District Conference
Welcome to the 2013 Rotary District 5970 Conference!
More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back and mesmerizing audiences once again.
Very special Broadway presentation of West Side Story! Sunday, February 10th, Gallagher-Bluedorn, The University of Northern Iowa. Join us!
A group of young men and women in a scene from a stage production of 'West Side Story,' 1957.
This year marks the 56th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of West Side Story, which debuted at the Winter Garden Theater in New York in 1957. A “Romeo and Juliet” for the modern era, the musical quickly became a timeless classic.
Originally conceived of as “East Side Story," the production languished for years before coming to life through the collaboration between up-and-coming Broadway giants. Several strands of genius went into the making of "West Side" -- choreographer Jerome Robbins, playwright Arthur Laurents, and composer Leonard Bernstein played an integral role in the production. This founding group was joined some six years on by Stephen Sondheim, an addition that served as a catalyst for a revived project.
The musical, set in the West 50s and 60s of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, follows a rivalry between two streetwise gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. When Tony -- a Jet -- falls for Maria -- a Shark -- all hell breaks loose. The musical paints a vivid picture of the tensions between groups at the social margins and envelops us in the energy of youth culture. Ultimately, the production moves us with its story of misbegotten love.
The original production starred Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria, Chita Rivera as Anita and David Winters as Baby John. Though not initially a box office hit, it was met with positive critical reviews. Brooks Atkinson, a New York Times theater critic at the time, wrote of the play that "everything contributes to the total impression of wildness, ecstasy and anguish...The subject is not beautiful. But what 'West Side Story' draws out is beautiful. For it has a searching point of view.” "West Side Story" continues to speak to the intimate corners of our hearts as well as to the social contradictions that still challenge us over a half-century since the play's inception.
Arguably the Greatest Musical of all time. Fresh from Broadway, one musical changed theater forever. Now it’s back on stage and mesmerizing audiences once again.
The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time. West Side Story remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story recently won the 2010 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.
West Side Story