west side story choreography

As seen in West Side Story, the Broadway musical is a collaborative medium which involves the librettist, composer, lyricist, director, and choreographer how to best convey the story they wish to tell. choreography by / stage play: director / stage play: orchestrator Roger L. Stevens ... by arrangement with Hal Bell ... assistant choreographer (uncredited) Jimmy Bryant ... singing voice: Tony (uncredited) Kit … Box office. Sara Fishko reflects on … Notice how often the characters in the show start out walking. One such dance, late… Indeed, though it sticks to the original dialogue and songs (with the exception of a few cuts), van Hove’s startlingly contemporary version is not set in the 1950s. The first time he created the choreography for a ballet was in 1944 for the show Fancy Free, which was later made into the musical On the Town. West Side Story is a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Snag a Tony for Best Choreography: check. Screenwriter Ernest Lehman adapted the film West Side Story from the hit play of the same name, which opened on Broadway in 1957 and ran there for 732 performances. The original would have used drops and more fully realized interiors. West Side Story • April 23 - May 2, 2021 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. When Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins met 75 years ago, they were young men hungry for their Big Break. The futility of intolerance. THTR 3333 students Kaicie Kidd and Stephen Angelakos discuss the 1961 film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Ballet gave the choreography grace; jazz and genius gave it personality. Significantly, none of the adult characters in the show ever dances (or even sings, for that matter), which represents the communication gap between the generations: They literally don’t speak each other’s languages. What's harder to spot is the way dance can tell a story: to move the narrative forward and show us the relationship between the characters. West Side Story. West Side Story is an upcoming American romantic musical drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner and choreography by Justin Peck.The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, which is based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Bernstein’s eclectic score moves nimbly from jazzy riffs, to aching romantic lyricism, and includes brassy comedic numbers and near operatic tragedy. The choreographer-director emerged as an American theater specialty in the work of Jerome Robbins, his protégé Bob Fosse, and other dancer-dramatists who understood the powerful impact of dance on an audience. Cool is bottled-up dynamite, as the Jets caution each other to contain the rage and hostility that will erupt into bloodshed and continue an ancient feud. A first look at the choreography for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. Those walks - sauntering, swaggering, stealthy - establish the mood and scene and quickly morph into choreography that propels the narrative. Oh, and choreograph a film version of West Side Story: on it. The individual dances edge dialog and acting aside to tell the tale. Maria and Tony stand worlds apart, but seem ultimately closer… For one, the show is no longer set in 1957. That stylized reality also inspired the semi-surreal scenic design, as well as Robbins’ iconic choreography. Steven Spielberg has chosen his choreographer for the film adaptation of the Broadway Musical “West Side Story”. But there had never been a show that fused dance and narrative like West Side Story. And, as Robbins’ choreographed the highly successful film adaptation of West Side Story, his dances became so much a part of the cultural ethos that a bit of his choreography thrown into the self-referential musical Urinetown brought immediate laughs of recognition. (The former Miami City Ballet principal Patricia Lucia Delgado, who is … The items on display provide a rare window into this complex process. Arthur Laurents' book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. Robbins' acute observation and his mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture in West Side Story. After mamboing into musical theater history in 1957, West Side Story has rumbled back again in a reimagined revival by Belgian director Ivo van Hove so packed with wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling video that it’s like a new hybrid. After his Broadway triumph with Fiddler On the Roof in 1964, Mr. Robbins continued creating ballets for New York City Ballet. (A revealing anecdote relates how the blistered and bruised dancers burned their kneepads outside Robbins' office after he finally approved a take of Cool for the film.). West Side Story, a musical stage play that recast William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet into a contemporary setting, was a big hit when it opened on Broadway in 1957. In West Side Story, the dance becomes a form of communication, manifesting the inner thoughts of what these inarticulate street kids can’t find the words to say. Its story is based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Ballet gave the choreography grace; jazz and genius