West Side Story is a musical written by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). The story is based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which was, in turn, based on a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke entitled The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet (1562).
Set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the musical explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The young protagonist, Anton ("Tony"), who belongs to the white gang, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the rival Puerto Rican gang. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theater. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "One Hand, One Heart", and "Cool".
The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and produced by Robert E. Griffith and Harold Prince, marked Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran for 732 performances (a successful run for the time), before going on tour. The production garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical in 1957, but the award ultimately went to Meredith Willson's The Music Man. The show has enjoyed an even longer-running London production, a number of revivals and international success, and spawned an innovative, award-winning 1961 musical film of the same name.
From an original concept by
Jerome RobbinsMucic composed by
Leonard BernsteinLivret
Arthur LaurentsLyrics
Stephen SondheimOriginal Choreography
Jerome RobbinsMusical Direction
Donald ChanDirector & Choreography by
Joey McKneelyDecors Paul Gallis
Costumes Renate Schmitzer
Lights Peter Halbsgut
Sound Rick Clarke
Orchestra: The West Side Story Orchestra
Originally Produced in Broadway by Robert E. Griffith & Harold S. Prince in partnership with Roger L. Stevens
Coproduction with Michael Brenner for BB Promotion, in partnership with Paul Szilard & Sundance Productions, N.Y.
Show lenght : about 02 hours & 30 minutes
West Side StoryBernstein /Robbins
From November 20th to January 1st,2008
Théâtre du Châteletwww.chatelet-theatre.com1, Place du Châtelet, 75001 Paris
Reservation : 01 40 28 28 40
Phone: +33 (0)1 40 28 28 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 40 28 29 01
Ticket prices:
- normal price: 23 €
- discount (under 26 and unemployed): 12€
- groups: 19 € (information and bookings: +33 (0)1 42 56 90 10)
- children: free entrance for children under 9 (except for Christmas Concerts). Infants (less than 3) are not allowed into the venue, except for concerts specifically aimed at them.
