West Side Story

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Picture Credit: Your wikiname

Show Information
English Title: West Side Story
Japanese Title: ウェストサイド物語
Romanized Title: Uesuto Saido Monogatari

Troupe: Moon / Snow
Year: 1968 - 1969
Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater; 8/1 - 9/1; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 11/1 - 11/26; Takarazuka Grand Theater, 3/1 - 3/25
Shinjin Kouen Performances: Takarazuka Grand Theater; 8/17; Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, 11/17; Takarazuka Grand Theater, 3/15

Based On:
Author: Arthur Laurents (book) & Stephen Sondheim (lyrics)
Director/Choreographer: Jerome Robbins, Sammy Bayes
Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Conductor (Takarazuka): Hashimoto Kazuaki
Conductor (Tokyo):

Available on DVD: No
Available on Blu-Ray: No
DVD Scene/Music Cuts: n/a


RoleCastShinko Cast
TonyKoshiro Miyako (M) Dai Takiko (M)
MariaYashioji Mari (M) Chigusa Mikage (M)
BernardoChinami Jun (M)
RiffSuga Harumi (M)
DocKoyanagi Hizuru (M)
Seniora Rodriguez
PepeKaze Sayaka (S)
AnitaSayo Natsumi (M)
ConsueloChigusa Mikage (M)
Lieutenant SchrankMiyama Shigure (M)
Officer Krupke Misaki Arisa (M)
RosaliaSasa Junko (M)
GraziellaHiina Tomoko (M)
ActionHaruna Yuri (M)
ChinoDai Takiko (M)
A-RabMizu Hayami (M)
Baby John Kawaji Masa (M)
Snowboy Shioji Asako (M)
Velma Oomi Ryuuko (M)
Big Deal
Diesel Kanou Yachiho (M)
Estella Fuzuki Terumi (M)
Indio Mizushima Minoru (S)
Anxious Asou Kaoru (M)
Teresita Satozono Yuri (S)
Glad Hand
Francisca Mari Annu (M)
Anybodys Yae Harumi (M)
Clarice Chizawa Emi (M)
Juanita Mitaka Yuuko (S)
Gee-Tar Takise Shibuki (S)
Conchita Maki Ryuuko (S)
Minnie Chikubu Sayuri (M)

Other Cast (Moon): Natsumi Youko, Onozuki Hikaru, Shigi Misao, Ooyashima Kaoru, Enji Yuri, Machi Hikaru, Takuma Minori, Ibuki Yayoi, Natsushiro Miki, Minou Yutaka, Suzaku Hiromi, Izumo Yumi, Nami Chisato, Aozono Utage, Aoi Yuka, Houzuki Yayoi, Ikuyo Hikaru, Komatsu Miho, Hanakouji Jun, Mizunose Akira, Kaya Makoto, Tsuki Juri, Uraji Natsuko, Takigawa Sueko, Suma Nagisa, Fuji Mayumi, Katsuki Mitsuyo, Tsuyama Noriko



Act One

In the opening, a danced Prologue, two rival teenage gangs, the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans) enact their conflict over who will control the neighborhood. Accented by police whistles and taunting phrases, the Prologue establishes the fierce rivalry between the two groups.

Following a brief exchange with the ineffective policeman, Lt. Schrank and Officer Krupke, Riff, the leader of the Jets, devises a plan to gain control of the street (When You’re A Jet”). The members of the gang boast of their strength, restate their bond to one another and declare their intention to protect their turf.

Meanwhile, Riff is having a hard time getting his best friend Tony to re-join the gang. Riff convinces Tony to join the Jets at the neighborhood dance where Riff’s plan will be put into motion. Tony agrees out of a sense of loyalty to Riff, but expresses his unhappiness with his current life. He feels himself growing away from the gang and envisions a different and better future (“Something’s Coming”).

Maria, the sister of the Shark leader Bernardo, has only been in America a short time. She works with Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend, in the bridal shop. Anita is making Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. Maria sees this dance as the official beginning of her life in this country. Like Tony, she is full of hope. Bernardo arrives with Chino, a quiet, intense member of the Sharks. Maria’s family has selected Chino to be her future husband.