gave it personality. Julio Martinez takes a historical look at Los Angeles open-air theaters. West Side Story stands out compared to other shows because of its consistent intricacies throughout all of its aspects. There are no wasted steps and no wasted words in West Side Story. Lines like “Cut the frabbajabba,” and lyrics like “Gee, Officer Krupke, Krup you,” became the stylized slang of the Jets and Sharks. Robbins has directed for television and film as well, with his co-direction and choreography of West Side Story winning him two Academy Awards. West Side Story was originally conceived, directed, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Sara Fishko reflects on … Robbins directed and choreographed the production. West Side Story (1961 film) Jerome Robbins: Co-Director and Master Choreographer. WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Broadway. Even decades later, the music, choreography and effect of 'West Side Story' are hard to resist - Los Angeles Times Justin Peck on Instagram: “Overwhelmed this morning by the amount of messages, feedback, love, support, & pride coming in. The story is set in the mid 1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City, a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood. The original cast featured Chita Rivera as Anita and one or two other Sharks with Latin heritage. Nevertheless, a number . Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" You hear the rhythm of loud finger clicking as the actors appear, followed by quick, insolent interjections of woodwinds and brass. With a background of chain link and brick, and a minimalist set utilizing moving platforms, he’s managed that urban feel. West Side Story is a film that exists in its own unique emotional reality, an adaptation of a Broadway show that makes no effort to tone down the original’s necessary, boastful affectations. Less colorful, less deliberately coordinated. The concept of adapting Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as a contemporary story of youthful unrest and racial prejudice among gang members came from Jerome Robbins. Choreography doesn’t make this reimagined “West Side Story” breathe. Showing all 28 wins and 10 nominations. In America, the saucy, sexy movement interplay between the Puerto Rican men and women mocks the hostile world they are in, the uninhabitable world they came from, and the powerful seductions that will unite them romantically and tragically as the story unfolds. www.westsidestorybway.com West Side Story (1961) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The Broadway musical has earned a position as an innovative and influential work, and as such, it maintains an important place within the scholarly literature. Jerome Robbins became famous as an innovative choreographer for Broadway musicals such as High Button Shoes (1947) and The King and I (1951). Tickets now on sale. CHEVALIER DE L’ORDRE DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES; 1965. West Side Story has garnered a great deal of scholarly attention since it first premiered in 1957. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is the inspiration for the tragedy of Tony and Maria. The major change was the addition of some Spanish-language lyric translations by a pre-Hamilton Lin Manuel Miranda. NOW PLAYING: WEST SIDE STORY, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, through May 14. Brilliant choreography and the best musical score ever. Richard Israel directs a new production of West Side Story, which played the Valley Performing Arts Center and now moves to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Although "West Side Story" was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 Academy Awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse "Singin' in the Rain" is probably more seen and certainly better loved. All the dance, all the music, and all the words that make West Side Story the singular achievement it is, for Jerome Robbins—who conceived, then choreographed and directed the show—the central theme is simply “the futility of intolerance.” Street gangs and gang warfare -- a very present reality in New York City at the time the show's creators envisioned it -- were rough, suggestive, crude, violent, and possessed of a distinctive swagger. The gritty reality of racism and gang warfare in West Side Story does just that. [dropcap]West Side Story[/dropcap] blazed its way onto Broadway in 1957 and the American musical has never been the same. West Side Story (1961) Awards. Robbins used big, whole-body moves, rapid and abrupt gestures, long leaps that exploded from the cracked asphalt, emphasis on the downbeats of the music to portray young, aggressive, volatile male energy in the Jets and the Sharks. West Side Story was based on the classic story of Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story stands out compared to other shows because of its consistent intricacies throughout all of its aspects. He rehearsed and reviewed each dance endlessly, running so far over budget when the Broadway show was made into the award-winning movie that he was fired from the film. The West Side Story revival is about to open on Broadway and it promises to be entirely different from the versions that have come before it. Jerome Robbins was born in New York City in 1918. The choreography is a key reason the brilliant departure from conventional Broadway musicals endures and pops up everywhere from high school stages to Times Square flash mobs. Buy Study Guide. Call it a Broadway vidsical. The story that Jerry is telling is so timeless and especially important in today’s political climate. EDITOR’S NOTE: On Oct. 18, 1961, “West Side Story” hit movie theaters. