The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. The finale to the nightmare before christmas duration. 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. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called. In 1999, a production of the play at amherst high school was cancelled after students and parents objected to the musicals stereotyping of puerto ricans. Do not hesitate, place an order and let qualified professionals do all the work. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt joyce. Summary read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. 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. About west side story west side story, which opened on september 26, 1957, is a landmark in american musical theatre history. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as. West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and.
From the musical hits to the plot, west side story gives us a true essence of urban love. As part of the project, wmi has partnered with soundfly to produce an eightpart interactive online companion course that is available. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. A theme from america was referenced by john williams for his celebratory for new york, composed in 1988 for bernsteins 70th birthday gala. On april 1214, torn ticket ii will be presenting the. Peter n the song america is sung by the puerto rican sharks. Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. West side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50. West side story and the american idea of getting along. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. Carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim.
West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. 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. Richard rodgers, the composer of south pacific, wrote over 40 musicals throughout his career, all of which featured on broadway. Read analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story free essay and over 89,000 other research documents. The story is loosely based on shakespeares romeo and juliet. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis whale rider. When citing an essay from our library, you can use kibin as the author. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. What do you think the musical says about american national identity. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds.
Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story. West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. The outsiders is a book with the same concept, two gangs that are archrivals. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. Includes information on performances all over the world, lyrics to the songs, and other information. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. How accurately does the song america, from the musical.
A division was clearly evident as it was created and recognized by the adolescents of the east coast and west coast of manhattan. Prince, who was at the start of what would be a magnificent career as a broadway producer and director, read laurents book and was interested in. Jan 31, 2014 the song lyrics by stephen sondheim is meant to show the clash of cultures not just between different ethnic groups but also within a group. Everyone has their own love, and their of definition of what love actually means. An unappreciated masterpiece youtube a musical conspiracy theory. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein.
The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. Tonight ensemble maria, tony, anita, riff, bernardo, jets and sharks in this number, all the. For example, some of the musical numbers switched places in the movie. This award winning movie, west side story achieved success in depicting the current existing culture of the americans both for the white and latin americans during the 1960s. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. He is, without a doubt, a composer of musical theatre. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947 srsly.
West side story pamphlet movie souvenir programme program jan 01, 1961. 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. Despite a few differences, both works, in essence, have the same plot. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up.
The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when maria falls for tony, the founder of the jets, at a local dance. West side story s theme is centered on the struggles of two group. West side story movie souvenir programme program on. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s. The song somethings coming functions as a perfect example of foreshadowing within the film. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story essay. An analysis of the west side story with romeo and juliet. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important quotes, essay topics, and key themes. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning. An analysis of jerome robbins and robert wises west side story.
Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. West side story might have never been done if it werent for theatre producer hal prince. An analysis of the similarities and differences in dramas romeo and juliet and west side story. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. Read a character analysis of juliet, plot summary, and important quotes. Honors thesis written by a student in the unt honors college discussing west side story, its history, its contributors, and the innovative musical numbers therein. There are some major differences between the two works. Although both of these stories have many similarities, there are also many differences. 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. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein wind. So like south pacific, west side story can be considered an opera in parts, and musical theatre in others.
Welcome to the dollhouse west side story movie analysis 1. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Even though two different authors wrote these books during two different time periods, they have the same story line. 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. Write a summary of the plot by describing what happens on each of these five days. The source of violence in romeo and juliet and west side story is the everpresent. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story. Excellent assignment help online is right essay west side story analysis around the corner. Directed and choreographed by jerome robbins, the show was written by composer leonard bernstein, librettist arthur laurents, and lyricist.
It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. The west side story received a total of ten academy awards and it achieved several nominations and recognitions in the united states. Description, analysis, and more, so you can understand the ins and outs of west side story.
An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. Essay west side story analysis will provide online assignment help that will skyrocket your grades. West side story stereotypes puerto ricans the tufts daily. The play west side story was first staged in new york in 1957, and the film was produced in 1961. Oct 10, 2014 an analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted from the tv show twentieth century greats. 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. But does the composers analysis have any bearing on how we perceive the work. For example it talks about them raping or allowing others to rape women at several points.
Maria is a newlyarrived puerto rican girl whose brother heads a gang called the sharks against the caucasian gang called the jets. Oct 17, 2011 west side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50 fifty years ago, the film version of the acclaimed broadway musical premiered in theaters across the country. West side story had an amazing team of creators including composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, choreographer jerome robbins, and a book. Book and movie andy contrast more details you can hear the song and easily find out persons feeling and emotion through singing. On the contrary, the boys are singing about wanting to go back to puerto rico. In uest side star, author irving shulman gives us nothing but clues to these questions. Author and authors purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. West side story 1961 film symbols, allegory and motifs. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. Nov 01, 2011 the opening prologue from the 10time academy award winning musical film west side story, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on november 15, 2011. Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces. Analysis west side story s somewhere published on 22nd october 2015 the film musical, west side story, 1961 is a film adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, and the story itself is a modern adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet, a timeless love story that is here placed in the contemporary setting of. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of.
The scherzo is a lighthearted, carefree movement that comes from the dream ballet of the musical, in which tony imagines a world of peace and harmony to which he can take maria. This is a great product for fans of west side story. Romeo and juliet, the classic piece of literature, and west side story, the iconic. The search for new direction in the history of american musical. Four dances from west side story features some of the highlights of these dance sequences transcribed for band. Romeo and juliet, west side story, two timeless dramas that will live forever. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted. The example essays in kibins library were written by real students for real classes. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called pyramus and thisbe actors worked over 16. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. West side story film still pretty, and witty, at 50 fifty years ago, the film version of the acclaimed broadway musical premiered in theaters across the country. The plot of the west side story the movie west side story was depicted in the life of the citizens of the white and latin americans living in the 1950s in manhattan streets of the united states. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides.
It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. West side story is a book about two gangs living in a large city. West side story was a broadway musical by leonard bernstein that was turned into an awardwinning musical film. West side story prologue official full number 50th. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. Write an essay comparing one of the following similarities between romeo. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks. West side story essay example ryvianneya west side story analysis do you belicwe that everyone has a reason to hare someone or something just because of the way they look. To protect the anonymity of contributors, weve removed their names and personal information from the essays. West side story by irving shulman goodreads share book. West side story in this musical, it uses several types of narratives, for example, after the fight between the jets and puerto ricans, after the police leave, they enter the ally and the girl is begging to join the gang saying how much she wants to fight is a part of narrative sexuality b 34.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Romeo and juliet study guide west side story, and a dozen films. The girl is more of a tom boy who wants to be like one of the guys. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. West side story anaylsis essaysas a contemporary musical, west side story differs from romeo and juliet in form and detail, but stays true to the tragedy of innocent love caught in a complex social web that predestines its demise. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. A comparison of romeo and juliet by william shakespeare and west side story. Reviewed in the united states on december 27, 2019. Classroom supplement in celebration of carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story. West side story 1961 film literary elements gradesaver. 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. West side story, the movie, was produced in 1961, featured natalie wood as maria, and was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. 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.
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