West Side Story
Jets versus Sharks
West Side Story is a 1957 Broadway musical—and its 1961 and 2021 film adaptations—that transposes Romeo and Juliet to 1950s New York City, with rival street gangs replacing the feuding families.
The work became iconic for its integration of dance, music, and drama, with a score by Leonard Bernstein and choreography by Jerome Robbins.
The title sometimes refers loosely to any tale of star-crossed lovers from different worlds.
Pro sports franchises
- gangsOrganized criminal groups
- turf warStruggle over claimed ground
- rumbleLow rolling sound
- knife fightCombat using short blades
switchblade · rivalry · hostility · confrontation · tension · prejudice · immigration · Puerto Rican
Common feminine given name
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- 1957Mid-century cold war year
- theaterVenue for live drama
- revivalReturn after decline
Stephen Sondheim · libretto · score · choreography · ensemble · cast · stage · director
Classical dance on pointe
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- mamboFast Cuban ballroom dance
finger snaps · athletic · acrobatic · ensemble · movement · rooftop · fire escape · playground
Intense fond attachment
- forbidden loveRomance society prohibits
- balcony sceneDramatic exchange from ledge
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
yearning · tenderness · passion · tragedy · doomed · secret marriage · bridal shop
Northeastern metropolis and state
- ManhattanNYC's densest borough
- tenementMulti-unit urban dwelling
- playgroundChildren's outdoor recreation space
- alleyNarrow way between buildings
fire escape · rooftop · drugstore · bridal shop · gymnasium · 1950s · urban decay · neighborhood
Jets
Pro sports franchises
knife fight · switchblade · rivalry · hostility · confrontation · tension · prejudice · immigration · Puerto Rican · Polish
Maria
Common feminine given name
Leonard Bernstein
Stephen Sondheim · revival · libretto · score · choreography · ensemble · cast · stage · director · rehearsal
ballet
Classical dance on pointe
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
mambo · finger snaps · athletic · acrobatic · ensemble · movement · rooftop · fire escape · playground · dream ballet
love
Intense fond attachment
- forbidden loveRomance society prohibits
- balcony sceneDramatic exchange from ledge
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
devotion · yearning · tenderness · passion · tragedy · doomed · secret marriage · bridal shop
New York
Northeastern metropolis and state
- ManhattanNYC's densest borough
- tenementMulti-unit urban dwelling
- playgroundChildren's outdoor recreation space
alley · fire escape · rooftop · drugstore · bridal shop · gymnasium · 1950s · urban decay · neighborhood · streetscape
America
Western superpower nation
- 60s CinemaDr. Strangelove, The Graduate, Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, Lawrence of Arabia
- musicalsWicked, Les Miserables, Cats, Chicago, Grease
- Oscar WinnersTitanic, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Gladiator, Schindler's List
- Stage MoviesA Chorus Line, All That Jazz, Cabaret, Chicago, The Producers
- Jerome RobbinsFiddler on the Roof, New York City Ballet
- Robert Wise filmsThe Andromeda Strain, The Haunting
West Side StoryOklahoma!
State-named stage musical
The Music Man · Annie · Guys and Dolls · My Fair Lady · South Pacific
story, side, inside, outside, seaside, sides, western, southwest, northwest