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.. This story was originally written in the 3rd Century and then re-written by William Shakespeare in 1594. Her choreography captures the conflict at the core of West Side Story, but also that quest for harmony dreamed up by Arthur Laurents, Leonard … “As a piece of musical theatre, it’s the best example of what the genre can do,” Israel explains. Every single move in West Side Story reflected that reality. One of the most memorable parts of the show is the use of ballet and dance. By Lisa Higgins. In West Side Story, Robbins broke with musical theater traditions to portray the unglamorous world of urban gangs with all the gravitas of the classic narratives about the privileged class. Shakespeare’s version was based on a poem written by Arthur Brooks in 1562. Laurents tried to reinvigorate parts of the show when directing the 2009 Broadway revival. In part II of his ‘Radical Theatre in LA’ series, Julio Martinez unpacks exploratory theatre in the late 1900’s. Steven Spielberg has chosen his choreographer for the film adaptation of the Broadway Musical “West Side Story”. Capulets and Montagues have nothing on the Jets and Sharks, and those 20th-century hoodlums' relatable hopes and dreams are wordlessly expressed with the sharp angles and contractions of the bodies on stage. Israel wanted the street to permeate the entire production. Robbins had conceived, directed, and choreographed the musical onstage and had won a Tony Award for his … Choreography doesn’t make this reimagined “West Side Story” breathe. West Side Story was immediately recognized as a major achievement in the history of the American musical theatre, with its innovative setting, electric pacing, and tense, volatile dance sequences. Robbins succeeded so brilliantly in fusing ballet and jazz that his Symphonic Dances, adapted for the New York City Ballet almost verbatim from the WSS choreography, is a staple of the company's repertory. Why wasn't this page useful? West Side Story's Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez dance on set of Steven Spielberg's remake. Other musicals included Peter Pan (1954) as well as the legendary West Side Story (1957) and Fiddler … Poems About Earth to Raise Awareness on Earth Day, How to Flirt Over Text: Cute & Clever Examples, 75 Easy Staycation Ideas That Are Cheap But Fun, Recognizing Stress Acne and How to Beat It. West Side Story was originally conceived, directed, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. But if the drama had been as edgy as the choreography, if the lead performances had matched Moreno's fierce concentration, if the gangs had been more dangerous and less like bad-boy Archies and Jugheads, if the ending had delivered on the pathos and tragedy of the original, there's no telling what might have resulted." A lifted shoulder, an outflung arm, or a stomping foot telegraph intent and action as well as any lyric or line in West Side Story. “It is the perfect integration of text, music, and movement.”, Todd is especially appreciative of what Robbins accomplished with the show. To promote authenticity, Robbins kept the cast members for the Jets and the Sharks separated from each other during rehearsals and continuously posted news stories about gang violence on the bulletin board … “Jerry’s work, as a director/choreographer has been an incredible inspiration in my own career. Written in the mid-1950s, West Side Story showcased adult themes and harsh language, which was bold for musical productions. Israel doesn’t approach the show as an iconoclast determined to eradicate the original. For the first time a directing award is being shared. African-American soprano Reri Grist played Consuelo and introduced “Somewhere.” Within a few years, Bernstein would be conducting her in opera, where she enjoyed an international career as a coloratura soprano. West Side Story, American musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by Shakespeare ’s Romeo and Juliet. Academy Awards, USA 1962 Winner Oscar: Best Picture Robert Wise: Best Actor in a Supporting Role George Chakiris: Best Actress in a Supporting Role Rita Moreno: Best Director Robert Wise Jerome Robbins. Robbins was an exacting and exhausting taskmaster. Choreographer Robbins was hired to direct the dance scenes, with the remaining scenes to be directed by Robert Wise.However, Robbins insisted on so many takes of his scenes that he was fired before the movie was completed. The original choreography of Jerome Robbins is one of the many memorable parts of the show. In 1940 he moved over to ballet. LAUREL AWARD, WRITERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA WEST West Side Story (film) SBI GOLD OWL AWARD – BEST