Pulitzer Prize-winning author Studs Terkel dead at 96 Nov 1, 2008
How can you even discuss it without Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins choreography in West Side Story. And of course Candide. (The Jewish Journal of greater L.A)
Stratford and Shaw do some actor swapping Oct 31, 2008
Chilina Kennedy, who received stellar reviews for her supporting roles in Wonderful Town and The President this summer at Shaw, is moving on up to the West Side Story at Stratford, The Globe and Mail has learned. She has been poached to play Tony's muse, Maria, in Leonard Bernstein's musical in a production directed by Broadway's Gary Griffin. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
• Events calendar Oct 31, 2008
Burley High School presents Stephen Sondheim's musical "West Side Story" at 8 p.m. at King Fine Arts Center ... Burley High School presents Stephen Sondheim's musical "West Side Story" at 8 p.m. at King Fine Arts Center ... Burley High School presents Stephen Sondheim's musical "West Side Story" at 8 p.m. at King Fine Arts Center. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Casting is set for revival of 'West Side Story' Oct 30, 2008
Casting is set for revival of 'West Side Story ... Argentine actress Josefina Scaglione will star as Maria in the new Broadway production of West Side Story, which opens March 19 ... NEW YORK (AP) The roles of Tony and Maria, not to mention all the Sharks and Jets, have been cast for the upcoming Broadway revival of West Side Story, opening March 19 at the Palace Theatre. (USA Today -- Life)
Infotainment Oct 29, 2008
A Glittering Salute to the American MusicalNew York: Dancers from West Side Story perform at the the dress rehearsal for On Broadway. A Glittering Salute to the American Musical at City Centre. (Daily Times, Pakistan)
Wireless amplification shaping sound in theaters Oct 28, 2008
In the old days, for a part like Maria in 'West Side Story,' it would be feasible for an actress to sing eight shows a week, says Gearhart. Because she's not even onstage for a lot of the show. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Kozuka wins men's title at Skate America Oct 27, 2008
"Missing my jump was kind of bothering me but overall, it was definitely a good skate," Brubaker said of the routine skated to the music from "West Side Story." "It's a confidence-builder going into Skate Canada.". 1. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Leonard Bernstein's genius lives on CDs and DVDs Oct 26, 2008
There's the beautiful book edited by his brother, the revival of "West Side Story" in D.C., the two-month celebration of him in New York. OK, all of these are worthwhile, even musts for the I Love Lenny club, of which I'm a proud member. (Boston Globe)
Review: High School Musical 3 Oct 26, 2008
If the first film was like "West Side Story" (school basketball star falls for brainy transfer student) and the second was like "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (the boy must now decide between the rich girl who offers him everything and the common one who captured his heart), "Senior Year" lacks a fresh central dilemma. Pic begins with the Wildcats winning their second basketball championship. (Variety)
More of this story Oct 25, 2008
Sater, a playwright who had never attempted a musical, looked to ancient Greek tragedies as well as classic musicals like West Side Story, Carousel and Porgy and Bess as models for Spring Awakening's tragic love story, in which Melchior loses his first love, Wendla, and his best friend, Moritz. "I wanted to write a great classic play and then have it open out into a rock concert," Sater said, adding that he wouldn't have had the idea independent of meeting Sheik, best known for the 1997 pop hit... (Los Angeles Downtown News, CA)
"High School Musical 3" Oct 24, 2008
" worries; maybe, for some kids, it's just enough to see a kid on-screen they can relate to, for whatever reason. Share this story on Facebook: And this is a movie that offers simple, buouyant pleasures. The director is Kenny Ortega, a longtime choreographer ("Dirty Dancing" is among his credits) and the director of the unjustly maligned 1992 Disney musical "Newsies," an enjoyable little picture that never had a chance. (The fact that a corporate entity like Disney would even make a pro-labor... (Salon)
"H.S. Musical": Pop Culture Phenomenon Oct 18, 2008
"People before us had 'Grease' and 'West Side Story,' there have been a lot of great musicals, but this is something unique," said "High School Musical" heartthrob Zac Efron. "High School Musical" is considered the biggest screen franchise in the world. (CBS News)
It's a free for all Oct 18, 2008
The Oahu Civic Orchestra performs pieces from "West Side Story," "Swan Lake" and more. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 24, Uptown Center Court. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Eutawville native appearing in off-Broadway production Oct 18, 2008
