West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic

West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic

60 mins | Documentary | Dec. 26, 2016

As the world prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of West Side Story in 2017, dancer Bruno Tonioli and broadcaster Suzy Klein go in search of the true stories behind the inception of this classic show. For the first time on television, they hear first-hand from those involved in the show when it opened on Broadway in September 1957, including Sondheim himself, producer Hal Prince and original cast members from both show and movie, including Chita Rivera Carol Lawrence and Rita Moreno. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra and specially cast singers, we re-live some of the wonderful music and, in the company of Suzy and Bruno, we discover how West Side Story placed the 1950s phenomena of racial tension and teenage gangs centre stage to create a hit that changed musical theatre forever.

West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic

60 mins | Documentary | Dec. 26, 2016

West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic
As the world prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of West Side Story in 2017, dancer Bruno Tonioli and broadcaster Suzy Klein go in search of the true stories behind the inception of this classic show. For the first time on television, they hear first-hand from those involved in the show when it opened on Broadway in September 1957, including Sondheim himself, producer Hal Prince and original cast members from both show and movie, including Chita Rivera Carol Lawrence and Rita Moreno. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra and specially cast singers, we re-live some of the wonderful music and, in the company of Suzy and Bruno, we discover how West Side Story placed the 1950s phenomena of racial tension and teenage gangs centre stage to create a hit that changed musical theatre forever.
Producers BBC
Original title West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic
Directors Ursula Macfarlane
Writers

Cast

Bruno Tonioli

as Self

Suzy Klein

as Self

Chita Rivera

as Self

Rita Moreno

as Self

Carol Lawrence

as Self

Hal Prince

as Self

Jerome Robbins

as Self

Arthur Laurents

as Self