I – Introduction + characters a) Summary

West Side Story is an American musical created in 1957, with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The musical's plot and story are based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Then in the early 60’s it was turned into a film musical under the direction of Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.

Set in New York City in the early 60’s, the film musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks from Puerto Rico are taunted by the Jets, a white working-class group. The young protagonist, Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. To end all the quarrels between them, the two gangs decided to face each other in a last fight which opposes Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, to Riff, the leader of the Jets. During the fight, Bernardo kills Riff, and Tony kills Bernardo. At the end of the film, Chino, Maria’s suitor, kills Tony.

b) Casting

• Natalie Wood : Maria
• Richard Beymer : Tony
• Russ Tamblyn : Riff
• Rita Moreno : Anita
• George Chakiris : Bernardo
• Ned Glass : Doc
• William Bramley : Officer Krupke
• José De Vega : Chino

c) Characters
The Jets • Tony : the co-founder of the Jets, falls in love with Maria (equivalent of Romeo) • Riff : the leader of the Jets (equivalent of Mercutio) • Doc : owner of the Drug Store (equivalent of Friar Lawrence and the apothecary)
The Sharks • Bernardo: the leader of the Sharks (equivalent of Tybalt) • Chino: young and shy, attracted to Maria (equivalent of Paris) • Maria : Bernardo's sister, falls in love with Tony (equivalent of Juliet) • Anita: Bernardo's girlfriend (equivalent of Juliet's nurse)
The Adults • Officer Krupke : a police officer (equivalent of