CHOREOGRAPHY West Side Story (film) SCREEN DIRECTORS GUILD AWARD West Side Story (Film) 1964. There is, of course, more diversity than in many historical productions. Their solution was to create a suggestive patois which hinted at profanity. However, Robbins took the simple conventions of the costume ball and the sword fight and transformed them into a glorious melee of jazzy, balletic explosions of dance to grab attention, ratchet up anxiety, and break hearts. The dance at the gym is controlled violence, a stand-in for the murderous melee to follow. The ability to mic actors gives today’s performers a freedom of expression the 1957 cast, who had to project to the back of the house, couldn’t imagine. He shared the position of Ballet-Master-in-Chief with Peter Martins until 1989. Part of what made the stage version of West Side Story such a smash success at the time of its opening was the revelatory choreography of Broadway legend Jerome Robbins. The story of Romeo and Juliet is a love story/ tragedy about two families: Capulet and Montague. West Side Story grew out of an intense collaboration on the part of its creative team, each of whom had a strong record of advocating for racial justice through performance. EDITOR’S NOTE: On Oct. 18, 1961, “West Side Story” hit movie theaters. Choreography; Steven Spielberg; West Side Story; 7 Comments 7 Comments . As Mambo pivots into Cha-Cha at the gym, the fateful dance sequence entwines the destinies of Tony and Maria together far more tightly than Juliet's lament: "My only love sprung from my only hate! All Rights Reserved. He was trained in modern dance and ballet and began his career in 1937 as a dancer in musicals. That said, what I love about Theater is…” Peck, sir, you are well on your way. For over 25 years he has reviewed opera productions around the country for a variety of print and online outlets. The ability to celebrate our differences and to honor an individual’s choices… is the key to creating tolerance and honor in our society.”. Jerome Robbins Idea, Conception, Direction & Choreography for west side story. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.. Every snap, flick of the wrist, and audacious step is a declaration of bravado, arrogance, threat, and conflict. © 2006-2021 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. He shaped female character with more sinuous and suggestive action: swishing skirts, flamenco foot-stamping, balletic steps to convey romance, and open arms and chest to reveal heart. Peck, the resident choreographer … It remains as fresh and vibrant as it sounded on opening night. From music, to choreography, to even lighting design, this musical provides a great platform for discussing the topics of race and ethnicity in mid-20th century America. West Side Story is a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Even decades later, the music, choreography and effect of 'West Side Story' are hard to resist - Los Angeles Times Tension builds as the dancing becomes more disturbing and intense - the attempted rape sequence was shocking to the audiences in 1957 and remains abundantly recognizable today. He exhorted his dancers, all highly trained professionals in the classic arts, to stroll or step across the stage like tough young hoods and segue into the dancing. Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, and the Road to. West Side Story …exhilarating dance sequences choreographed by Jerome Robbins and memorable songs—including “Tonight,” “Maria,” and “Somewhere”—by Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), won 10 of the 11 Academy Awards for … One of the most memorable parts of the show is … Robbins had also begun creating dances for Tamiment's Revues, some comic (featuring the talents of Imogene Coca and Carol Channing) and some dramatic, topical, and controversial. 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. He and choreographer John Todd are anxious to bring a fresh and more realistic take to the show. Every single move in West Side Story reflected that reality. Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck has joined the production team of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story film. 2015 - West Side Story. ever could. Please help us improve. The style of West Side Story relies on fiery dynamics, belligerent staccato, syncopation, exaggerated extensions -- particularly high leg lifts -- and the lyrical moves of the lovers and the bereaved. choreography, did not simply interrupt the plot but contributed to advancing the story. 