West side story by arthur laurents english paperback book free. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. The music of west side story was written by leonard bernstein. Conceived in 1949, west side story has a serious message that pleads for racial. This is just a warning to anyone thinking of purchasing a bluray copy of, not only west side story but any other film. I like the way the author wrote marias character to be very innocent and blind to. The lengthy credits for west side story were shifted to an epilogue, because those for the broadway musical as well. Stephen sondheim finds the music from west side story, one of the most revered musicals of all time, downright embarrassing. The sharks mostly recent puerto rican immigrants and the jets mostly second generation european immigrants circa 1960. Apr 21, 2016 west side story was written by a team of manhattanites. West side story book by irving shulman official publisher page. Inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet, west side story deals with two people from distinctly different groups falling in love.
This groundbreaking collaboration among bernstein, jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and stephen sondheim lyrics captured the fiber of american society through its best and worst characteristics. Street gangs and gang warfare a very present reality in new york city at the time the shows creators envisioned it were rough, suggestive, crude, violent, and possessed of a distinctive swagger. West side story download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Many people believe west side story is the pinnacle of musical theatre achievement, thanks to the way it blurred the lines between musical and opera. Romeo and juliet, west side story, compare and contrast. Or would their newfound love be destroyed by sudden death. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side story when leonard bernstein and jerome robbins met 75 years ago, they were young men hungry for their big break. Make sure you read all the product details thoroughly. West side story is a musical adapted from shakespeares play and was first performed in 1957. The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet.
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 films for the u. Coupled with bernsteins miraculous tunes, heres how the. Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare. Along with enjoying writing, carmela likes to spend. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story. Jul 31, 2019 a harbinger of later developments in the stage musical, west side story was a landmark broadway production, though it won only two tony awards, one for robbinss choreography and the other. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. It is her second year on west side story staff and her first on yearbook staff. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side.
The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the. He was approached at a party why do these things always happen at parties. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. There is a door between the bedroom and the parlor. 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. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961.
Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. West side story is a musical and book by arther laurents based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet with lyrics bystephen sondheim. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. The leader of the jets whites riff doesnt the leader of the sharks purto ricans benardo. This is the place for you if youve ever been involved in, or infatuated with, west side story as an actor, singer, dancer, musician, producer, director, designer. Did you know that bernstein first began writing music for theatrical. Composer leonard bernstein had to be persuaded to continue work on the show. Gay music for consuelo, who is examining herself in the. This is the place for you if youve ever been involved in, or infatuated with, west side story as an actor, singer, dancer, musician, producer, director, designer, crew or just as important as a fan. The student news site of wyoming valley west high school. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. 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. West side story 2009, paperback for sale online ebay.
West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. Concerning the love connection, this is absolute truth. Blocks from central park, the american museum of natural history, riverside park and beautiful views of the hudson, our upper west side headquarters is the heart of the writer s rock. Apr 16, 2012 westside story is the award winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliette. Carmela cohen suarez is a senior at west high and this is her third year on the west side story. 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. A major hit on broadway, on film west side story became immortala movie different from.
In the streets and apartments of new york city, and in the roads and castles of verona, we witness the story of two lovestruck opposites who are molded and trapped in a world of social differences. West side story by irving shulman book cover, description, publication. Nov 14, 2012 he suggested finding more creative ways for characters to meet. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side story in a single volume. Irving shulman has 24 books on goodreads with 22207 ratings.
Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. The book tells the story of maria, a firstgeneration immigrant from puerto rico. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. Arthur laurents 19182011 arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry. When alyssa isnt taking photos she is usually taking part in rowing or softball. About the author irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. West side story is set in and around the 1950s on the west side of manhattan, new york city. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. West side story explores racial, ethnic, political. Rita moreno in the 1961 film version of west side story. With ansel elgort, rita moreno, corey stoll, maddie ziegler. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The reallife drama behind west side story written in the mid1950s, west side story showcased adult themes and harsh language, which was bold for musical productions.
It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. His hollywood credits were as impressive as those for broadway. Click download or read online button to get west side story book now. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. Sep 28, 20 west side story composer nearly gave up on show, letters reveal this article is more than 6 years old leonard bernsteins hostility towards writer of musicals book almost halted project, newly. I also know songs from the musical, and it seemed as if the writer who wrote the novelization was. The puerto rican writer nelson rivera once recalled studying abroad in paris, where he was greeted by oui, west side story. West side story original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city sep 26, 1957 and played through jun 27, 1959. He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city.
It worked for the jets and the sharks, but for your novel, you may. Works stage west side story 1957 leonard bernstein. West side story is a play that was on broadway and also made into a book and a movie. The show hardly needed promoting, but i jumped at the chance to talk to the writer director who at 93 was a theatrical legend, for his scripts for west side story and gypsy and his direction. Laurents wrote for the stage for 65 years, once describing writers as the chosen people. West side story was born eight years before that day when robbins, then at new york city ballet, approached bernstein and laurents, then a californiabased screenwriter, about creating a. Both are stories of unrequited love that end tragically, but there are many elements that make them very different. He agreed to do it, and suddenly, the last obstacle to putting this play on was finally removed. 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. 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. She is the online copy editor and entertainment editor. 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. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life.
The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff. This play is about to rivial gangs fighting over a street. This is the work that perhaps more than any other made the creatively bountiful bernsteins name. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice is relevant to any time and place. West side story by irving shulman fantastic fiction. Irving shulmans most popular book is west side story.
He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west. This is the work that perhaps more than any other made the creatively bountiful bernsteins name, exemplifying. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Robbins acute observation and his mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture in west side story. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. I was present at a celebratory bbc proms performance of west side story recently.
Jun 29, 2016 9 books set on the upper west side to read this summer. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. The late late show with james corden 14,311,856 views. Similarities between west side story top quality writers. The bedroom as a window opening onto the fire escape, a bed on a wall, a small shrine to the virgin, and a curtained doorway, rear.
Arthur laurents, book 19172011 was writing radio plays when he was approached to provide the book or story for west side story. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy. Tony and maria from west side story also come to mind. Anonymous period 8 11514 film west side story analysis west side story is an adaption of a play written by arthur laurents, and remade into a film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins.
An adaptation of the 1957 musical, west side story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the jets and the. 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. This is the basis behind william shakespeare and arthur laurents works, west side story. 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. We dont expect an intern to be an aspiring author or to have edited a book before, but we do want someone who loves to work on the business side of the book world and has a flair for helping authors make their work shine whether on the shelf or on social media. Neil diamonds life story will be told in broadwaybound. Arthur laurents, leonard bernstein, and stephen sondheim, with choreography by jerome robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. West side story 1961 is an energetic, widelyacclaimed, melodramatic musical a modernday, loose retelling of shakespeares romeo and juliet tragedy of feuding families, although the setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. Aug 24, 2018 i was present at a celebratory bbc proms performance of west side story recently.