The book follows two brothers, amadou and seydou, aged fifteen and eight, who are working as child slaves in the ivory coast in west africa. West side story 1961 is an energetic, widelyacclaimed, melodramatic musical a modernday, loose retelling of shakespeares romeo and juliet tragedy of feuding families, although the setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. The action of the outsiders takes place in tulsa, oklahoma in the 1960s. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. As west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. A lowkey lighting design looks dark overall by comparison. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story.
West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Setting compare and contrast plot the book west side story takes place on the west side of new york city in the 1950s. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. 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. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. Play conceived, directed, and choreographed by jerome robbins. Bernstein magnanimously removed his name as coauthor of the lyrics, although. The novel the picture of dorian gray by, oscar wilde is set in london england in the nineteenth century. Why did author michael lewis write the blind side book. Use the alphabetical lists below to look up a favorite book or author and then click see readalikes to discover similar books. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. West side story and romeo and juliet are similar and alike. In west side story there are two gangs that dont hate each other.
West side story musical by bernstein and sondheim and. Maria natalie wood is the lead female character in west side story. In addition to receiving the 2010 newbery medal, when you reach me won several best book of the year awards. In west side story the viewer sees, along with the balcony and the fire escape, the inevitable poverty associated with crowded, newimmigrant living.
West side story was originally about jews and catholics. 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. 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. And he, who had been seeking something beyond the savagery of the streets, discovered it with her. You can read about how the authors developed the shows concept and structure. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6955 ratings. Author and author s purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby. Throughout the story, the author uses the setting as an analogy. The book was well received by critics, who praised its realistic setting and the author s deft handling of small details. West side story in popular culture is billed as a selection of nods to the show on film, on television, on the internet and in print. This is the work that perhaps more than any other made the creatively bountiful bernsteins name, exemplifying. The official website the official website, in all its glory. The east side of town represents poverty and dysfunction.
It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. The theme of two lovers thwarted by circumstances beyond their control. While it seems only natural now, the idea of filming on actual city streets took some time in forming. Romeo and juliet and west side story by william shakespeare. West side story mass market paperback april 15, 1990 by irving shulman author. Fiction is cataloged by author and title, not by subject or plot line, which makes identifying books by just their storyline difficult. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet.
Finding a book when youve forgotten its title the new york. West side story, theatre music by american composer leonard bernstein that premiered august 19, 1957, in washington, d. From book to screen, the first episode became welcome to matheson even though the first story arc is titled welcome to lovecraft. The bitter side of sweet is a work of historical fiction for middle grade and young adult readers by tara sullivan, the author of the acclaimed novel golden boy. In both stories there are deaths which make the quarrel worse. It is really hard to imagine my side of the mountain taking place in a setting different from the one in which it occurs. His credits included the stage musicals west side story and gypsy and the film the. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side story. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story that ended in tragedy.
West side story compared to romeo and juliet 3084 words pages. Leonard bernstein, stephen sondheim, arthur laurents, and jerome robbins. This oversimplification of the tulsa setting reflects the characters longstanding beliefs that people belong to either one gang or the other, and there is no middle ground. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. The setting is also credible because dorian lives in the upper west side where he lives a life of wealth, luxury and pleasure. West side story lighting week two blog westside story.
If you have room for just one west side story book on your theater shelf, this is the. Published april 15th 1990 by pocket books first published 1961. Finding a book when youve forgotten its title by gwen glazer, communications november 22, 2017. The scenes in the book mostly take place at a drugstore, a playground and on the streets. After all, if you change the setting, you largely change. Nov 22, 2017 it can be tough to remember the title and author of a book you read a long time agoeven if it was a book that was really important to you. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. In the book dogsong, garry paulsen, the story doesnt really metion where the setting. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west side.
Personally, i did not like the endings of west side story and romeo and juliet. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. Wakefield youth music theatre present west side story at theatre royal wakefield from 2 to 11 september 2010. In the new afterword to the paperback edition of his book the blind side. Begin with a fight between two groups of people who hate each other and they get stopped by someone who is in.
The story of starcrossed lovers will continue to exist for as long as man does. West side story is set in and around the 1950s on the west side of manhattan, new york city. Hajime has arrived at middle age with a loving family and an enviable career, yet he feels incomplete. On september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. Here you can find handpicked readalike recommendations for more than 4000 contemporary books and 3000 authors. West side story original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city sep 26, 1957 and played through jun 27, 1959. Like romeo and juliet, west side story is about the forbidden love affair between two teenagers. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in american musical theatre. The song america, in part, is about how american culture treats puerto ricans like secondclass citizens, and the tensions between the two gangs sometimes boils down to your skin is a different color than mine. Judith leon compare and contrast similarities are very similar especially because west side story is based on romeo and juliet. West side story may have stereotypical depictions of puerto ricans but the original film in particular is considered an important film for latino americans nevertheless. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. She enoyed growing up there so much, so she thought it would be a good setting for the book, when you reach me. Romeo and juliet, west side story, compare and contrast.