There, Washington was cast in the role of Anybodys in "West Side Story" and Mickey the Cop in "The Odd Couple," and she did a one-woman show titled "You Don't Live in My Street" in which she played a drug addict. After high school, she attended Temple University's School of Communication and Theater and graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications in May 2007. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Sondheim scores a hit at Oberlin College Oct 10, 2008
Sondheim s breakthrough job was with West Side Story when he was 24 ... It s been said, noted Rich, that Sondheim learned more working on West Side Story than any other show. (Cleveland Jewish News, OH)
A miscast of characters Oct 7, 2008
Until tonight, that is, when some of Boston's top theater talent get together for the comical "Sorry, Wrong Number 2." Expect woefully miscast numbers from "Dreamgirls," "A Chorus Line," "West Side Story," and more. 7:30 p.m. $60. (Boston Globe)
For the cast of 'Miss Saigon,' it's all about family Oct 4, 2008
I played a Shark girl in 'West Side Story. "She's already bonded with Scott Allerdings, 6, who plays Tan, the son of Kim in the show, to experience motherhood. As for romance, Browning said she has a college-age boyfriend who just left for school in Minnesota "and the feelings I have for my boyfriend. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Stars Voice Concerns Over Economy Oct 3, 2008
The high-profile gathering reunited actors with some of their famous films: Cameron Diaz introduced "There's Something About Mary"; Shirley MacLaine, "The Apartment"; Steve Martin, "The Jerk"; Denzel Washington, "Glory"; Rita Moreno, "West Side Story.". Connery introduced "The Man Who Would be King"; Reeves, "The Matrix"; Hoffman, "Tootsie"; and Foster, "The Silence of the Lambs" - a rare thriller that went on to both commercial and artistic triumphs. (CBS News)
Bening, Carrey talk bailout vote at AFI event Oct 3, 2008
The high-profile gathering reunited actors with some of their famous films: Cameron Diaz introduced Theres Something About Mary; Shirley MacLaine, The Apartment; Steve Martin, The Jerk; Denzel Washington, Glory; Rita Moreno, West Side Story. . (MSNBC -- Politics)
Foster leads flock of stars introducing films at AFI bash Oct 3, 2008
The other featured stars: Annette Bening (American Beauty), Denzel Washington (Glory), Jim Carrey (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Shirley MacLaine (The Apartment), Sean Connery (The Man Who Would Be King), Steve Martin (The Jerk), Cameron Diaz (There's Something About Mary), Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) and Mike Myers (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery) ... " He admitted, though, that he avoids seeing his own ("I've never... (USA Today -- Life)
Tovey fashions a stylish fall season Oct 3, 2008
Bernstein's spirit continued to hover during the second half of the VSO's program, a brilliant suite cobbled from Sergey Prokofiev's three-hour ballet Romeo and Juliet Bernstein's West Side Story being a 20th-century, New York version of the same. Prokofiev's score is as accessible as Bernstein's, as much magic show as orchestral suite, the composer's glib, fluid, devious melodies and trademark sleight of hand with tonality much in evidence: There's C Major in his hand, there it is in his... (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Symphony aims for balance Sep 24, 2008
Photo by BOB SELF/The Times-UnionSymphony members warm up in the pit for a rehearsal of West Side Story, which was presented last weekend in collaboration with the Alhambra Dinner Theatre ... The JSO teamed up with the Alhambra Dinner Theatre last week to present West Side Story. (Florida Times-Union)
Talents on display in Broadway Parodies Lagi-Lah Sep 23, 2008
Last year, numbers like I Like to Stay in Malaysia (sung to America from West Side Story) and We Must Play Golf All Night (to, of course, I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady) needed dancers ... Dancer Yew showed that he also excels in singing with Marina (Maria from West Side Story) - an ode to Marina Mahathir; and Shahila played a pampered girl worrying about the prospect of being drafted into the National Service (I am Seventeen, Going on Eighteen from the almost similarly named... (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Chita Rivera returns to the S.F. stage Sep 23, 2008
She's appeared here many times since her fiery Anita in "West Side Story" made her an international star in 1957, most recently in the national tour of "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in 1995 and the Broadway-bound tryout of "Chita hat Jazz" in 1997 ... In a conversation that touched on topics ranging from the current election (she's excited about Barack Obama) to the recent 50th anniversary of "West Side Story" ("It's the 50th anniversary and nobody told me. I've been living the life of a... (San Francisco Chronicle)