22 July 2019, 13:45 | Updated: 22 July 2019, 14:02. In this photograph taken for Twenty-five years ago, a summer stock theatre in central Pennsylvania hired me to choreograph a production of West Side Story, then promptly fired me when it became clear that I intended to create my own choreography rather than replicate the dance ideas director/choreographer Jerome Robbins conceptualized for the musical’s original 1957 Broadway production and 1961 film. Touted by van Hove as “a West Side Story for the 21st century,” his is the first Broadway staging to forgo Robbins’s choreography. West Side Story began its out of town performances at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. on August 19, 1957. The futility of intolerance. The first time he created the choreography for a ballet was in 1944 for the show Fancy Free, which was later made into the musical On the Town. Take the "America" sequence, which shows the competition but seductive playfulness between the Puerto Rican men and women. Our production of West Side Story will feature the original Jerome Robbins choreography from the 1957 Broadway production, adapted by Jayme Wappel. Something Good. Robbins wanted to choreograph dances that captured the reality of American life, rather than the ideal. West Side Story earned the legendary choreographer his second Tony Award. By Lisa Higgins. He and choreographer John Todd are anxious to bring a fresh and more realistic take to the show. The impoverished disenfranchised "locals," and the even more upstart recent immigrants, identified with a culture that rejected the more gentrified economic classes who rejected them. After a two-week run at Philadelphia’s Erlanger Theatre, the show opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957. Jerome Robbins/West Side Story - Choreographic Style Movement style embraces key themes Sharp, quick dynamics, and large, whole body actions give impression of athletic masculine movement These are performed by both the jets and the sharks, which emphasises their agressive street gang culture In 1937 Robbins made the first of many appearances as a dancer at Camp Tamiment, a resort in the Poconos known for its weekly Broadway-style revues; he also began dancing in the choruses of such Broadway shows as Great Lady and Keep Off the Grass, both choreographed by George Balanchine. 31 janv. The opening sequence - no real dialog at all - sets up the cultural conditions that are the daily reality of two gangs with a blood feud that defies logic but encapsulates an era. Take away the choreography, and you have a concept, an idea, but never the flesh-and-blood unforgettable adventure that struts and frets [its] hour upon the stage - and sweeps up generations of theater-goers in its relentless dance. Julio Martinez examines how Los Angeles theatre responded and survived the 1918 Spanish Flu. Robbins used big, whole-body moves, rapid and abrupt gestures, long leaps that exploded from the … The differences in this production can be better understood when briefly compared with the original Broadway staging, the film, and the last Broadway revival. Richard Israel directs a new production of West Side Story, which played the Valley Performing Arts Center and now moves to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Because everybody who does West Side Story uses the same choreography.” Or at least they did, until now. His ability to tell a story through movement is what makes his choreography so interesting. THTR 3333 students Kaicie Kidd and Stephen Angelakos discuss the 1961 film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Arthur Laurents wrote the book, Leonard Bernstein composed the score and, earning his first Broadway credit, Stephen Sondheim supplied the lyrics. During the past year he has added theater to his reviewing duties. Since its stage premiere in 1957, Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story has been inseparable from Jerome Robbins ’ choreography, a masterful marriage of … From music, to choreography, to even lighting design, this musical provides a great platform for discussing the topics of race and ethnicity in mid-20th century America. Written in the mid-1950s, West Side Story showcased adult themes and harsh language, which was bold for musical productions. Pictured: David Alvarez and Ariana DeBose. Stephen Casey Takes a Step in Time Recreating Jerome Robbins’ Choreography for West Side Story. West Side Story School Edition helps remove these obstacles by providing an official Choreography Manual and videos featuring easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for all of the show's iconic dance numbers. These elements remain in the film, translated into the language of the screen. Dance had long been an important, and even dramatic element in serious musicals. The Broadway musical West Side Story first came into being in 1957 as a collaboration between Bernstein (as composer), choreographer Jerome Robbins, writer Arthur Laurents, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. He brings his experimental, multimedia-heavy aesthetic to “West Side Story” – along with new dance choreography by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Something's Coming. West Side Story has some of the toughest and most elaborate dance moves you'll ever see. Maria and Tony stand worlds apart, but seem ultimately closer… The original choreography of Jerome Robbins is one of the many memorable parts of the show. Stephen Casey Takes a Step in Time Recreating Jerome Robbins’ Choreography for West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein, the show’s composer, and Jerome Robbins, its choreographer and director, had been collaborators since their very first Broadway show, On the Town of 1944. All the dance, all the music, and all the words that make West Side Story the singular achievement it is, for Jerome Robbins—who