West side story started out as a longrunning, tonywinning stage musical, and while there were plenty of previous efforts to update shakespeare for more modern times ever hear of orson welles voodoo version of macbeth. Sites like sparknotes with a west side story study guide or cliff notes. Upper west side, new york, 1950s, during the last days of summer. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim. Jul 15, 2015 how does shakespeare fare as a new yorker.
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. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. The paper observes the problems of discrimination depicted in the story of the musical. Acemen highest ranking member of the group or gang. Jody slowly becomes aware of this fact, but even as he does the theme itself evolves. West side story actually helped break one barrier for minority actors. The members of the sharks, from puerto rico, are taunted by the jets, a white gang. But we do admit a certain sympathy for bernardo, who we see in the beginning as getting hassled by the jets for no reason. True west study guide scene six, page 2 and proclaims that he has found a true story. Do the sharks and issues remain relevant and juliet, romeo, thinking juliet to tony or why or she like human choices. West side story, the movie, was produced in 1961, featured natalie wood as maria, and was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins.
West side story plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Shakespeare original in romeo and how is the musical makes the role of west side story, does west side story choose a 1950s audience. 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. Im a film major, so i thought i might as well use that to my advantage. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. The jets are boys who were born in america, but have polish roots. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rivals sister. By the time the whole concept of west side story really got off the ground, however, the conflict between jews and catholics here in the united states was no longer as fresh or as overtly hostile as it had been. Language arts classes can draw close comparisons between west side story and romeo and juliet with a lesson that compares and contrasts the characters and plot points from both stories.
They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. It you pay close attention, the first words of dialogue in west side story are beat it. The red pony study guide the great mountainspart 1 past. The musical piece in west side story entitled america is one of the most memorable from the film. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story study guide west side story play language stool pigeon a person acting as a decoy or informer. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that.
Romeo and juliet vs west side story freebooksummary. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of irving shulmans west side story. Kids these daysromeo and juliet is about the folly of youth. A modern romeo and juliet in the end in the end another character, tony heres that chino has killed maria, which is false and he begins to wander the streets yelling for chino to come kill him. An archive of our own, a project of the organization for transformative works.
On the harsh streets of the upper west side two gangs battle for control of the turf. The importance of art in west side story 766 words 4 pages. West side story summary and analysis like sparknotes free. 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. An unappreciated masterpiece youtube how the music in black panther tells a story duration. Shakespeares play about the doomed romance of two teenagers from feuding families is the most famous love story ever written. The music was provided by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. First performed around 1596, romeo and juliet has been adapted as a ballet, an opera, the musical west side story, and a dozen films. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood.
The jets, however, are not stool pigeons and wont tell him anything. West side story had an amazing team of creators including composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, choreographer jerome robbins, and a book by arthur laurents. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The importance of west side story essay 980 words bartleby. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs.
Summary read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. Rita moreno became the first latina actress to ever win an oscar. Detective schrank, the senior cop on the beat, tries to get the jets to tell him which puerto ricans are starting trouble in the neighborhood, as he claims he is on their side. West side story 1961 film part 1 summary and analysis. West side story was the first film to win the best picture academy award for. 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. The electrifying music of leonard bernstein and the prophetic. Not only is there a racial distinction, but the gangs wear separate colors. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. Austin, on the other hand, goes so far as to say that the west is dead. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s. Chakiris, who won an oscar for playing bernardo, has greek ancestry.
West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. Over the next couple of weeks i will be exploring leonard bernsteins west side story. What do you think the musical says about american national identity. You should analyse the way that characterization reflects context, fxplain how each character reflects the values. Although it may seem at first glance to be a relatively light hearted and fun song, and its entertainment valuable is undeniable, there is also some level of satire in it. Tensions rise as a shark girl named maria and a jet named tony fall for eachother, but theres a problem they can never be allowed to be together.
West side story 1961 film summary and analysis of part 1. About west side story west side story, which opened on september 26, 1957, is a landmark in american musical theatre history. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. Act ii summary at the beginning of act ii, consuela, rosalia, and francisca wait in marias bedroom as maria dresses up. 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. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families.
Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff. If you could change one thing about this story, what would. Exit west summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. Romeo and juliet, west side story, compare and contrast.
The west side story appropriation we never really talk. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story. Video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class. West side story 1961 film symbols, allegory and motifs. Hes walking along, minding his own business, and the jets skunk him. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. Read a character analysis of juliet, plot summary, and important quotes. It challenged peoples ideas on immigration and racism while capturing ones heart with a tragic love story.
The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that ancient grudges are no match for true love. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. The camera zooms in on a group of jets, the white gang, snapping their fingers on a basketball court. When he finds out the maria is actually alive coming to meet him in the park they run. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city.
Frustrated, schrank threatens to beat the crap out of the jets unless they make nice. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. At the dance, the line between the two gangs is sharply defined by the colors they. Play eatteaate the play, west side story, was written by arthur laurents. Jets and sharks alike get to own what goes down in west side story. A musical in which a modern day romeo and juliet are involved in new york street gangs. Gang colors the sharks and the jets, only two of the gangs that are rampant in the streets of new york city, create a visible division. The idea of west side story, which was originally going to be called east side story, originated at around wwii. Comparing tonight with maria both from west side story tonight also known as balcony scene tony and maria sing together. Additionally, an activity encourages readers to compare the 1961 film version west side story directed by robert wise with the 1996 film version of romeo and. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. 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. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are.
The fullydanced prolog shows the tension built up between the jets and the sharks two rival gangs in new yorks upper west side. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was written around the year 1595. West side story and romeo and juliet summer of shakespeare. Immediately download the west side story summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching west side story. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Its exciting, sophisticated score by leonard bernstein is often considered broadways finest, its songs a part of the nations musical heritage.
Marking its 58th anniversary, west side story provides the backdrop to an exploration. West side story summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. West side story was directed and choreographed by the innovative jerome robbins, who stated in an added feature presentation in the 2003 dvd release that he had been interested in creating a contemporary version of william shakespeares romeo and juliet since the late 1940s and that arthur laurents, the shows writer, and composer leonard. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole.
This area is full of west side story has been a play that i. Shakespeares the tragedy of romeo and juliet and arthur laurents west side story share many elements in common, but also have differences that separate them. Highlighting the talents of a young ensemble cast, west side story has found popularity in schools as well as professional theatres throughout the world. West side story questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on west side story. Read romeo and juliet here, with sideby read romeo and juliet here, with sideby. Maria confides in the girls that there isnt going to be a rumble and that tonight is her wedding night. 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. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future.
Dec 05, 2011 video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class. Maria is giddy, and her friends tease her, calling her out of her mind. Antoinette begins this story by describing her fathers death and her familys ensuing poverty and isolation. Directed and choreographed by jerome robbins, the show was written by composer leonard. West side story essay is a summary of a famous musical created on the basis of the book written by arthur laurents.
The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. 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. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story romeo and juliet. West side story 1961 film summary the film is set in the rough neighborhood of lincoln square on the west side of manhattan during the summer of 1957. Wide sargasso sea study guide part two, section six liar and insists there is another side to the cosway story. In this regard, shepard laments the death of the west and satirizes its demise with lees.
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