What A Night Sep 20, 2008
The offerings ranged from the Broadway world of "West Side Story" and "On the Town" to the purely operatic writing of "A Quiet Place," with stops along the way for excerpts from "Mass," "Songfest" and the ballet "Fancy Free." ... And the Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story," beginning the program, proved even more detailed and translucent than they had two weeks ago during the season-opening gala. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Alhambra and symphony get ready to rumble Sep 19, 2008
WILL DICKEY/The Times-UnionDancers go over a scene during a rehearsal for the classical musical "West Side Story" ... WILL DICKEY/The Times-UnionLa'Tarsha Long (left) and Joshua Bond come together during a rehearsal for the Alhambra Dinner Theatre and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra's collaborative presentation of "West Side Story" ... West Side Story was so modern. (Florida Times-Union)
Bryant Park and Bank of America to Debut 'New York Now in Bryant Park', a First-of-Its Kind, Fall Classical Music Series Sep 18, 2008
Music from West Side Story, On the Town, Wonderful Town, and more is performed by pianist and host, Constantine Kitsopolous, soprano Christiane Noll, tenor Martin Sola, Broadway's Lillias White, and violinist Sara Caswell. Hosted by Midge Woolsey, Evening Host on 96. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
If I May Say This About That Sep 13, 2008
We can again get the tired lead in from the anchors at ESPN on those rare days where they talk about hockey - about West Side Story when the Sharks play the Jets. By. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Broadway hopes 'Shrek,' 'Billy' defy economic woes Sep 13, 2008
In that category she also pointed to a revival of West Side Story and 9 to 5, with music by Dolly Parton and based on the 1980 film starring Parton and Jane Fonda. Fans of the French Revolution tale Les Miserables will be the prime target for another big new show, A Tale of Two Cities, based on the Charles Dickens novel. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Buzz Briefs: Jessica Simpson, Conan O Sep 12, 2008
Rita Moreno, "West Side Story.". Mike Myers, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.". (CBS News)
'Dora the Explorer Live!' Coming to 40 U.S. Cities in 2009 Sep 11, 2008
", log on to or ABOUT NICKELODEONNickelodeon Recreation is one of the leading producers of top quality theatrical and touring shows for kids and their families. Strategically leveraging Nickelodeon's hits into high quality Broadway level stage productions that tour both domestically and in international markets, the division has executive produced 14 unique multimillion dollar theatrical stage productions that have grossed in excess of $100 million in tickets sales.Nickelodeon, in its 29th year,... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Burn After Reading: Blistering disappointment Sep 10, 2008
(If youve seen those fake trailers on YouTube, where The Shining is turned into a heartwarming family comedy or West Side Story becomes a zombie flick, you know the drill. . (MSNBC -- Terrorism)
Season gets off to a hot start with colorful gala Sep 6, 2008
30; Delibes' "Cortge de Bacchus"; and Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story." ... Actress-singer-dancer Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for her role as Anita in the film version of "West Side Story," wore a "30-year-old" black one-shoulder top, cream-colored pants by Fabrice and an armful of vintage Bakelite bracelets. (San Francisco Chronicle)
The Boys Are Back Sep 5, 2008
Moreno, who d already won many awards and was well known for West Side Story, was well established. But now Freeman has indicated to the show s producers, I am told, that he doesn t really have fond memories of New York from that era. (Fox News)
A warm opening night for San Francisco Symphony Sep 5, 2008
Guests were treated to pianist Yefim Bronfman performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Opus 30 Delibes' Cortge de Bacchus and Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story.". It was a night to be gussied up in tuxedoes and full-length gowns, and, naturally, some star-spotting as well, with actress-singer-dancer Rita Moreno, who appeared in the stage and screen version of "West Side Story," attending. (San Francisco Chronicle)
JACK Z. SMITH: We can curb the carnage on America's highways without $4 gasoline Sep 4, 2008
The study by Professor Michael Sivak, chronicled in an Associated Press report on Monday, reaches a striking conclusion: Thanks to high gas prices, U.S. traffic fatalities could plunge below 37,000 this year - the lowest level since 1961, when John F. Kennedy became president, "West Side Story" was a blockbuster movie and Fritos corn chips were introduced. If Sivak is right, this year's fatality total could approximate the highway death count of 47 years ago even though America has roughly two... (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Prince: Put Art Back On B'way Sep 3, 2008
