West Side Story

West Side Story on Broadway Background

The original 1957 Broadway production about love within the confines of street gang warfare was a runaway success with a 2 year run and 732 performances. What is remarkable is that the NYC neighborhoods featured that were featured in the show still existed in NYC when the show closed on Broadway in 1959. In some irony, the neighborhoods where the show was based was razed to the ground in the 1970's to make way for the Lincoln Center and the culture of violence of the Upper West Side would be lost to the sands of time. The 1980 revival saw meager interest on Broadway, but the 2009 Broadway revival captured similar interest to the original production and a grabbed a handful of Tony Awards to boot as well as strong box office success.

What’s West Side Story Like?

In a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is the story of a blue-collar neighborhood in the Upper West Side in 1950's NYC. The musical chronicles the rival teenage gangs from different ethnic backgrounds who battle for territory. In the classic retelling, the sister of one of the gang leaders falls in love with a member of the rival gang. The story unfolds of the two gangs, the Jets and the Sharks and the dark forces that try to keep the two lovers apart. The show has sophisticated music, extended dance scenes and a focus the social problems of the day.

Is West Side Story Good for Kids?

The show is suitable for children 13 and older.