West Side Story/ The original Broadway classic at Teatro di San Carlo

Unforgettable musical born from the genius of Arthur Laurents (book), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), Jerome Robbins (choreography) and Leonard Bernstein (music), "West Side Story" debuted in 1957 at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway becoming a huge success. Was replicated 732 times before leaving on tour. In 1961 United Artists made a film version with Natalie Wood and directed by Robbins and Robert Wise, who won ten Academy Awards: a record of awards for a movie musical. The story is inspired by the tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet". The idea of transposing Shakespeare's drama in New York of the 20th century was by Robbins. Initially the story was conceived against the background of the conflict between Jewish and Italian communities during the Easter holidays. But the emergence of the issue of youth in American cities in the early 50 's, suggested to replace the rugged grounds of religious conflict, the rivalry tinged with racial hatred between two neighborhood gangs: the self-styled ' Americans ' of Jets and Puerto Rican migrants of Sharks.