West Side Story, which premiered on Broadway in 1957, was a revolutionary musical that changed the face of musical theatre forever. With its groundbreaking score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story pushed the boundaries of what was expected from a musical.
It explored themes that had never been seen before in a musical, such as racism, violence, and social injustice. The show also featured an iconic story of forbidden love between two rival gangs – the Sharks and the Jets – living on opposite sides of Manhattan.
The show’s score was a huge part of what made West Side Story so revolutionary. Bernstein and Sondheim created songs that were complex and lyrically sophisticated while still remaining highly accessible to audiences.
Their score combined elements of classical music with jazz and Latin influences to create an entirely new sound for the stage. From the opening number “Prologue” to “America” and “Tonight”, every song in West Side Story has become a classic and stands as one of the greatest scores written for any theatrical production.
West Side Story revolutionized dance in musical theatre as well. The show featured some of the most innovative choreography ever seen on Broadway at the time, courtesy of Jerome Robbins.
His iconic dances for “Cool” and “America” remain some of the most iconic dance numbers in all of musical theatre history. Robbins’ choreography not only showcased his incredible talent but also served as a way to tell the story through movement instead of words alone.
The characters in West Side Story also had an enormous impact on musical theatre, especially when it comes to casting diverse actors in leading roles. This was something unheard-of at the time; traditionally, musicals cast white actors for all main roles regardless of race or ethnicity. West Side Story was one of the first shows to buck this trend by casting Latino actors as members of both gangs and even having them play romantic leads opposite white actors – something that had never been done before on Broadway.
By pushing boundaries both musically and socially, West Side Story set a new standard for what could be achieved with a musical production both onstage and offstage. Its influence can still be seen today in contemporary productions such as Hamilton or In The Heights– shows that explore difficult topics while utilizing groundbreaking music and choreography–all thanks to West Side Story’s lasting legacy on musical theatre.
Conclusion: How Did West Side Story Changed Musical Theatre? By infusing its groundbreaking score with complex themes rarely explored in previous productions, featuring innovative choreography from Jerome Robbins, and breaking barriers by casting diverse actors for lead roles on Broadway, West Side Story changed the landscape for future generations of musical theatre forever.