Arthur laurents has written the story of two hostile teenage gangs fighting for supremacy amid the tenement houses, corner stores and bridges of the west side. The 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. The only time arthur laurents was actually interrogated about his politics by. It opens up this incredibly important conversation about the cycle of immigration, in which immigrant groups come to america and face discrimination. West side story revisited, west side story, arthur laurents. A milestone was west side story, the 1957 musical for which mr.
What we really did stylistically with west side story was take every. Arthur laurents, author of the book script for west side story. Bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim and a book by laurents. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Prejudices in the west side story by arthur laurents. Stephen sondheim, composer of the lyrics for bernsteins music. In 2007, arthur laurents stated, ive come up with a way of doing west side story that will make it absolutely contemporary without changing a word or a note. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and.
Laurents eventually won the award for the less wellknown hallelujah, baby. The genesis, impact, and influence of west side story has been explained and analyzed in countless histories and memoirs. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. The film adaptation of the musical released in 1961 was an even bigger hit, winning 10 us academy awards oscars, including the award for best picture, and it remains an enduring classic for several reasons. Jerome robbins, choreographer and codirector of the film he was the sole director of the stage musical robert wise, codirector of the film. The cast of west side story jan versweyveld with pimentel as a tougher, more streetwise maria than natalie wood could have imagined, and a starmaking performance by powell as a thoroughly. Arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. Arthur laurents, arthur levine, american playwright, director, and screenwriter born july 14, 1917, brooklyn, n. Tickets west side story lesher center for the arts. Stephen sondheim the greatest strengths were the direction, which had real vision, included some inventive staging, and created a strong sense of the conflict that serves as the foundation for this musical, and the choreography, which did so much to expand the emotional quality of. Its teamrobbins, bernstein, book by arthur laurents, lyrics by the. West side story revisited, west side story, arthur.
Author arthur laurents, composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim and choreographer jerome robbins collaborated brilliantly, if also heatedly, on this musical inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. It might be an exaggeration to claim that the whole score is predicated on the interval of the tritonethe augmented fourth it can also be spelled as a diminished fifthbut as overstatements go, it. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and. Broadway credits include the books for the musicals west side story 1957. With book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim, the original 1957. May 06, 2011 both west side story and gypsy were nominated for a tony award for best musical. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby. Ivoryton shakespeares romeo and juliet is transported to modernday new york city in the breathtaking musical, west side story which opens at the ivoryton playhouse on july 5 th. 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, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an urban renewal project. Full text of west side story see other formats san francisco symphony michael tilson thomas alexandra silber cheyenne jackson west side story san francisco symphony michael tilson thomas, conductor based on a conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim entire original production directed and choreographed by jerome robbins koret.
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. Us army 19405 playwright, screenwriter, and stage director who wrote the libretto for the classic musicals gypsy and west side story, directed the long. Arthur laurents american playwright, director, and. 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.
West side story, a musical stage play that recast william shakespeares tragedy romeo and juliet into a contemporary setting, was a big hit when it opened on broadway in 1957. Over six decades in the theater, arthur laurents who wrote the celebrated books to gypsy and west side story has earned a reputation for honesty. West side story has been added to your cart add to cart. Applause booksbest known for the hit musicals west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing socially minded plays such as home of the brave and time of the cuckoo. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961. Arthur laurents, the irascible, enduring man of the theatre who wrote plays and. West side story 2018 regional us tickets, news, info. 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. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as. Leonard bernstein, composer of the music for west side story. En espanol arthur laurents, the original librettist for west side story, is bringing a new production of his landmark 1957 musical to broadway this spring but the 91yearold isnt offering just another staging of the critically acclaimed script that won two tony awards and spawned the oscarwinning 1961 film.
West side story is an american version of romeo and juliet and it follows the plays plot very closely. As a member of american ballet theatre, robbins danced a number. In new york, where west side story premiered on september 26, 1957, the most astute critics thoroughly understood the show especially the new york times s brooks atkinson, who called it an incandescent piece of work that finds off bits of beauty amid the rubbish of the streets everything contributes to the total impression of wildness, ecstasy and anguish. West side story revival, directed by laurents, sets broadway. Book by arthur laurents lyrics by stephen sondheim march 30 april 29, 2018 inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, shakespeares starcrossed lovers are transplanted to the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s.