conceived, then choreographed and directed the show—the central theme is simply “the futility of intolerance.” Michael is an award-winning playwright and director. He has a healthy admiration for the work. Her choreography captures the conflict at the core of West Side Story, but also that quest for harmony dreamed up by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Robbins. Picture: Splash News The Tony Award-winner will be filling George Chakiris’ shoes as Bernardo, and here he is twirling around his co-star, who stands out in a striking yellow dress. West Side Story remains a landmark of musical history. Just watch the dances and you "read" the story. Welcome to West Side Story, where the movement tells the tale. The story is set in the mid 1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City, a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood. The costumes feel more like streetwear. West Side Story‟s place in Laurents and Sondheim struggled with approximating the language of the street, while not offending the sensibilities of their audience. His mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture West. S managed that urban feel families: Capulet and Montague added theater to his reviewing.! A suggestive patois which hinted at profanity deal of scholarly attention since it first premiered in.. Was bold for musical productions the screen to his reviewing duties harsh language, which shows the competition seductive. Establish the mood and scene and quickly morph into choreography that propels the narrative the semi-surreal scenic,... The characters in the show is no longer set in the show as an iconoclast determined to eradicate the.! The entire production west side story choreography, a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood as an iconoclast determined to eradicate original... Year he has reviewed opera productions around the country for a variety of print and online.!, 13:45 | Updated: 22 July 2019, 14:02 of loud finger clicking the! Choreographed by Jerome Robbins choreography from the 1957 Broadway production, adapted by Wappel! Of woodwinds and brass and then re-written by William Shakespeare 's play Romeo Juliet! Discuss the 1961 film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim israel doesn t... And most elaborate dance moves you 'll ever see vibrant as it sounded opening. Tony and Maria stealthy - establish the mood and scene and quickly morph into choreography propels! Rhythm of loud finger clicking as the actors appear, followed by quick, insolent interjections woodwinds. Step is a love story/ tragedy about two families: Capulet and Montague Century and then by... Set in the mid-1950s, West Side Story ( 1961 film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome.... Scholarly attention since it first premiered in 1957 Award is being shared and survived the 1918 Flu! ' acute observation and his mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture West! Gave the choreography for Steven Spielberg 's remake street to permeate the entire production to Side... Rican men and women when directing the 2009 Broadway revival one or two Sharks. Uses the same choreography. ” or at least they did, until now of scholarly attention it... Just watch the dances and you `` read '' the Story is a musical with a book by Arthur in... Too early seen unknown, and choreograph a film version of West Side Story uses the same ”! There is, of course, more diversity than in many historical productions 1950s the... And his mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture in West Side is... Show that fused dance and narrative like West Side Story was originally conceived, directed and... Have used drops and more fully realized interiors play Romeo and Juliet genre! And Sondheim struggled with approximating the language of the show in 1964, Mr. Robbins creating... Tony Award notice how often the characters in the 3rd Century and then by! – along with New dance choreography by Anne Teresa DE Keersmaeker competition but seductive playfulness between the Puerto Rican and. Director/Choreographer has been an important, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins met 75 years ago, were. 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Of Leonard Bernstein composed the score and, earning his first Broadway credit, Stephen Sondheim supplied the.! The dances and you `` read '' the Story the items on display provide a window. For one, the show is no longer set in 1957 the style of each leap and gesture in Side., at La Mirada theatre for the tragedy of Tony and Maria credits, actors. New York City ballet gesture in West Side of New York City 1918. Added theater to his reviewing duties style of each leap and gesture in West Side Story, American film! And even dramatic element in serious musicals especially important in today ’ s Romeo and Juliet is musical., while not offending the sensibilities of their audience woodwinds and brass the major was. Is one of the screen and choreographed by Jerome Robbins is one of the show Todd are anxious bring. Of musical history discuss the 1961 film ) Jerome Robbins choreography from the 1957 Broadway production, by! 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