Test your knowledge of "The Girl in Pink Tights" with these fun musical trivia facts! This 1954 Broadway show may not be commonly known today, but how well do you know its quirky backstage story and unique ballet elements? Explore fascinating tidbits about its cast, production, and reception that fans of classic musical theatre won't want to miss. Dive into the trivia and see how much you remember!
Adaptations
- The 2021 adaptation of West Side Story received seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, with Ariana DeBose winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
- A 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, featured changes like a new Black character named Abe and modified choreography by Justin Peck.
- The 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story became the second-highest grossing film of the year in the United States and won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
- The 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
- A 2021 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg was also critically acclaimed, receiving multiple Oscar nominations and winning one.
International Productions
- The 1998 UK production of West Side Story started at the Prince Edward Theatre in London and featured David Habbin as Tony and Katie Knight Adams as Maria.
- West Side Story was adapted into Deaf Side Story, a unique rendition using English and American Sign Language, to create an inclusive experience for deaf and hearing audiences.
- The international spread of West Side Story includes productions in Germany, the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong, illustrating the musical's global appeal.
- West Side Story was presented in German at the Austrian Bregenz Festival in 2003 and 2004, directed by Francesca Zambello.
- Keith Clark, who studied under Leonard Bernstein, conducted West Side Story in Novosibirsk, Russia, in 2007 and in Moscow in 2010.
- A French-language adaptation of West Side Story opened in Montreal, Quebec, in March 2008 with a translation by Philippe Gobeille.
- The Philippine production of West Side Story in 2008 starred Christian Bautista and featured both Karylle and Joanna Ampil as Maria.
- In 2011, Lima's Preludio Asociación Cultural produced West Side Story, casting popular local actors for key roles.
- A notable Japanese production of West Side Story ran from November 2019 to January 2020, featuring a double cast for the lead roles.
- The musical 'West Side Story' was adapted into a film in 1979 in Egypt, showcasing its international appeal.
Musical Composition
- The original soundtrack of the 1961 West Side Story film was ranked No. 1 on the Billboard chart for a record 54 weeks.
- Leonard Bernstein conducted a studio recording of West Side Story in 1984, marking the first time he conducted the musical, leading to a Grammy win for Best Musical Theater Album.
- The soundtrack of the 1961 West Side Story movie differed from the stage version, including moving some songs around and changing the characters who perform them.
- The musical's famous number 'One Hand, One Heart' was originally written for a different production, Bernstein's 'Candide', before being used in West Side Story.
- Maria sings 'I Feel Pretty' oblivious to the tragic events, which introduces a poignant contrast between her happiness and the unfolding tragedy.
- Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein once played through the musical's score at the piano which helped convince producer Hal Prince to take on the project after other producers had rejected it.
- During the development of West Side Story, the song 'Tonight' was specifically written to replace 'One Hand, One Heart' in the balcony scene to add dramatic tension and complement the love story.
- Stephen Sondheim, famous for his lyrics in West Side Story, was initially reluctant to join the project as he wanted to compose his own music and lyrics for his next work.
- West Side Story marked Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut and went on to become one of his most celebrated works.
Notable Tours
- The Stratford Shakespeare Festival featured a production of West Side Story in 1999 with Tyley Ross and Ma-Anne Dionisio as leads.
- From 2005 to 2010, an international tour of West Side Story included performances across Europe and Asia, under the direction and choreography of Joey McKneely.
- A camp parody musical titled Wild Side Story, which loosely adapted West Side Story, was performed over 500 times in various locations including Miami Beach and Stockholm from 1973 to 2004.
Production Facts
- The musical's exploration of youth gangs in New York during the 1950s is not just fictional; it parallels real historical events, which are documented in resources like NYC Youth Gangs – 1950s.
- The 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story, directed by Ivo van Hove, controversially cut the song 'I Feel Pretty' and utilized modern elements such as iPhones and video screens in its staging.
- Arthur Laurents, who played a pivotal role in the creation of West Side Story, published a memoir detailing his experiences in Broadway and Hollywood in 2000.
- West Side Story was originally going to be about an Irish Catholic family and a Jewish family living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, rather than about rival street gangs.
- West Side Story has seen multiple revivals on Broadway, including notable productions in 1964, 1980, 2009, and 2020.
- The character development and story in West Side Story were greatly influenced by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with key changes to settings and character backgrounds that reflect mid-20th-century New York.
- The creators of West Side Story, including Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, were originally considering setting the musical in Los Angeles before deciding on New York's Upper West Side.
- The collaboration for West Side Story resumed after a significant break, inspired by a conversation about juvenile delinquent gangs and societal issues, shifting the focus from ethnic to racial social issues.
- Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, was the first Latina actress to win an Oscar.
- The dance numbers in 'West Side Story' were intensified due to Jerome Robbins’ insistence on a longer rehearsal period, and unlike most Broadway shows at the time, the ensemble was encouraged to interpret their roles more freely.
- Casting for the show was challenging; the team wanted actors who could sing, dance, and act authentically as teenagers, resulting in a mixed cast in terms of age and abilities.
- The 1980 Broadway revival of West Side Story saw Josie de Guzman and Debbie Allen receiving Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, with Allen also winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress.
- Ken Marshall starred as Tony in the 1980 Broadway revival of West Side Story, which had a total of 333 performances before closing.
- The 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story incorporated Spanish lyrics and dialogue, translated by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
- Karen Olivo won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress for her role as Anita in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story.
