West Side Story

In 1957, four theater greats came together to create the original West Side Story. With Arthur Laurents penning the book, Leonard Bernstein composing the music, Stephen Sondheim writing the lyrics, and Jerome Robbins directing and choreographing the show, the runaway hit musical ran for a record 732 performances on Broadway before going on tour. It has also been adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1961. Now, West Side Story returns to Broadway with a set of new faces at the helm, many of whom have been lauded as the most visionary theatrical talents of this century.

An adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet story, West Side Story tells the tale of two street gangs from the Upper West Side neighborhood in New York who are of different ethnic backgrounds and constantly clash with each other. The members of the Sharks, from Puerto Rico, are taunted by the Jets, a white-Polish gang. 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. Will their love conquer their boundaries? Or will it meet a sad and bloody end? Watch and find out.

Good for

Lovers of Musicals | West Side Story Fans

Reviews

“ The story line involving the mistreatment of Puerto Rican immigrants makes ‘West Side Story’ more timely now than ever.”
– New York TImes