On the harsh streets of the upper west side, two gangs battle for control of the turf. He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city. It isnt often you pick up some juicy gossip coming out of the library of congress. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961. But belgian director ivo van hove has achieved the impossible, a completely original version. Arthur laurents is credited as director, performer, writer, creative consultant and source material. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6955 ratings.
If you are of a certain age you may have fond memories of what west side story. If were being honest, west side story has seemed a little out of date for quite a while. One last time, arthur laurents speaks out hartford courant. Interview with arthur laurents of west side story aarp viva. Tom and theatre, thats what my life has been, he wrote. Over six decades in the theater, arthur laurents who wrote the celebrated books to gypsy and west side story has earned a reputation for honesty. West side story, book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim. The west side story ensemble includes thomas jay ryan, who appeared in van hoves broadway revivals of the arthur miller dramas a view from the bridge and the crucible both produced by rudin. Orchestrations by leonard bernstein, sid ramin, irwin kostal, and jonathan tunick. West side story broadway revival cast unveiled exclusive. It is a book profoundly enriched by the authors two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fiftytwo years, tom hatcher, who shared and. It is a book profoundly enriched by the authoras two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fiftytwo years, tom. He is the author of original story by, his first autobiography, and the rest of the story. As hard as it is to erase previous productions of the classic musical opera composed by leonard bernstein with lyrics by stephen sondheim and a book by arthur laurents inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet.
In the fifties, with west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents made theatrical history. West side story porthouse theatre july 23 august 9, 2020 shakespeares classic romeo and juliet is transformed into a musical set in modern day new york city. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directoraa mesmerizing book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsideraand the making of two of the greatest musicals of the american stage, west side story and gypsy. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. Cue book west side story 1957 external website west side story 1957 external website from the lighting archive. The tale of lusty young lovers, set against a new york city turf battle between the puerto rican sharks and the anglo jets, was first produced in 1957. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets. Arthur laurents, who wrote west side story and gypsy, left his papers to. Book by arthur laurents conceived by jerome robbins music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim. Of the four geniuses who created west side story the other three being leonard bernstein, jerome robbins, and stephen sondheim arthur laurents, who. A milestone was west side story, the 1957 musical for which mr.
In it, he discusses his lengthy career and his many gay affairs and longterm relationships, including those with farley granger and tom hatcher august 24, 1929 october 26, 2006. A musical in which a modern day romeo and juliet are involved in new york street gangs. Lincoln center postponed tbd first time in montana. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the book for west side story. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet, west side story reimagined the most enduring love story. The classic 1957 musical, featuring a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim, has been radically reinvented by belgian director ivo van hove to reflect american gang culture of today. There are two types of people in the theater, explains arthur laurents, who wrote the librettos for gypsy and west side story and has. Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for west side story and gypsy. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directora mesmerizing book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsiderand the making of two of the greatest musicals of the american stage, west side story and gypsy. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. A memoir of broadway and hollywood, published in 2000. For leonard bernstein music, arthur laurents book, sondheim and.
In his latest book laurents praises matt cavenaugh, the actor who plays tony in the new west side story, for a depth and passion i suspect he didnt know he had, that exploded during rehearsals. Gypsy, west side story and other musicals applause books arthur laurents on. The last line of arthur laurentss memoir, original story by, refers to his partner tom. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The musical is based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. Stephen sondheim to laurents late partner, tom hatcher, whose influence on. The book by arthur laurents is lean but filled with lines like, ya done good, buddy boy and. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directoraa me. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. When four theatrical giants jerome robbins, leonard bernstein, arthur laurents and stephen sondheim created west side story, it was immediately hailed as an indisputable, boundarybusting masterpiece the new york times that explodes every imaginable idea of what a. Playwrightdirector arthur laurents, who wrote the books for the musicals west side story and gypsy, directed the broadway revival of west side story now on tour. It became a 2008 tonywinning hit, and sondheim and arthur laurents, who wrote the script for west side story, hired him to translate some of.
Us army 19405 playwright, screenwriter, and stage director who wrote the libretto for the classic musicals gypsy and west side story, directed the long. The creators of west side story were a restless crew all gay or bisexual, none of them publicly out in the censorious 1950s. Tom hatcher, who shared and inspired every aspect of his life and his work. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Symphony concert version is postponed until further notice. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet.
Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. When they first conceived the show in 1949, robbins, bernstein and laurents set their story on the east side of manhattan, and gave it the working title east side story. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. It opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12 december 1958. When young lovers tony and maria find themselves starcrossed between two warring street gangs, the struggle to survive the hate, violence, and prejudice on the streets of the city. The playwright, screenwriter and director arthur laurents has died aged 93. Stephen sondheims letters reveal firstclass gossip writer. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rivals sister. Now rejuiced, rejazzedup, reopened at the broadway theatre. Arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and. Tom hatcher, who had urged him to direct it before he died in 2006.
West side story revival breaks all the rules for all the. The latest victim that falls prey to this risky venture is the iconic masterpiece west side story originally brought to the stage in 1957 by the theatre legends arthur laurents book, leonard bernstein music, stephen sondheim lyrics and directed and choreographed by jerome robbins. Theater legend arthur laurents comes back to broadway with. Arthur laurents 19172011, a playwright, screenwriter, and director, wrote two of broadways landmark shows, gypsy and west side story, and created one of hollywoods most wellknown romances, the way we were. As a playwright, screenwriter, and director, arthur laurents has a unique. West side story, the most exciting musical theater masterpiece of the 20th century. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. From arthur laurents, playwright, screenwriter, directora mesmerizing book. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Laurents, who wrote the book for west side story, decided that, at 91, he was ready not only to revive this classic musical but also, for the first. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and. Based on a conception of jerome robbins book by arthur laurents music by leonard bernstein. Laurents, who wrote the books for the musicals west side story and. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and.