75 pages • 2 hours read
West Side Story
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
When West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, it was a new kind of musical. At the time, the phrase “Broadway musical” was synonymous with “musical comedy.” Musical theatre typically took a lighthearted approach, even when broaching serious issues. But West Side Story, perhaps one of the most famous adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, exposed audiences to gang violence on the streets of New York. If Shakespeare’s lovers are star-crossed and ill-fated, Tony and Maria are also tragically so. West Side Story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. And unlike the typical Broadway musical of the 1950s and before, West Side Story does not offer audiences a happy ending.
Just as Romeo and Juliet are born to rival families, Tony and Maria are associated with rival gangs. Tony is a Jet, a gang of American-born youths led by his best friend, Riff. Maria’s brother Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks, a gang of first-generation Puerto Rican immigrants. The Jets challenge the Sharks to a rumble (a massive fight) to resolve a Unlock all 75 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
