1. (Musical)
WEST SIDE STORY

2. SYNOPSIS (COURTESY OF MTI)
“Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is
transported to modern-day New York City, as
two young idealistic lovers find themselves
caught between warring street gangs, the
"American" Jets and the Puerto Rican
Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of
hate, violence and prejudice is one of the
most innovative, heart-wrenching and
relevant musical dramas of our time.”

3. CAST
 Cast size: Large (over 20)
 Cast Type: Ethnic Roles, Showcases trained dancers, Showcases trained singers, Star
Vehicle - Female, Star Vehicle - Male, Strong/Large Chorus, Teenage Roles
 Dance requirement: Heavy (Extensive Dance Sections/Solos)
 Casting notes: 4 Men, 2 Women, Large ethnically diverse ensemble.
Character Breakdown
 ANITA Maria's saucy older friend. Bernardo's girl.
Mezzo-Soprano
BERNARDO Maria's brother, leader of the Sharks.
CHINO Maria's angry young suitor. Bernardo's friend.
DETECTIVE SCHRANK DOC A weary old candy store owner
GLAD HAND A fidgety chaperone
MARIA Puerto Rican ingenue. Bernardo's sister. Soprano
OFFICER KRUPKE A cop
RIFF Quick-tempered leader of the Jets. Baritone
THE JETS Action, A-Rab, Baby John, Snowboy, Big Deal, Diesel, Gee-Tar, Mouthpiece and
Tiger
THE JETS' GIRLS Graziella, Velma, Minnie, Clarice, Pauline, and Anybodys-a tagalong
tomboy
THE SHARKS Pepe, Indio, Luis, Anxious, Nibbles, Juano, Toro, Moose
THE SHARKS' GIRLS Rosalia-Anita's foil in "America", Consuelo, Teresita, Francisca,
Estella and Margarita
TONY Former Jet leader gone straight.
Tenor or Baritone

4. ORCHESTRA
 Orchestra Size LARGE Instrumentation: Doublings:
 BASS
 CELLO I & II
 CELLO III & IV
 DRUMS TRAP SET
 GUITAR CLASSICAL GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR
 HORNS 1 & 2
 KEYBOARD
 PERCUSSION 1 (MALLETS) CASTANETS, CHIMES, CLAVES, CONGA, FINGER
CYMBALS, GLOCKENSPIEL, GOURD, GUIRO, MARACAS, POLICE
WHISTLE, RATCHET, SLIDE WHISTLE, SMALL MARACAS, SNARE DRUM, TAM-
TAM, TAMBOURINES, TEMPLE
BLOCKS, TIMBALES, TRIANGLE, VIBRAPHONE, WOODBLOCK, XYLOPHONE, 2
SUSPENDED CYMBALS, 3 BONGOS, 3 COWBELLS, 4 PITCHED DRUMS
 REED 1 ALTO SAXOPHONE, BASS CLARINET, CLARINET, FLUTE, PICCOLO
 REED 2 Bb CLARINET, BASS CLARINET, Eb CLARINET
 REED 3 Bb CLARINET, BARITONE SAXOPHONE, BASS CLARINET, ENGLISH
HORN, FLUTE, OBOE, PICCOLO, TENOR SAXOPHONE
 REED 4 BASS CLARINET, BASS
SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, FLUTE, PICCOLO, SOPRANO SAX
 REED 5 BASSOON TROMBONE 1 TROMBONE 2 TRUMPET 1 TRUMPET
2 TRUMPET 3 VIOLIN I & II VIOLIN III & IV VIOLIN V & VI VIOLIN VII

5. SET
 Obviously urban
 Need a raised platform for the fire
escape/balcony scene
 Will feature some type of second story-There
appears to be flexibility about how one designs
this second story.
 Will most likely be similarly colored to Macbeth or
Guys and Dolls (Techies will have to learn to love
grey again).

6. PHOTOS

7. PHOTOS

8. PHOTOS

9. MUSIC
 “America”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKXKkgQf
51A
 “Tonight”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLNOTvR
34BA&feature=related