West Side Story

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Synopsis

• Setting: The Streets of New York City

• Where: New York, New York

• When: The 1950’s

Characters

• Tony• Maria• Anita• Bernardo• Riff• Chino

Problem

• The Sharks (Puerto Ricans) and the Jets (Americans) do not get along

• Racism, and Bullying between the two groups

• Tony and Maria are in love, but are not allowed to be together

Action

• A rumble is planned between the two gangs to prove who will rule the streets

• Tony and Maria plan to run away together

Solution

• Bernardo kills Riff

• Tony kills Bernardo

• Chino kills Tony

Act 1

• The Sharks and The Jets are fighting, and plan a rumble

• Riff wants Tony to help the gang but he refuses because he loves Maria

• Tony promises Maria he will stop the rumble

• Tony kills Bernardo after Bernardo has just killed Riff

Act 2

• Maria learns Tony has killed her brother but she still loves him, and plans to run away with him

• Anita tells the Jets that Chino has shot Maria when he learned of her romance with Tony

• Tony believes Maria is dead and begs Chino to kill him too

• Maria and Tony reunite, but Tony is killed by Chino and dies in Marias arms

Leonard Bernstein

• Born August 25, 1918• Died October 14, 1990• Born in USA, in Massachusetts• Began musical training at 13• Went to Harvard to study music

Bernstein• First official job was in 1943 as the assistant

conductor of the NY Philharmonic• First successful composition was Jeremiah

Symphony which he premiered in 1944• Married to Chilean actress Felicia

Montealegre

Bernstein

• Had 3 children- Jamie, Alexander and Nina• Most famous for writing the music of West

Side Story• Besides music, he was famous for

conducting, and his involvement in politics- was blacklisted in the 50’s for his radical view of the government