Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” was reimagined as star-crossed lovers from warring street gangs in 1950s New York when the musical “West Side Story” opened on Broadway in 1957.
Composer Leonard Bernstein’s score with lyrics by Steven Sondheim, the choreography of Jerome Robbins, and a book by Arthur Lawrence marked a radical change in musical theater. According to the Library of Congress, there are more than 250 domestic productions annually, and the libretto has been translated into 26 languages.
“West Side Story” is on stage now in Atlanta at the Byers Theatre, a City Springs Theatre Company production, running through July 24. Director Daniel Kutner joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom and Natalie DeLancey, executive director of City Springs Theatre, to talk about the new production.
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