hate, violence, and prejudice on the streets of the city. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directora mesmerizing book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsiderand the making of two of the greatest musicals of the american stage, west side story and gypsy.
The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are. West side story tickets new wimbledon theatre atg tickets. His credits included the stage musicals west side story and gypsy and the film the way we were. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Conceived, directed and choreographed by jerome robbins. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6988 ratings. Romeo and juliet and arthur laurentss west side story cram. Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Directing is only one of several issues the venerable directordramatist discusses in fascinating, detailed dissections of gypsy and, to a lesser extent, west side story a few other musicals get inspected, too, by someone who should know of what he writes. Stephen sondheim the feud between two new york teenage gangs. Playwrightdirector arthur laurents, who wrote the books for the musicals west side story and gypsy, directed the broadway revival of west. One last time, arthur laurents speaks out hartford courant.
Even though west side story was not written by latinos, and there are many problematic choices in the text and the movie, including brownface and the stereotyping of puerto rican people, there is still a lot of resonance in the text for modern latinx people around issues like immigration, colorism, belonging, and assimilation, she said, adding that the musical, with a book by. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. A muchheralded revival is currently playing on broadway, directed by arthur laurents with a score by leonard bernstein. With ground breaking choreography by the legendary jerome robbins, book by arthur laurents, an unforgettable score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim, west side story changed the face of musical theatre for ever. Play eatteaate the play, west side story, was written by arthur laurents. West side story explores racial, ethnic, political.
Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training. Recent credits include the australian premiere of book of mormon gfo. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. The setting of this play is based in the 1950s in the upper west side of new york city.
Laurents wrote the books for both gypsy and wss, and directed. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting. James wolcott on broadways west side story revival. Daniel is thrilled to be joining the cast of west side story.
When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting masterpiece the new york times that explodes every imaginable idea of what a. West side story, book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. With video cameras and new dances and faces, ivo van hove. So van hoves west side story, produced by scott rudin, makes a lot of gambles in moving the show from midcentury upper west side to somewhere in. West side story prologue official full number 50th. Leading the talented new cast is katie hall as maria and louis maskell as her starcrossed lover tony. Ppas west side story 2018 full performance hd youtube. West side story, the movie, was produced in 1961, featured natalie wood as maria, and was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. Arthur laurents, leonard bernstein, stephen sondheim. Now rejuiced, rejazzedup, reopened at the broadway theatre. West side story porthouse theatre rescheduled for summer 2021 shakespeares classic romeo and juliet is transformed into a musical set in modern day new york city.
A musical jerome, based on a conception by, book by arthur laurents, music by leo robbins on. Arthur laurents was an american playwright, librettist, stage director, and screenwriter. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story is a musical interpretation of shakespeares romeo and juliet, giving it a modern spin and a change from the original class to race rivalry. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. In the fifties, with west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents made theatrical history.
There are some major differences between the two works. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. West side story, the most exciting musical theater masterpiece of the 20th century. The remarkable collaboration between leonard bernstein, arthur laurents, stephen sondheim and jerome robbins produced a timeless masterpiece.
Say his name, and images of west side story, gypsy, anastasia, the turning point, and the way we were appear. The moment the curtain went up on the original west side story on broadway, musical theatre changed forever hailed as the greatest broadway musical of all time, the genius of west side storys creators is unquestioned. 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 san francisco symphony continues their celebration of the centennial of leonard bernsteins birth with this special exhibit, on display january 18 through february 28.
Arthur laurents is the author of musical plays such as west side story, gypsy, anyone can whistle, do i hear a waltz. Jerome robbins, arthur laurents below ladder, carol lawrence and larry. 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. West side story, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, book by arthur laurents. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Notes the matrix numbers on the labels appear in brackets. Arthur laurents books list of books by author arthur.
Laurents highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of his life as he recounts. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and ultimately transformed two of broadways landmark shows, gypsy and west side story, and created one of. Prejudices in the west side story by arthur laurents. Award, which allowed him to perform in new york among broadway stars. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6983 ratings. Located on the first tier lobby, the exhibit examines the unique relationship between the symphony and bernstein as a conductor, composer, educator, activist, and friend. West side story and gypsy would figure in most historians top 10 stage musicals indeed, gypsy is often cited as having the best book of any.