West Side Story
- Olivier - National Theatre
- 5/5 based on 1 review
- Booking details
- Booking from: To be announced Booking until: To be announced
West Side Story description
About the Show
Two gangs hold the same few streets on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the Jets by inheritance and the Sharks by arrival. Tony has stepped back from the Jets and Maria has just come from Puerto Rico; they meet at a dance and the quarrel around them turns from posturing into something nobody can call off. West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet moved to a summer in the 1950s.
The musical opened on Broadway in 1957 and its 1961 film won ten Academy Awards. The score runs from Something's Coming and Maria to America, Tonight and Somewhere. What distinguishes this staging is the dancing: Jerome Robbins' original choreography is reproduced and adapted by Julio Monge, artistic collaborator and consultant on Steven Spielberg's 2021 film. It runs in the Olivier Theatre.
Cast and Creatives
The show is conceived by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, in his first Broadway credit.
It is co-directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell, reunited after their award-winning Death of a Salesman in the West End and on Broadway. Elliott has won Olivier and Tony Awards for War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Casting has not yet been announced.
Why You Should Watch It
One of the great American musicals on the National Theatre's largest stage, danced as Robbins first made it. Book tickets to see it.
