Friday, September 21, 2007
'West Side Story' Celebrates 50th Anniversary
VOA News: "American musical theater celebrates a major anniversary in 2007. Fifty years ago this month - on September 26, 1957 - 'West Side Story' opened on Broadway. Based on William Shakespeare's famous tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'West Side Story' introduced a dramatically new approach to the music, dance motifs, and storytelling of a stage musical. For producer George Dwyer, VOA's Jim Bertel reports on the golden anniversary reprise of an authentic American classic."
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3 comments:
First off - West Side Story is one of my favorite musicals ever. You can't really go wrong with Bernstein and Sondheim. It's such a beautiful show, and honestly one of my aspirations is that I would love to design a revival of this on Broadway. Maybe in 25 years for the 75th. Haha. But it's true - this is one of the timeless musicals that is just so brilliant and well done that it will never grow old. If this production goes to Broadway any time soon though, I will be there in a heartbeat.
first off, happy birthday west side story!
I think it is interesting that originally it was supposed to be about a jewess and a catholic boy who are star crossed lovers. I wonder if that would have the same impact it would today? As well as the difference in the music?
While there are some anachronisms in West Side Story it continues to be retold and staged as is Romeo and Juliet. It goes to show that a good story never dies.
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