MTI Announces Upcoming Release of WEST SIDE STORY School Edition

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) is celebrating the anniversary of West Side Story's opening night on Broadway 61 years ago, by making West Side Story School Edition available for licensing to schools and amateur groups around the world. With additional resources for students and directors, West Side Story School Edition makes the iconic musical even more accessible and meaningful for high school performers and, in all respects, their audiences.

A groundbreaking work of art, West Side Story pushed the boundaries of what was considered possible in musical theatre. The original Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957. Directed, choreographed and conceived by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the musical ran for 732 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre before closing on June 27, 1959. The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning for Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design.

International success soon followed, with a production opening in London's West End in 1958. The musical then returned to Broadway in 1960. The release of the 1961 film adaptation won ten Academy Awards (including Best Picture), cementing West Side Story's place in the history of cinema and musical theatre.

West Side Story has since been revived twice on Broadway (once in 1980 and again in 2009), with a scheduled revival opening in February 2020. Its enduring popularity has led to many domestic and international tours and major productions in cities around the world. According to the Library of Congress, West Side Story has been translated into over 26 languages, including Chinese, Hebrew, Dutch, and six separate Spanish translations based on countries and local dialects.

"MTI has been privileged to represent what is widely considered one of the greatest musical theatre works ever created," stated Drew Cohen, MTI's President and CEO. "While West Side Story has always been and remains an iconic and perennially popular musical, it presented certain challenges for high school theatre programs. We were fortunate to have the support of the rightsholders and a brilliant team in bringing this adaptation to life for the amateur market. We hope that West Side Story School Edition enables thousands more young performers, crew members and audiences around the world to experience this phenomenal musical as it was meant to be seen and heard."

MTI's School Editions are author-approved versions of classic musicals slightly altered for content, simplifying difficult production aspects and musical or choreographic elements, making them more educationally-appropriate for high schools. School Edition versions also come with a number of helpful and dynamic theatrical and academic resources for directors and producers.

"We created MTI's School Editions to help realize our overall educational mission of making musical theatre accessible to as many organizations as possible," said MTI's Chief Operating Officer and Director of Education and Development, John Prignano. "In the case ofWest Side Story, re-creating Robbins' groundbreaking choreography and playing Bernstein's gorgeous score has been a consistent challenge for high school performers and directors trying to mount the show. West Side Story School Edition is a response to feedback from teachers that will remove these obstacles, in part by providing an official Choreography Manual and videos featuring step-by-step instructions for all of the show's iconic dance numbers."

MTI School Editions include Guide Vocal Tracks, a Director's Guide with many helpful suggestions for sets, props, costumes and staging, and an Enhanced Study Guide, providing an in-depth analysis of the show's themes, major moments and historical context. Performance Accompaniment Tracks, playable through the MTI Player app, are available as an additional resource for schools without access to an orchestra.

West Side Story School Edition is the sixth MTI musical adapted for high school directors and performers, joining a collection that includes Les Miserables School Edition, RENT School Edition, Ragtime School Edition, Sweeney Todd School Edition and Avenue Q School Edition.

For more information about MTI and licensing, please call (212) 541-4684 or email licensing@mtishows.com

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