Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg presents an inspired and necessary reimagining of the beloved musical West Side Story. The film has been nominated for 7 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress and 11 Critics’ Choice Awards.
West Side Story tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works); and introducing Rachel Zegler (Maria) Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Perhaps the most celebrated quality of this film is the inclusion of ethnically diverse performers cast actors portraying the Puerto Rican residents, of all shades, of New York. Broadway performer Ariana DeBose (Hamilton) gives a standout performance as the brazen Anita and is a phenomenal powerhouse that lets West Side Story vacillate between Shakespearean tragedy and Broadway musical. I would fully expect to see multiple wins for DeBose this awards season!
Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes screenwriter Tony Kushner, who also served as an executive producer; Tony Award® winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY Award® winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award®-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (Anastasia), who arranged the score, Tony Award®-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Thoroughly Modern Millie), who supervised the cast on vocals; and GRAMMY®-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (Beauty and the Beast, Chicago), who serves as executive music producer for the film. West Side Story has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show. Original choreography by Jerome Robbins, based on the stage play, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, play conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein.
West Side Story is now available on Disney+ and all major streaming services and will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD starting March 15th.
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