Arthur laurents s most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. Mar 15, 2009 these and other changes are partly why mr. Theater legend arthur laurents comes back to broadway with. West side story is an american musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. 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. The tale of lusty young lovers, set against a new york city turf battle between the puerto rican sharks and the anglo jets, was first produced in 1957. The idea of introducing spanish into 1957s west side story in a significant way originated with laurents longtime partner tom hatcher who died in 2006 after 52 years together. May 08, 2011 of the four geniuses who created west side storythe other three being leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and stephen sondheimarthur laurents, who died last thursday, was the least.
Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. Us army 19405 playwright, screenwriter, and stage director who wrote the libretto for the classic musicals gypsy and west side story, directed the long. The latest victim that falls prey to this risky venture is the iconic masterpiece west side story originally brought to the stage in 1957 by the theatre legends arthur laurents book, leonard bernstein music, stephen sondheim lyrics and directed and choreographed by jerome robbins.
Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for west side story and gypsy. With video cameras and new dances and faces, ivo van hove. West side story is presented through special arrangement with music theatre international mti all authorized performance materials are supplied by mti. Interview with arthur laurents of west side story aarp viva. Laurents followed this with the book for gypsy 1959, based on the. West side story porthouse theatre july 23 august 9, 2020 shakespeares classic romeo and juliet is transformed into a musical set in modern day new york city. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Tom abbott, with the aid of intensely athletic and graceful dancers, west side story, a revival of the musical based on a conception by jerome robbins and directed, staged and choreographed by mr. It is a book profoundly enriched by the authors two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner. 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. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directoraa mesmerizing book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsideraand the making of two of the greatest musicals of the american stage, west side story and gypsy. As in romeo and juliet, the love between members of two rival groups in west side story leads to violent.
Feb 20, 2020 look for proof to the bravura audacity of director ivo van hoves movingly gutsy new west side story, the much anticipated broadway revisit to the masterwork by the 50s hivemind genius. West side story, the most exciting musical theater masterpiece of the 20th century. He is the author of original story by, his first autobiography, and the rest of the story. West side story musical project gutenberg selfpublishing.
It is a book profoundly enriched by the authoras two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fiftytwo years, tom. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. In it, he discusses his lengthy career and his many gay affairs and longterm relationships, including those with farley granger and tom hatcher august 24, 1929 october 26, 2006. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. Mar 07, 2020 the latest victim that falls prey to this risky venture is the iconic masterpiece west side story originally brought to the stage in 1957 by the theatre legends arthur laurents book, leonard bernstein music, stephen sondheim lyrics and directed and choreographed by jerome robbins. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses. Arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and. The musical is based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet. Playwrightdirector arthur laurents, who wrote the books for the musicals west side story and gypsy, directed the broadway revival of west side story now on tour. His credits included the stage musicals west side story and gypsy and the film the way we were. A memoir of broadway and hollywood, published in 2000.
May 06, 2011 arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and ultimately transformed two of broadways landmark shows, gypsy and west side story, and created one of. Tradicionalni koncert studentov medicinske fakultete ul live from union hall, ljubljana west side story tonight music. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directora mesmerizing book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsiderand the making of two of the greatest musicals of the american stage, west side story and gypsy. Their vision for west side story is decidedly contemporary, and the most thrilling aspect of the production is the extreme youth of its ensemble, dressed by costumer an dhuys in streetwear that. But belgian director ivo van hove has achieved the impossible, a completely original version. Premiered on broadway in 1957, west side story retells the tragic romeo and juliet tale of young lovers from feuding families against the backdrop of ethnic gang violence on new yorks upper west side in the pregentrification 1950s. Somewhere west side story leonard bernstein chamber. Over six decades in the theater, arthur laurents who wrote the celebrated books to gypsy and west side story has earned a reputation for honesty.
One last time, arthur laurents speaks out hartford courant. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and. West side story is on stage at the broadway theater 1681 broadway new york, ny, between 52nd and 53rd street. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim. In streamlining the script and finding his tony and maria, van hove has, like an artist with a degree in cardiology, operated on west side story and freshly exposed its passionate, throbbing. The classic 1957 musical, featuring a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim, has been radically reinvented by belgian director ivo van hove to reflect american gang culture of today. Before it premiered in 1957, composer bernstein, lyricist sondheim, and book write laurents originally set jewish and italian communities. On the harsh streets of the upper west side, two gangs battle for control of the turf. Arthur laurents is credited as director, performer, writer, creative consultant and source material. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. West side story, book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim entire original production directed and choreographed by jerome robbins originally produced on broadway by robert e. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6955 ratings. Mar 02, 2009 the incredible saga of west side story.
Tom and theatre, thats what my life has been, he wrote. A musical in which a modern day romeo and juliet are involved in new york street gangs. Play eatteaate the play, west side story, was written by arthur laurents. It is a book profoundly enriched by the author s two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fiftytwo years, tom hatcher, who shared and inspired. Book by arthur laurents conceived by jerome robbins music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story by leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim lyrics. Mar 09, 2020 its west side story, jim, but not as we know it. 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. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet.
Feb 21, 2020 with this west side story, tom gibbons sound design sometimes blunts the brassy dissonance in bernsteins music, but the sensitive amplification of the singers and alexander gemignani. Mar 26, 2020 the creators of west side story were a restless crew all gay or bisexual, none of them publicly out in the censorious 1950s. Susan stroman charles strouse jule styne julie taymor tommy tune. Cue book west side story 1957 external website west side story 1957 external website from the lighting archive.
There are some major differences between the two works. Random house firm, the feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of the jets. Published by random house new york in june 1966 tenth printing. Laurents, who wrote the book for west side story, decided that, at 91, he was ready not only to revive this classic musical but also, for the first. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for. Laurents, who wrote the books for the musicals west side story and. Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. Mar, 2009 in the fifties, with west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents made theatrical history.
In his latest book laurents praises matt cavenaugh, the actor who plays tony in the new west side story, for a depth and passion i suspect he didnt know he had, that exploded during rehearsals. En espanol arthur laurents, the original librettist for west side story, is bringing a new production of his landmark 1957 musical to broadway this spring but the 91yearold isnt offering just another staging of the critically acclaimed script that won two tony awards and spawned the oscarwinning 1961 film. He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city. The last line of arthur laurentss memoir, original story by, refers to his partner tom.
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 is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. When young lovers tony and maria find themselves starcrossed between two warring street gangs, the struggle to survive the hate, violence, and prejudice on the streets of the city. 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. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting masterpiece the new york times that explodes every imaginable idea of what a. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the book for west side story. For leonard bernstein music, arthur laurents book, sondheim and. West side story is an american musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and conception and choreography by jerome robbins. West side story by leonard bernstein homework handlers.
West side story, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, book by arthur laurents. In 1957 also came west side story, with music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by. The incredible saga of west side story broadway buzz. Mar 20, 2010 west side story is an american musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. Arthur laurents first play, home of the brave, was a hardhitting look at the plight of a. Orchestrations by leonard bernstein, sid ramin, irwin kostal, and jonathan tunick. Full script of the musical west side story in hardcover format.
West side story by leonard bernstein music, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim lyrics. Tom hatcher, who had urged him to direct it before he died in 2006. A changed west side story returns to a changed new york. Best known for the hit musicals west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rivals sister.
Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story. West side story by irving shulman goodreads share book. It features a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Before it premiered in 1957, composerbernstein, lyricist sondheim, and book write laurents originally set jewish and italian communities against oneanother in this adaptation of. West side story west side story is a musical with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Tom hatcher, who shared and inspired every aspect of his life and his work. 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.
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