Description

This week, Marcus and Maria are joined by academic Garrett De Orio to talk about Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise's groundbreaking musical, West Side Story (1961).

A loose re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is set on the streets of 1950s New York. Two young lovers must overcome racial prejudice and gang violence in order to be together. 

The panel discuss the film's journey from stage to screen, the challenges of production in New York City, and the film's reception.

As always, this episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend (re)watching the film before listening. There's also some strong language which may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Links to some of the things discussed:

• Official West Side Story website
• Documentary on Bernstein's 1984 recording of West Side Story with opera stars Jose Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
• Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician
• A memoir by Bernstein's assistant of the early 1980s, who became the estate's musical executor and archivist; dishy Bernstein gossip
• Profile of Arthur Laurents in New York Magazine
• What Jerome Robbins Knew That Leonard Bernstein Didn't
• Time Out's review of Rooftops
• Scenes from the Officer Krupke episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Stephen Sondheim's obituary in the New York Times 

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

Email us at lovitt@andcutmedia.com

Podcast production by And Cut! Media