WEST SIDE STORY Music by Leonard Bernstein: Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim: Book by Arthur Laurents: based on an idea by Jerome Robbins Winter Garden Theatre, New York - 26 September, 1957 (734 Perfs) Her Majesty's Theatre, London - 12 December, 1958 (1039 perfs) STORY Loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and set in the urban slums of N ew York, the show used, as its modern equivalents for the Montagues and Capulets the juvenile gangs of local whites (the Jets) and immigrant Puerto Ricans (the Sharks). The did battle with childish seriousness over the streets that they cla im as their territory. The Jets, boastful and contemptuous of the immigrants, call on Tony, who used to be their leader but now has a regular job and is on his way to adulthood, to he lp their new leader Riff and the gang in a challenge to the Sharks. Riff reminds Tony of his old allegiance and of how menacing are the newcomers. Tony reluctan tly agrees reluctantly but soon becomes excited with the thrill of potential com bat. Meanwhile, in a bridal shop Anita, the sweetheart of the Shark's leader, Bernado , is converting Maria's communion dress into a gown for the dance that evening. Maria is Bernardo's sister. He has brought her from Puerto Rico hoping that she will marry his best friend, Chino. At the dance Riff challenges Bernado and the groups agree to do battle. Tony and Maria have seen each other and fall in love, instantly and become oblivious to the menace that is building up around them. Most of the Puerto Ricans are nervously elated over the coming conflict but they are confident and determined to assimilate into the American way despite the ho mesickness that some of them feel. The threatening groups are dispersed by a policeman but the separation is only t emporary. What could have just been a game of muscle flexing turns to tragedy wh en Bernado provokes a knife-fight which results in Riff being killed. Bernado is murdered in turn by the avenging Tony. He flees to the home of Maria who has be en told of the news of her brother's death by Chino. Her love for Tony overcomes her hatred for her brother's killer. Tony promises to take her away and in a dr eam ballet sequence the battle is re-enacted but this time the lovers are not al lowed to meet. The dream turns into a nightmare but Tony and Maria flee. The gangs meanwhile are concerned with their inevitable encounter with the law a nd mockingly imagine how they will deal with the situation in the number "Gee, O fficer Krupke". Anita taunts Maria for remaining faithful to Tony but nonetheles s agrees to deliver Maria's message for Tony to the Jets. Unfortunately the Jets threaten to abuse and rape her that she is driven to claim that Chino has shot and killed Maria. Hearing this, angry and wild with grief Tony goes after Chino, but Chino coolly shoots him just as Tony discovers that Maria is not dead after all. Somewhat ashamed, the Jets and the Sharks between them remove Tony's body as Maria follows them.Principal Characters: Maria - A young Puerto Rican Tony - Her sweetheart Anita - Bernardo's girl Riff - Leader of the JetsBernado - Leader of the Sharks Snowboy - A Jet gang member Big Deal - A Jet gang member Anybody's - A Jet gang member Rosalia - A Shark girlfriend Doc - A Grown-up Chino - A Shark gang member WEST SIDE STORY was first presented at the Winter Garden, New York City, Septemb er 26, 1957, and at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, on December 12, 1958 with the following cast: THE JETS RIFF (The Leader) GEORGE CHAKIRIS TONY (His Friend) DoN MCKAY ACTION EDDIE ROLL A-RAB TONY MORDENTE BABY JOHN ED VERSO SNOWBOY RIGGS O'HARA BIG DEAL DAVID BEAN DIESEL GARY COCKRELL GEE-TAR MICHEL KLEINMAN MOUTHPIECE JOE DONOVAN THEIR GIRLS GRAZIELLA LESLIE FRANZOS VELMA SUSAN WATSON MINNIE INGE ROLL CLARICE MAUREEN GILLICK ANYBODY'S SYLVIA TYSICK THE SHARKS BERNARDO (The Leader) KEN LE ROY MARIA (His Sister) MARLYS WATTERS ANITA (His Girl) CHITA RIVERA CHINO (His Friend) BEN GERARD PEPE MARC SCOTT INDIO BUD FLEMING LUIS DON PERCASSI ANXIOUS LEO KHARIBIAN NIBBLES KEITH STEWART JUANO BILLY WILSON THEIR GIRLS ROSALIA FRANCESCA BELL TERESITA YVONNE OTHON FRANCISCA GLORIA HIGDON ESTELLA ROBERTA KEITH MARGUERITA LINA SORIANO THE ADULTS DOC DAVID BAUER SCHRANK TED GUNTHERKRUPKE HAL GAUL! GLAD HAND DAVID HOLLIDAY MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I PROLOGUE (Instrumental) JET SONG (Riff and Jets) 2A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) SOMETHING'S COMING (Tony) 3A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) THE DANCE AT THE GYM (Instrumental) 4. BLUES 4A. PROMENADE 4B. MAMBO 4C. CHA-CHA 4D. MEETING SCENE 4E. JUMP MARIA (Tony) BALCONY SCENE (Maria and Tony) AMERICA (Anita, Rosalia and Girls) 7A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) COOL (Riff and Jets) 8A. CONTINUATION OF SCENE (Instrumental) 8B. UNDER DIALOGUE AND CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) UNDER DIALOGUE (Instrumental) 9A. ONE HAND, ONE HEART (Tony and Maria) TONIGHT (Maria, Tony, Anita, Riff, Bernardo) THE RUMBLE (Instrumental) ACT II I FEEL PRETTY (Maria and the Girls) UNDER DIALOGUE (Instrumental) 13A. BALLET SEQUENCE (Instrumental, Tony, Maria and a Girl) . 13B. TRANSITION TO SCHERZO 13C. SCHERZO 13D. SOMEWHERE 13E. PROCESSION AND NIGHTMARE GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE (Jets) 14A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) A BOY LIKE THAT (Maria and Anita) I HAVE A LOVE (Maria and Anita) 15A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental) TAUNTING SCENE (Instrumental) FINALE (Maria and Tony)Instrumentation: Large Orchestra: Reed I - (piccolo/flute/clarinet/bass clarinet/alto sax) Reed II - (clarinet/Eb clarinet/bass clarinet) Reed III - (piccolo/flute/oboe/cor anglais/clarinet/bass clarinet/tenor sax/bari tone sax) Reed IV - (piccolo/flute/clarinet/bass clarinet/ soprano sax/bass sax) Reed V - (bassoon) 2 horns; 3 trumpets; 2 trombones; 2 percussion; piano db celeste; guitar; 7 violins; 4 cellos; double bass Modified Orchestrations Reed I - (piccolo [opt]/flute [opt]/clarinet/alto sax) Reed II - (clarinet/tenor sax) Reed III - (clarinet/bass clarinet/baritone sax) 3 trumpets; 2 trombones; 2 percussion; piano db celeste; guitar; 7 violins; 4 ce llos; double bass Synopsis of Scenes The action takes place on the West Side of New York City during the last days of summer. ACT I Prologue: - The months before 5:00 P.M - The Street 5:30 P.M - A Back Yard 6:00 P.M - A Bridal Shop 10:00 P.M -The Gym 11:00 P.M - A Back Alley MIDNIGHT - The Drugstore The Next Day 5:30 P.M - The Bridal Shop 6.00 to 9:00 P.M - The Neighbourhood 9:00 P.M - Under the Highway ACT II 9:15 P.M - A Bedroom 10:00 P.M - Another Alley 11:30 P.M - The Bedroom 11:40 P.M - The Drugstore 11:50 P.M - The Cellar MIDNIGHT - The Street http://www.nodanw.com/shows_w/west_side_story.htm