On the eve of his 80th birthday, Prince, whose shows include "West Side Story," "Follies," "Evita" and "The Phantom of the Opera," had suffered a stroke. But now, only seven months later, he's back at work, feisty, charming, opinionated, very funny and gearing up for his 61st Broadway show, "Paradise Found," which he'll direct in the spring. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
First Coast Happenings Sep 2, 2008
West Side Story screening with an introduction by Tod Booth, director of the Alhambra Dinner Theatre, 5:45 p.m., Main Library, 303 N. Laura St. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra season starts with West Side Story on Sept. 19 with the cast of the Alhambra Dinner Theatre (904) 354-5547. Volunteers meeting, 6:30 p.m., Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, 1860 Starratt Road. (Florida Times-Union)
Best bets for the week Aug 29, 2008
In a couple of weeks, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will open its 2008 season with a special performance of West Side Story. To get you ready to rumble, the library is holding a special screening of the 1961 film version of the musical, staring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. (Florida Times-Union)
Boyd getting Somewhere on Talent Aug 28, 2008
Trae Patton / NBCNeal E. Boyd was the headliner Tuesday night on "America's Got Talent,"and looked like operas version of a rock star, singing Somewhere (Theres a Place for Us) from West Side Story ... Boyd was the headliner, performing in the final spot, and looked like operas version of a rock star, singing Somewhere (Theres a Place for Us) from West Side Story. (MSNBC -- News)
September's offerings Aug 24, 2008
Chita Rivera: The original Anita in "West Side Story," a six-time Tony award nominee and two-time winner, the Broadway song-and-dance legend brings her cabaret act to San Francisco. Sept. 23-Oct. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Hoofing his way to the top Aug 23, 2008
He took two months off Fosse to choreograph West Side Story at the Stratford Festival in 1999 ... Trujillo is also co-directing Stratford's West Side Story next season. (Globe and Mail)
Stratford gets a facelift Aug 20, 2008
dre, Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac and Oscar Wilde's The Important of Being Earnest), a few modern Canadian plays (by the likes of George F. Walker, Morris Panych and Sunil Kuruvilla), and a couple of Broadway musicals (West Side Story and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) - all of it accompanied by the usual celebratory rhetoric. But look more closely at the playbill and what you see is the country's richest theatrical organization beginning to take major transformational... (Globe and Mail)
Dancing days are here again Aug 20, 2008
"Dance Crew" is sort of like the Jets and the Sharks of "West Side Story.". "Your Mama Don't Dance," on Lifetime, showcased 10 professional dancers who faced off for $100,000 but had to dance with parents. (CNN -- Showbiz)
Jealous actor squabbled with wife before she drowned Aug 19, 2008
A coroner found that Wood, a former child star whose roles included Maria in West Side Story, had consumed seven or eight glasses of wine but was probably not drunk. He ruled she had fallen into the water and had been dragged down by her heavy clothing. (Melbourne Herald Sun)
Robert Wagner On Natalie Wood's Death Aug 19, 2008
As a young star, Wood appeared in movies such as "Rebel Without a Cause" and, most notably, had the lead role in "West Side Story," and lit up the screen with ease. But her life off-screen was, at times, turbulent. (CBS News -- Early Show)
Sound of musicals Aug 19, 2008
Of course, as this is Edinburgh, the 29 musicals being performed are not quite the old favourites such as Cats or West Side Story. Titles include Miss Sign-On, Zanna, Don't. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Stratford to build on dream projects Aug 19, 2008
- West Side Story, based on a conception of Jerome Robbins. - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. (London Free Press)
Floating on roses Aug 17, 2008
He indulged a series of little dogs, the pugs Tony and Maria (for the "West Side Story" lovers), the miniature schnauzer Toby and a white miniature poodle, Gaylord. He loved good things, good clothes, good restaurants and good friends and was enjoying them all. (OregonLive, OR -- News)
Sandler: We cant be afraid to offend Aug 16, 2008
You Don t Mess with the Zohan is a comedic way of getting at the West Side Story aspect of life. As for the possibility of offending either Israelis or Palestinians, co-star Rob Schneider, who plays an embittered Palestinian cab-driver in the movie, has strong opinions. (WalesOnline)