West side story the musical no works cited west side story is one of the most influential musicals of all time. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeares. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director. Shulman also wrote the original treatment for rebel without a cause, the film that shot james dean to stardom. 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 characters. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u. Author pat kirkham discusses the end credits and opening titles for west side story, designed by saul and elaine bass, from her authoritative book saul bass.
The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan. The lengthy credits for west side story were shifted to an epilogue, because those for the broadway musical as well. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. This is the place for you if youve ever been involved in, or infatuated with, west side story as an actor, singer, dancer, musician, producer, director, designer, crew or just as important as a fan. My brother, sister, and i have always had west side story in our lives. What are the similarities between romeo and juliet and. Everything we know about the west side story remake from. Aug 22, 2018 as west side story celebrates its 60th anniversary, it stands as more than art. Evolution of a game, author michael lewis writes that the purpose of his story was to examine the many forceschance encounters with a family, big changes in football strategythat affected the value of this. The picture of dorian gray setting and plot by oscar wilde. The reallife drama behind west side story written in the mid1950s, west side story showcased adult themes and harsh language, which was bold for. Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more.
The west side story uses different kinds of lighting throughout the film, but the lowkey is the most prominent. But, like most, you soon ran out of steam and had no idea where to go next. Romeo and juliet vs west side story freebooksummary. I really, really liked the depth added to the characters. Oct 01, 2018 have you ever had a book idea so captivating you just knew it would finally push you across the finish line. For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and rhapsodic. Maria was young and innocent and had never known loveuntil tony. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story.
For the groundbreaking musical, bernstein provided a propulsive and. During the dress rehearsal of west side story, right under lennys nose. All in all, west side story and romeo and juliet are classics that will stand the test of time. Finding a book when youve forgotten its title the new. The author chose this setting because this is the are of new york city where she grew up. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. Romeo and juliet west side story a comparison contrast. To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up.
The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved american musicals of all time. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. Where does the setting take place in west side story. The musical is a 20thcentury american adaptation of the shakespearean tale of romeo and juliet. Leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and the road to west. However, even without the triumph of west side story, bernsteins place in musical history was firmly established. The blind side true story real leigh anne tuohy, michael. West side story by irving shulman from the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame. West side story the musical essay 498 words bartleby. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The film opens with aerial shots establishing the setting, a workingclass neighborhood of new york city. 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 majestys theatre on 12.
I know a few people who double, but not nearly to the extent of what the books call for. 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 summary and study guide supersummary. Its integration of dance and song into the plot was very innovative, because even though it had been done before, it had never been done this well. Readers often ask librarians for help finding these kinds of books. I was initially impressed with all the details and insight the author gave to each character. Where does the setting take place in west side story answers. Aug 07, 2012 an analysis of west side story with the audio attached for some of the key features that bernstein uses.
I have a book whose author i cant remember, havent read it in a while, but found a. Since the author grew up on the upper west side, she was able to be specific about the area when remembering how certain places looked. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. The entire argument over which gang is more sympathetic. 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. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. A novel solution for use with west side story by dawn burnette. Joe hill, the creator of both the graphic novels and the tv series, originally set the comics in the strange town of lovecraft, ma. West side story s first and foremost a love story, but the themes of immigration and racism seethe below the surface. This west side story remake will follow the same plot as the original, detailing a heated feud between the jets, a white american gang, and the sharks, their puerto. 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.
Find story setting lesson plans and teaching resources. Many people thin west side story is just a modern version of romeo and juliet. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and prejudice. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947. West side story written by arthur laurents is actually a modern adaptation of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Ponyboy explains that the greasers rule the poorer east side of town, while the socs run the wealthier west side of town. Includes complete cast list, vocal ranges, instrumentation list plus an introduction about the famous collaboration that worked together on this project. Please help me find the name of this book as it was an older book and the story setting took place. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. It can be tough to remember the title and author of a book you read a long time agoeven if it was a book that was really important to you.
They have no reason for their hatred at the beginning but their random fights fuel their hatred. How do i get started on researching more information about west side story. The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s. From the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. Prejudices in the west side story by arthur laurents the book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Sep 24, 2019 on september 26, 1957, west side story, composed by leonard bernstein, opens at the winter garden theatre on broadway. South of the border, west of the sun is the beguiling story of a past rekindled, and one of haruki murakamis most touching novels. They came together through love but violence threatened to tear them apart. Conceived in 1949, west side story has a serious message that pleads. It was an artistic confrontation of social issues from immigration and bigotry to economic inequality and gang.