A social worker, Glad Hand, introduces the rival gang members and their girls; they dance sociably for about two minutes. Then a challenge dance erupts. Tony and Maria, however, suddenly see one another. In a moment of romantic suspension, they dance together, oblivious of the tension around them. They fall in love. The romantic idyll is interrupted when Bernardo roughly pulls Maria from Tony’s arms. Maria is sent home, as Riff and Bernardo arrange a War Council at the drugstore.

Unaware of the plan between the two leaders, an ecstatic Tony sings “Maria.” As he sings, Maria appears on a fire escape above him. They profess their love for each other (“Tonight”).

Anita and her friends are gathered on a city rooftop, where they express conflicting views about their lives in “America.”

At the drugstore, the proprietor, Doc, tries to convince the Jets not to have a rumble (an all-out fight) with the Sharks. The gang expresses their pent-up tension in “Cool.” Ignoring Doc, Riff and Bernardo set up the rumble for the next day and agree on weapons. Tony suggests a less dangerous fist fight. After the others leave, Tony dismisses Doc’s fear with his conviction that nothing can go wrong because he is love with Maria.

The next day, Maria learns about the rumble from Anita at the bridal shop. When Tony arrives, Anita leaves. Maria begs Tony to stop the rumble and he promises her he will. They enact a mock marriage ceremony (“One Hand, One Heart”) swearing that “even death can’t part us now.”

Tony tries to stop the rumble in progress under a highway. In the midst of insults, pushing, and shoving, Bernardo stabs Riff. In a blind fury, Tony stabs Bernardo. The sirens scream; everyone runs except Tony, who stands transfixed. Anybodys, a tomboy whose dream is to become a Jet, has followed the gang, and prods Tony to escape just in time. The curtain comes down on a stage which is empty except for the bodies of Riff and Bernardo.

Act Two

Unaware of the tragedy under the highway, Maria sings to her girlfriends about how beautiful she feels (“I Feel Pretty”). She speaks of marriage, and her friends assume she is thinking about Chino. Chino enters with the news that Tony has killed Bernardo. Left alone, Maria is praying; Tony enters through the window. He explains why he killed Bernardo in a moment of anger over Riff’s death. Maria forgives him, and they declare their determination to be together. Shark and Jet couples dance together in a dream-like, peaceful, sunlit world — the “Somewhere” where Maria and Tony are allowed to love one another. At the end of the dream Tony and Maria are in her bed, in each other’s arms.

In an alley, the bumbling Office Krupke is questioning the Jets about the murders. The gang ridicules him as they sing “Officer Krupke,” a put-down of the social workers, cops, psychiatrists, and judges who fail to understand what motivates their behavior.

Anita arrives at Maria’s apartment. Tony escapes through the window, telling Maria to meet him at the drugstore so they can run away together. Anita realizes Tony has been with Maria and turns on Maria in fury for making love to the boy who killed her brother (“A Boy Like That”). However, when Maria explains (“I Have a Love”), Anita realizes that Maria loves Tony as much as she loved Bernardo. She warns Maria that Chino has a gun and is planning to kill Tony. When Shrank arrives to question Maria, Anita agrees to go to the drugstore to tell Tony to wait for her.

Anita is prevented from reaching Tony by the ethnic prejudice of the Jets. The gang’s verbal taunting of Anita gets physical and almost turns to rape, but she is saved by Doc. In her fury and humiliation, Anita lies and tells Tony’s buddies that Chino has killed Maria.

Tony is hiding in his cellar. Doc arrives and tells Tony that his dreams for the future are dead, because Maria has been killed. Tony runs out to find Chino. In the street, Tony sees Maria. Chino appears and shoots Tony. As Maria kneels over Tony’s body, the Jets and Sharks enter. Maria takes Chino’s gun, but is unable to bring herself to fire it. The cycle of violence ends with her.

Gradually, members of both gangs assemble on either side of Tony’s body. Maria kisses him gently. The Jets and Sharks form a procession and together they carry Tony offstage while the adults stand by, still helpless. The lights fade.

from the musical theater international website

Other Information

  • The second Broadway show done by Takarazuka. (The first was "Oklahoma!")


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Created by caithion. Last Modification: Monday 26 of August, 2019 17:00:08 PDT by caithion.