Fade Out For United Artists Chief Aug 15, 2008
The studio put out classics like Annie Hall, Rocky, West Side Story and the James Bond films. United Artists also helped the Beatles become darlings in America, producing director Richard Lester's Fab Four films A Hard Day's Night and Help. (Forbes -- Markets)
Dancing is hotter than ever ... on TV Aug 15, 2008
Dance Crew is sort of like the Jets and the Sharks of West Side Story. . (MSNBC -- Politics)
Charleston Stage announces magical 2008-09 season Aug 14, 2008
Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story" -- Sept. 10-21 at the College of Charleston's Sottile Theatre. Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" -- Oct. 15-Nov. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
DANCE: 'Marco Polo': A voyage of discovery created for the Games Aug 14, 2008
In a sequence referencing West Side Story and classical ballet, a caricatural Odile in black tutu and points pirouettes through a hip-hop rumble in a burnt-out lot, felling the rabble with a graceful series of karate chops. In other sequences, an animated backdrop of robotic production lines processes wriggly humans into zombies; and humanoid dancers in gas masks juice themselves up at charging stalls like drug addicts getting a fix. (International Herald Tribune)
Two Sondheim musicals announced for Stratford Aug 13, 2008
The festival will present West Side Story and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and A Comedy of Errors respectively ... On the Festival stage, Olivier Award-winner director Gary Griffin will make his Stratford debut with West Side Story, performed at the festival once before in 1999. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
The Future of the Musical Aug 12, 2008
White Christmas, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Camelot and Fiddler on the Roof highlighted the silver screen for years. Not long after Fiddler on the Roof, a new kind of musical took over. (Suite101.com)
The Gary-The Olivia 'West Side Story' Still Pleases Aug 9, 2008
Molly Shields is Anita and Alvi Dinga is Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in a new production of West Side Story, continuing this weekend at The Gary-The Olivia Theater at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem. BETHLEHEM - "West Side Story" opened on Broadway September 26, 1957, a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" that replaced the Montagues and the Capulets with the Sharks and the Jets, two rival New York City gangs ... A new production of "West Side Story" opened last... (Voices, CT)
They're Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory, SE1 Aug 7, 2008
They're Playing Our Song at the Menier Chocolate Factory, SE1 - Times Online. Win tickets to the Visa London 2012 Party. (Times Online)
Audibles: How will the Favre deal work out for all involved? Aug 7, 2008
That pretty much ended Favre's time in Green Bay and paved the way for him to start singing songs from West Side Story. "When you're a Jet.". (TSN.ca)
Cathy Zimmerman : 'Mama Mia' critics missed the party Aug 6, 2008
South Pacific, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Carousel, The Kind and I and Cabaret had moral, social or psychological underpinnings. Since then, the form has broken free of constraint. (Longview Daily News, WA)
'Exodus' hitmaker dies at 83 Aug 6, 2008
Together they performed theatrical recordings of themes from such movies as "The Apartment," "Exodus" and "Tonight" from "West Side Story.". The duo also hit the Top Ten with their version of the "Midnight Cowboy" theme in 1970. (CNN -- Showbiz)
Raise the Red Lantern at Covent Garden Aug 5, 2008
Win a free view of sunny Sydney's beautiful harbour. Navigation - link to other main sections from here. (Times Online)
Arts Council cuts criticised by report Aug 1, 2008
Sign up to our classic Fantasy Football game for just 3. Navigation - link to other main sections from here. (Times Online)
It won't be just any night Aug 1, 2008
There are lots of Sharks and Jets in the Arlington Children's Theater production of "West Side Story," and if you want to see them all, you'll have to attend more than one performance. The show has two casts consisting of almost 100 young dancers, singers, and actors from 21 local communities (including Joshua Watts and Anika Benkov, left). (Boston Globe)
Youth and Education Aug 1, 2008
Melrosians perform in West Side Story Ten youngsters from Melrose are participating in the Arlington Children s Theater (ACT) production of West Side Story, Friday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Regent Theater, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Melrose residents Jessica Jones, Lauren Hayes, Alex McPherson, Brian Caulfield, Carlos Vivas, Emily Hamilton, Erica Snyder-Drummond, Grace Thompson, Maria Vivas and Vance Gates are participating in the summer production, traditionally the largest of the... (Melrose Free Press, MA)