His credits included the stage musicals west side story and gypsy and the film the way we were. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Responses to west side story gang warfare is the material of west side story, which opened at the winter garden last evening, and very little of the hideousness has been left out. Arthur laurents is the author of musical plays such as west side story, gypsy, anyone can whistle, do i hear a waltz.
Pooling imagination and virtuosity, they have written a profoundly moving show that is. Laurents has deliberately given it the shape of romeo and juliet. May 07, 2011 so one night, lupone insisted that mr. Arthur laurents, 93, playwright for gypsy, west side story. Arthur laurents, legendary librettist, playwright, screenwriter and. West side story leonard bernstein, arthur laurents, stephen sondheim snippet view 1958. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west. The rest of the story by arthur laurents goodreads. West side story book by arthur laurentsmusic by leonard bernstein. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. Laurentss book gave a contemporary spin to the tale of.
Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. Laurents, who died at 93 on thursday, also supplied the book for the landmark musical west side story. West side story from a strictly musical point of view, west side story displays greater integration of material than had previously characterized works destined for broadway. Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. Buy west side story by laurents, arthur, sondheim, stephen isbn. Here is a brief look at one of the greatest quartets ever assembled for a broadway show. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. Arthur laurents was an american playwright, librettist, stage director, and screenwriter. The story is a powerful one, partly, no doubt, because mr. He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city. Arthur laurents the official masterworks broadway site. Its not a revival, says arthur laurents, 90, its original librettist and the man behind the latest production. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet.
Sponsored by norma and sol kugler west side story based on conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim musical direction by darren r. Gypsy, west side story and other musicals applause books arthur laurents on. Laurents, robbins insisted he write the book to a musical. West side story in concert based on a conception by jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim entire original production directed and choreographed by jerome robbins originally produced on broadway by robert e. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Arthur laurents, book 19172011 was writing radio plays when he was approached to provide the book or story for west side story. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. 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. He practically stands alone as a writer who owes his lasting fame to his authorship. Rival gangs, the sharks and the jets, gather to lay the ground rules for an upcoming rumble. Laurents the threetime tony award winner responsible for the books to gypsy and west side story go through a ritual that involved. He directed a prebroadway production of west side story at the national theatre in washington, d.
In the design of west side story he has powerful allies. West side story explores racial, ethnic, political. The latest victim that falls prey to this risky venture is the iconic masterpiece west side story originally brought to the stage in 1957 by the theatre legends arthur laurents book, leonard bernstein music, stephen sondheim lyrics and directed and choreographed by jerome robbins. Arthur laurents, stephen sondheim, jerome robbins and leonard bernstein. Interview with arthur laurents of west side story aarp viva. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim entire original production directed and choreographed by jerome robbins originally produced on broadway by.
Nov 12, 2019 west side story is painfully relevant to the question of what it means to be american right now, said ramirez, who also directed the 2019 firstyear musical cruising altitude. West side story cast members corey cott tony, mikaela bennett maria, amanda castro anita, brett thiele riff, manuel stark santos bernardo, and adam soniak action give you a whole lot of reasons to catch west side story at lyric opera. West side story placed him in collaboration not only with sondheim, but. Arthur laurents book was until the play went into rehearsal how concise, how important, in. Five decades after west side story debuted at the national theatre in washington, d. Somethings comingand its coming with an authenticity that should galvanize an already acclaimed classic love story. Written by the dream creative team of leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim, west side storys legendary jazz, latin and classicalinspired score features the treasured songs somethings coming, tonight, i feel pretty and america. Both west side story and gypsy were nominated for a tony award for best musical.
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. Mar 07, 2020 the latest victim that falls prey to this risky venture is the iconic masterpiece west side story originally brought to the stage in 1957 by the theatre legends arthur laurents book, leonard bernstein music, stephen sondheim lyrics and directed and choreographed by jerome robbins. But the author, composer and ballet designer are creative artists. West side story hardcover january 1, 1966 by arthur laurents author 2. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 7012 ratings. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. In celebration of the 100th birthdays of leonard bernstein and jerome robbins, bsc will present west side story, based on conception by jerome robbins, with a book by arthur laurents, music by. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. It might be an exaggeration to claim that the whole score is predicated on the interval of the tritonethe augmented fourth it can also be spelled as a diminished fifthbut as overstatements go, it would not. Full text of west side story see other formats san francisco symphony michael tilson thomas alexandra silber cheyenne jackson west side story san francisco symphony michael tilson thomas, conductor based on a conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim entire original production directed and.
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