While it seems only natural now, the idea of filming on actual city streets took some time in. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. The sharks mostly recent puerto rican immigrants and the jets mostly second generation european immigrants circa 1960. Photograph by hank walker the life picture collection getty. Having said that, it still pulls off the odd trick or two that deviates from our. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. Just beyond where they were filming stood half a block of boarded tenements destined for demolition which would soon make way for the newly constructed lincoln center. 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. 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. It is one of the best works of william shakespeare. However, regardless of how many times the jets and the sharks assert their ownership of an area, they will never actually.
The dialogue implies that tony left the jets a long time ago, but is still in good relations with them. Important events we are also introduced to tonys views on gang life. The musicals that were produced around that time period were meant to be strictly for entertainment, for the most part. At the time, the phrase broadway musical was synonymous. Beth cooper professor barrett introduction to drama west side story is an american musical with. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The setting comes at least partially from the fact that everyone who created west side story was from new york. In 1960 on a cold morning in february, the makers of west side story began filming along manhattans west 68th street. It set the irish catholic jets against the jewish emeralds, which was in keeping with the ethnic makeup of the lower east side area of manhattan. When west side story opened on broadway in 1957, it was a new kind of musical. Goodreads members who liked west side story also liked. Fifty years after west side story won 10 oscars, including best picture, a newspaper in riverside has told the story behind the story behind west side story.
The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. Two youngsters from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. Act i, page 4 action articulates what is supposedly at the root of the gang wara desire to control territory. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. 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. West side story 1961 soundtrack complete list of songs. The setting of the two stories is one of the few differences. Mar 17, 2010 wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010.
West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at no. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. The east side of town represents poverty and dysfunction. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and.
Romeo and juliet is undoubtedly the most popular romantic love story to ever hit the literary world. Comparison of west side story and romeo and juliet west side story s characters have a number of similarities with the characters from romeo and juliet. It wasnt the only time that some obsolete new york neighborhood, shorn of. The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. It completely spits in the face the theme that both sides are adding to the conflict. West side story stage set, you can at least get some expert free advice, and even a biscuit with your tea if you come to see us.
What happens at the end of west side story answers. West side story 1961 the feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. What are the similarities between romeo and juliet and. They have similar scenes, similar loves, and similar deaths. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story romeo and juliet. Romeo and tony, juliet and maria, mercutio and riff, and tybalt and bernardo. West side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Once more, the clan of the montagues are at odds with the capulets. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. 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. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. Each songs lyrics are presented here, along with a set of analysis questions.
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. Il particolare che mi stava piu a cuore era larmonizzazione originale del brano. It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. 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. West side story graphic organizer for 7th 12th grade. The history of the west side how it became the setting of the musical. A classical story with a modern setting, it still stands as one of the major contributions of the american theater. The jets leader, riff, suggests setting up a rumble with the sharks. The play west side story takes place in a suburb on the west side of new york city.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Anton, a member of the white gang, fell in love with maria, the sister of the leader of the rival puerto rican gang. Although west side story is not as famous as romeo and juliet, it was a impressive work of its time, and it has left his mark on the times afterwards. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. This oversimplification of the tulsa setting reflects the characters longstanding beliefs that people belong to either one gang or the other, and there is no middle ground. Point out how the general setting of the play is established. Throughout the story, the author uses the setting as an analogy. High quality west side story gifts and merchandise. West side story takes place on the west side of manhattan, new york city. In this story, the violence between two gangs also caused death. 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. West side story chapters 610 quiz 25 questions by zaberk last updated.
This area is full of west side story has been a play that i have been wanting to read for quite a long time. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. From west side story i learned about tragedy, and love, and sex, and the idea that things can go very, very wrong, in an instant. At the end of the west side story tony gets killed by chino. Asked in new york city, musical movies, west side story was west side story set in the upper west side. 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. Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free.
Romeo and juliet is a sad love story thats a classic known by many. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future. The film opens with aerial shots establishing the setting, a workingclass neighborhood of new york city. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. Dec 8, 2015 brainstorm and inspiration for west side story set design cas class. Most of the scenes take place in the streets, playground, on the roof, at docs or under the highway. Romeo and juliet takes place in vernon in the 1 5th century while west side story took place in new york around the sasss. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. West side story opened at new yorks winter garden theater on september 26, 1957, and has remained in the repertory ever since. This also gave viewers time to compose themselves after.
