Making of West Side Story, The

Synopsis: Radio series, hosted by Paul Lazarus, celebrating the American musical theatre. This programme includes excerpts from a Dramatists Guild symposium with panelists Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. The excerpts are introduced by Lazarus and interspersed with music from the original cast recording of West Side Story. Robbins describes the origins of the concept of a modern version of Romeo and Juliet and Bernstein and Laurents speak of why they decided to focus on Puerto Rican immigrants. Sondheim discusses two disagreements about the ordering of numbers in the stage and screen versions and Robbins’ decision to keep the Sharks and Jets separate in rehearsal. Sondheim and Laurents discuss the problems of finding equivalents for plot devices in the Shakespeare text.
Series: Anything Goes
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 1985 (Channel: WBAI)
Duration: 29 mins

History: Transmission date not known but excerpts recorded at a Dramatists Guild symposium in New York April 18 1985.

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