In the late 1940’s, now legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins conceived of a modern musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Along with Steven Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, Robbins would eventually develop his idea into West Side Story…a musical that spun the classic Shakespearean tale into a story of rival street gangs fighting for turf in mid-20th century Manhattan. West Side Story touched on themes of racism and intolerance and was eventually adapted into a film in 1961 which was co-directed by Robert Wise. Upon its release it became an instant sensation, winning ten Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director. This year saw the release of an update to the classic film by none other than mega-director Steven Spielberg himself. Spielberg’s newer version of the film would cast actual Latinx actors in the main roles and put the cultural identities of the Sharks to the forefront of the narrative, correcting many of the casting problems which plagued the original version. This week on Part-Time Fanboy, Kristian (who is a big fan of the original 1961 version of the movie) sits down with writer, film maker, and educator Sean McArdle (who is a big fan of Steven Spielberg) to discuss West Side Story and what did and didn’t work for them in both iterations of film adaptations of the classic stage musical.
Part-Time Fanboy. Full-Time obsession on a Part-Time schedule.
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