Winter garden theatre, new york 26 september, 1957 734 perfs her majestys theatre, london 12 december, 1958 1039 perfs story. Anche tonight non scherza e poi vi sono interessanti passaggi dorchestra. West side story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an urban renewal project for the lincoln center, which changed the neighborhoods character. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. The setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. Social issues in west side story the odyssey online. West side story and the american idea of getting along. Pianovocal selections with piano accompaniment recording paperback december 1, 2011. The 1957 musical west side story was a collaboration among composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, and choreographer jerome robbins. From east side to west side on the story s development and new york immigration past. 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. This shows us that unlike many of the jets, he has a good conscience.
Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. He plans to make the challenge to bernardo, the sharks leader, that night at. This west side story graphic organizer is suitable for 7th 12th grade. Immediately download the west side story summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching west side story. West side story is groundbreaking in a lot of ways, but when it comes to delivering the information, it tends to rely on the triedandtrue technique of moving to the character we need to see when we need to see him or her, then moving back as the story demands. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. It is the perfect model to be used by other writers. As you watch the film version of west side story, use this viewing guide to help keep your class on track and analyze important plot events. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947 srsly. A life in film and design the lengthy credits for west side story were shifted to an epilogue, because those for the broadway musical as well as the film had to be incorporated. It was a very brave move for the creative team of this musical to. Setting compare and contrast plot the book west side story takes place on the west side of new york city in the 1950s. Main ideas setting the action of the outsiders takes place in tulsa, oklahoma in the 1960s.
West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. Judith leon compare and contrast similarities are very similar especially because west side story is based on romeo and juliet. West side story swept the 1962 oscars and immortalized san juan hill as the home of tony and maria. Begin with a fight between two groups of people who hate each other and they get stopped by someone who is in. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Telling the story behind the story behind west side story. West side story dive into the world of the iconic musical. West side story is set in and around the 1950s on the west side of manhattan, new york city. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them. West side story began on the broadway stage and was immediately recognized as one of the most creative musical productions of the 20th century.
West side story was very innovative, especially for its time period. All 38 songs from the west side story 1961 movie soundtrack, with scene descriptions. Author pat kirkham discusses the end credits and opening titles for west side story, designed by saul and elaine bass, from her authoritative book saul bass. On a hot late1950s summer in new yorks upper west side, william shakespeares timeless story of romeo and juliet 1968 comes to life, as a fierce enmity between two antagonistic street gangs paves the way for heartbreak and tragedy.
The jets, a local white street gang headed by riff played. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. Its success as a motion picture was equally spectacular. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was written around the year 1595. Like romeo and juliet, west side story is about the forbidden love affair between two teenagers. West side story may have stereotypical depictions of puerto ricans but the original film in particular is considered an important film for latino americans nevertheless misaimed fandom the entire argument over which gang is more sympathetic. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. 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. The action of the outsiders takes place in tulsa, oklahoma in the 1960s. Ponyboy explains that the greasers rule the poorer east side of town, while the socs run the wealthier west side of town. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. On the other hand, in the rise and fall of the broadway musical, mark grant concentrates on the growth of the musical in light of changes in technology and music, and in writing the book and lyrics.
Maria and the rest of the gang members and girls except anita from the sharks and jets run over and see why there was a gun shot. See more ideas about west side story, story setting and set design. Similarities between west side story and romeo and juliet include the central conflict, the setting where the two main characters meet, the balcony scene and the violent conflict between the characters. West side story is the soundtrack to the 1961 film west side story.
Find books like west side story from the worlds largest community of readers. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality. The celebrated musical is an update of romeo and juliet set among white and puerto rican gangs on new yorks west side. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. Listen to and download the music, ost, score, list of songs and trailers. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. The title was changed to west side story when the creators realized that gang warfare in new york had moved from the east side to the west. Civil rights and immigration politics how the musical engaged with social concerns of the day. The film version of 1961 was a smashing success, earning 10 oscars, including.
While the movie version of west side story is among the most faithful of hollywood adaptations, a number of changes were made in translating the work to film, some to suit the medium, others to suit the audience sensibilities, and one or two socalled artistic choices. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole. West side story was truly a work without a setting now. The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan.
1035 1208 937 878 656 1490 961 1071 84 382 1277 892 1144 1357 644 60 1180 474 1586 905 466 40 1110 261 191 428 39 1027 339 96 1473 1214 1063 1065 1220 242 791 845 69 286 368 871 1110 180 235 493 32