West side story synopsis west side story songs main page. I honestly liked this book because it was a quick read with a good plot. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf. Also for montague as the leader of the jets since mercutio, as a relative of the prince of verona, was a neutral party. West side story character listing staples players blog. 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. Tony anton riffs best friend and cofounder of the jets. 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. Riff riff russ tamblyn is the leader and cofounder of the jets. The sharks start the fight when they jump baby john, one of the most developed characters. Anita tells maria that chino is looking for tony and plans to kill him.
The story is loosely based on shakespeares romeo and juliet, telling the tale of. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. Similarities between west side story and romeo and juliet include the central conflict, the setting where the two main characters meet, the balcony scene and the violent conflict between the. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. Lieutenant schrank arrives and questions maria about the events leading up. In the original broadway production of west side story, anita was played by actress chita rivera. West side story was a broadway musical by leonard bernstein that was turned into an awardwinning musical film.
Nearly 60 years after starring in the 1961 west side story movie, rita moreno joins the 202o cast in an original role. Two youngsters from rival new york city gangs fall in love, but tensions. His character is based on shakespeares romeo, who falls in love with juliet during their first encounter. Of mercutio, romeos best friend and main plucky comic relief. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes.
He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap. West side story character descriptions acting out theatre co. West side story main characters riff maria leader of the jets tony bernardo main female lead bernardos little sister falls in love with tony tonys little brother protects his turf from bernardo the. 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 city s west side in the 1950s. Who are the main characters in the west side story answers. Born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, tucker smith was an american theatre wing scholarship winner and he first moved to new york city from his native philadelphia in september. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Op, i dont see you answering the many people who have pointed out the many transgender characters in film previous to west side story.
Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Ever wonder which jet you are from west side story. Theres even a notorious film that does nothing but. 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. Tony finds himself violently torn between his friendships and love. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Tony the best friend of riff and former jet leader who has turned to an honest life. West side story characters test flashcards quizlet. Tony attempts to intervene, inadvertently leading to riff being fatally stabbed by bernardo.
With additional resources for students and directors, west side story school edition makes the iconic musical more accessible and meaningful for high school performers. Riff the founder and leader of the white gang, the jets. With a screenplay by ernest lehman, the film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical. Anita tells her about the rumble, and when tony arrives to see maria, she warns them both that bernardo will have a furious fit if he catches them together. Jets and sharks alike get to own what goes down in west side story. It more closely follows the type of storyline of romeo and juliet, however, though at the end juliets. The young protagonist, tony, a former member of the jets and best friend of the gangs leader, riff, falls in love with maria, the sister of.
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. 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. Her character will be an reconveived and expanded version of the doc. But tony receives word from bernardos mourning girlfriend, anita, that maria is dead. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. Griefstricken, tony goes out seeking the sharks who are hunting him. Winter garden theatre, new york 26 september, 1957 734. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. West side story main characters by avery saad on prezi. 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. Handsome, proud, fluid leader of the sharks, with a sardonic chip on his shoulder. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. While the movie version of west side story is among the most faithful of hollywood adaptations, a number of changes were made in translating the work to film, some to suit the medium, others to suit.
But we do admit a certain sympathy for bernardo, who we see in the beginning as getting. West side story had the first transgender character on film. Setting compare and contrast plot the book west side story takes place on the west side of new york city in the 1950s. In the movie, all of the characters, even tony and maria, felt a little distant. Anita is marias best friend and bernardos girlfriend.
With natalie wood, george chakiris, richard beymer, russ tamblyn. What are the similarities between romeo and juliet and. The musical west side story is based off of william shakespeares romeo and juliet. Tony a romantic young man and former leader of the jets, he has found a new lifestyle now. Schrank shows up to question maria about bernardos death, maria asks anita to go. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. She tries to warn maria about tony, singing a boy like that, but maria. West side story characters learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Riff played by russ tamblyn we fought hard for this turf, and we aint jus gonna give it up. She is slightly older and more experienced than maria, and she tries to give maria advice. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. The 2009 holy name cadets will perform selections from the music of leonard bernstein including west side story. Tony, maria, anita, bernardo and the sharks, and riff and the jets all anticipate the events to come that night tonight quintet.
Like the outsiders, west side story is a story about two rival gangs, and has a body count of three. What are tonys character traits in west side story answers. 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. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Take this fun quiz and see which west side story character you most resemble. West side story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. West side story school edition music theatre international. Darrel, known as darry, is a twentyyearold greaser who is raising ponyboy because their parents have died in a car crash. Anita arrives at marias apartment, realizing that bernardo, her boyfriend, has been killed. West side story tells a story of how tony a polish america who used to lead the local gang, the jets and maria a puerto rican teen part of the rivaling gang find love despite their backgrounds and public opinions. Tony richard beymer is the lead male character in west side story. Many comparisons can be made between the struggle of the groups, the love of the main characters, and various. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs.
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