History Theatre / WestSideStory

In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Creator/RachelZegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake aims at being more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Music/DavidNewman reworked the Leonard Bernstein score for it. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 10, 2021 - [[MeaningfulReleaseDate 60 years after the original film's release]] and just two weeks after the passing of Sondheim.

It may seem OlderThanSteam, with more than a [[StarCrossedLovers few elements]] that you may recognize from [[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet other works]]. It is also a great example of SeinfeldIsUnfunny, with many modern audiences not understanding why it was such a groundbreaking musical in its time. It is recognized as the leader in using [[NewerThanTheyThink dance to further the plot]], thanks to the choreography of Jerome Robbins, and is also recognized for portraying minority characters (relatively) positively, using vulgar language and slang, and [[DarkerAndEdgier not being a particularly feel-good musical]].

* SchmuckBait: Several times in the opening sequence, members of the Sharks taunt the Jets into chasing them, only to ambush them with paint, ProducePelting, etc.

* SchmuckBait: Several times in the opening sequence, members of the Sharks taunt the Jets into chasing them, only to ambush them with paint, garbage, etc.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic and sadly cancelled altogether even when Broadway reopened. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Creator/RachelZegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake aims at being more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 10, 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release and just two weeks after the passing of Sondheim.

A SettingUpdate adaptation of Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' set in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity in TheFifties. Originally a 1957 Broadway [[TheMusical musical]] presented by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince and directed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music composed by Music/LeonardBernstein and lyrics written by Music/StephenSondheim. Two film [[TheMovie film adaptations]] were made, one released in 1961 and the other in 2021.

A 1957 Broadway [[TheMusical musical]] presented by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince and directed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music composed by Music/LeonardBernstein and lyrics written by Music/StephenSondheim, and its 1961 [[TheMovie film adaptation]], produced by The Mirisch Corporation in association with Seven Arts Productions and distributed by Creator/UnitedArtists. A SettingUpdate adaptation of Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet''.

Notable for some of the most famous songs in musical theater, such as "Tonight," "America" and "I Feel Pretty", with music by Music/LeonardBernstein and lyrics by Music/StephenSondheim. The movie adaptation, directed by Creator/RobertWise and Jerome Robbins and starring Creator/NatalieWood as Maria, won a whopping 10 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, including Best Picture.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic and sadly cancelled altogether even when Broadway reopened. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Creator/RachelZegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 10, 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release and just two weeks after the passing of Sondheim.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/west_side_story_title_6062.jpg]]

* DownerEnding: Sure, the fighting's over, but three people are dead and one person is almost certainly going to prison. But come on, this was based off of ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'', so it was hard not to see that one coming. At least the ''West Side'' ending can be considered Lighter and Softer than the ''Romeo'' ending, since [[spoiler: Maria survives.]]

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic and sadly cancelled altogether even when Broadway reopened. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Creator/RachelZegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Creator/RachelZegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release.

* BigotWithABadge: The play translates the Reasonable Authority Figure of Prince Escalus to Detective Schrank, an openly classist, racist cop who escalates the situation. At one point he tries to butter up the (white) Jets to encourage them to attack the Sharks, but it's made clear he hates both gangs for being comprised of immigrants. The play accordingly gives his Shaming the Mob speech to Maria, the Juliet analogue. By comparison, his partner Krupke is merely short-tempered and incompetent.: The three Jets girlfriends who dance in "Cool".

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: "Gee, Officer Krupke" is the Jets' singing about this, parodying the courts and social services that they would be run in circles through if arrested: From Krupke to the Judge, from the Judge to the "Head Shrinker", from the Head Shrinker to the Social Worker, then the Social Worker back to Krupke, at each step essentially being passed to someone "more qualified" to handle them without actually offering any effective solution to dealing with their delinquency. So, instead, they fully embrace their behavior and rebel against the system that they believe has failed them.

'''All''': Krupke, we got troubles of our own!

* BigotWithABadge:
* BlondBrunetteRedhead: The three Jets girlfriends who dance in "Cool".

* CycleOfVengeance: As best as can be determined from each side's self-serving account, the conflict began when the Jets attacked Bernardo the day he moved to the West Side (though the Jets would say [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence Bernardo began it by moving there]].) Bernardo created the Sharks to oppose them, but by the time the movie begins, both sides have become [[NotSoDifferent virtually indistinguishable]], and each is concerned only with vengeance on the other for whatever the other's last act of vengeance on ''them'' was. In the "Tonight Quintet," each side sings the line "They began it." They also sing the exact same ''music'' on that line, suggesting that the genesis of each gang's hatred is basically identical.

