Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 6 – West Side Story

Top 100 Greatest Musicals - West Side Story - Number 6

West Side Story with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by a then-aspiring young lyricist (although he wanted to write both music and lyrics) Stephen Sondheim is one of the truly great musicals of all time. In taking Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and transposing its story to the gang culture and conflicts of 1950’s New York, its composers created a musical which is as timeless as its source material. Originally directed and choreographed by the legendary Jerome Robbins, West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957 where it ran for 732 performances. Surprisingly, when you look back the show only won two Tony Awards in 1958 for Choreography and Scenic Design. The big winner that year was The Music Man! There is little doubt that the popularity of West Side Story grew as a result of the movie adaptation made in 1961 which was co-directed by … Read more

REVIEW: Gypsy, Savoy Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭✭

Imelda Staunton in Gypsy at London's Savoy Theatre

Everyone in this company is superb in their part, everyone can really sing, really dance and really deliver the goods in terms of dramatic and comic acting. This is that rare beast: an exquisitely cast musical where the requirements of the parts have more importance in the casting process than potential box office draw or Twitter popularity. It is difficult to believe that there has ever been a better Rose than Staunton creates here.