Mr. McGuire General Music West Side Story Mr. McGuire General Music

Who’s Who A musical by Composer Leonard Bernstein Writer Arthur Laurents Lyricist Stephen Sondheim Choreographer Jerome Robbins

How it began Leonard Bernstein, a famous composer, was approached by choreographer Jerome Robbins in 1947 to create a modern adaption of Romeo and Juliet. The musical was going to be called “East Side Story” They ultimately decided to halt the project, because it was too similar to other plays. They shelved the project for nearly five years!

How it began (cont) Bernstein, Robbins and writer Arthur Laurent's decided to continue working on the musical in 1955 after a long break Bernstein and Laurent's were inspired by newspaper reports about juvenile delinquent gangs They changed the name to “West Side Story”

Background West Side Story is an adaption of the Shakespeare tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” Think a modern "Romeo and Juliet” but set to music and dancing! It was produced as a Broadway musical in 1957 Was later released as a motion picture

setting Instead of Verona, Italy, West Side Story takes place in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, one of the five boroughs of New York City

Sharks vs jets Instead of two rival families (the Montagues and the Capulets) West Side Story features two gangs: The Jets (Second and Third Generation Americans) The Sharks (Puerto Ricans)

THE CONFLICT The Jets are from Manhattan. They have ruled their "turf" for years, after defeating the Emeralds, a rival gang. The Sharks are immigrants from Puerto Rico. They have just recently come to NY, and want a "turf" of their own.

CENTRAL THEMES The theme of prejudice in this musical is directly related to the issue of immigration. The Jets resent the Sharks not just because they have “invaded” the neighborhood, but also because they have “invaded” their country. The Sharks are foreigners with a language and customs that are strange to the “Americanized” Jets.

Where is Puerto rico?

Puerto rico is a Caribbean island

BREIF HISTORY OF PEURTO RICO Originally inhabited by two Native American tribes, Spain conquered the island in 1493 and ruled it for 400 years. The native inhabitants became slaves, and as their population dwindled; black slaves were also imported.

HISTORY (CONT) Puerto Rico became a United States possession in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. It was then an island of poor farmers and their families, who mainly grew sugarcane.

HISTORY (CONT) Hurricane devastation and a single-crop economy caused a very high unemployment rate through the early 20th century. During World War I, the unemployment rate in Puerto Rico was a staggering 40%

IMMIGRATION FROM PEURTO RICO To escape the poverty and unemployment on the island, thousands of Puerto Ricans immigrated to the United States”

Main Characters

tony One of the founders of the Jets Leaves the Gangs leadership to clean up his life Falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo (leader of the Sharks) The “Romeo” of the story

MARIA Came to America from Puerto Rico for an arranged marriage Works at a Bridal Shop Falls in love with Tony, a former Jet The “Juliet” of the story

Additional characters Riff Leader of the Jets Diesel Riffs next in command Bernardo Leader of the Sharks, Maria’s Brother Chino A Shark, Bernardo’s best friend Anita Bernardo’s girlfriend

AWARDS West Side Story was praised at the time of its release for its innovations to dance, music and theatre

Partial list of awards (Film adaption) ACADEMY AWARDS West Side Story has won Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and many more! West Side Story was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1999, 38 Years after its initial release.

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