** Bernardo dislikes the Jets because they treat him and the other Puerto Ricans like outsiders despite the fact they too are Americans themselves. But he also clearly does not want his sister to be with any non-Puerto Rican, [[NotSoDifferent meaning he's not particularly more inclusive or open-minded than they are.]] It's very possible this comes from how he's discriminated against by non-Puerto Ricans, but it still stands.

* NotSoDifferent: After the cops breaks up the first brawl between the Jets and Sharks, both groups decide to take time to {{Troll}} the cops. The ironic thing being [[ActuallyPrettyFunny both groups were laughing at one another's jokes.]]
** In the 2020 revival, the Jets are a mixed-race group, resulting in several moments where they and the Sharks are indistinguishable.

** The gang war sees Bernardo killing Riff with a stab to the gut using a switchblade knife. Enraged, Tony takes the same knife and kills Bernardo with it. This leads to a ton of guilt on both sides, as Tony not only has to tell Maria that her brother is dead, but that he killed him.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Rachel Zegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was been marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Rachel Zegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release.

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it has been marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic. In addition, Creator/StevenSpielberg directed a new film adaptation in the musical, with a screenplay by Creator/TonyKushner. Creator/AnselElgort was cast as Tony, while newcomer Rachel Zegler [[note]] who came to Spielberg’s attention after a video from her Website/YouTube channel of her singing “Shallow” from ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018'' went viral [[/note]] plays Maria. This remake will reportedly be more mindful towards ethnic accuracy and representation than the original, with all of the Hispanic roles being filled by actors of Latino descent. Production wrapped in September 2019, but the pandemic resulted in the film being delayed to December 2021 - 60 years after the original film's release.

* ThemeTuneCameo: When Anita arrives at the drugstore, the jukebox is playing the "Mambo" music. Also, as Doc comes downstairs, Tony whistles "Maria" to himself.

* MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber: "Tonight". The Jets and Sharks whip themselves into a frenzy in order to prepare for a brutal end to their feud with a brawl, while Tony and Maria sing about how that same night will be the greatest night of their lives as they prepare to escape the violence. [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOther And then Anita is signing about getting laid after the fight]].

* CategoryTraitor: Maria is expected to marry Chino simply because they are from the same ethnic group. When she falls in love with an outsider, all hell breaks loose. Interestingly, Chino never gets any EntitledToHaveYou lines, but that's probably because he's such a minor role in the first place.

*** Bernardo=Tybalt/Capulet
*** Anita=Nurse/Lady Capulet

** Bernardo dislikes the Jets because they treat him and the other Puerto Ricans like outsiders despite the fact they too are Americans themselves. But he also clearly does not want his sister to be with any non-Puerto Rican, [[NotSoDifferent meaning he's not particularly more inclusive or open-minded than they are.]]

%% * IWantSong: "Something's Coming" and "Somewhere".

* MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber: "Tonight". The Jets and Sharks whip themselves into a frenzy in order to prepare for a brutal end to their feud with a brawl, while Tony and Maria sing about how that same night will be the greatest night of their lives as they prepare to escape the violence.

%% * OneOfTheBoys: Anybodys tries to be this, with limited success.

%% * OpeningBallet: Used to communicate the relationship between the Jets and the Sharks.

** In the line, "Trusting with our hearts open! With our arms open!" - "You came with your legs open!", legs was replaced with "[[GettingCrapPastTheRadar mouth]]."

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: "Gee, Officer Krupke; ''Krup you!"'' [[note]]The main reason the lyric was changed from "fuck you" to "krup you" is that they wouldn't have been able to ship the music outside of New York State otherwise, Music/StephenSondheim [[WordOfGod said]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e7PJP0JtyI in this interview]]. Having said that, Sondheim later admitted he preferred the censored version.[[/note]]

%% * AngryMobSong: "Quintet" and the latter half of the "Jet Song".

%% * FreudianCouch: During "Gee, Officer Krupke", this is how the head shrinker is portrayed by the Jets.
* FreudianExcuse: "Gee, Officer Krupke" mocks the concept, subverting it with an admission that the Jets really just aren't interested in honest work. Arguably played straight in the show's wider context, though, since both gangs are living in the gutters of New York and have to deal with anti-immigrant bigotry, the Sharks in particular facing constant racism.

%% * GreaserDelinquents: Both the Jets and the Sharks are full of this.

%% * HerrDoktor: One of the Jets briefly pretends to be one in "Gee, Officer Krupke".

%% * LoveAcrossBattlelines: Tony and Maria.

%% * MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber: "Tonight".

%% * MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
%% ** Tony, after killing Bernardo. Bernardo himself after killing Riff.
%% ** ''Everyone'' after Tony dies and Maria chews them all out.

%% * PoorCommunicationKills: Boy, did it ever here.
* ThePowerOfHate: Anita, after her near-gang rape.

%% ** Maria reveals she finally understands this when she raises her gun.