to have been entrusted by the trustees and stephen sondheim to be able to make our west side story. # skyscrapers bloom in america # cadillacs zoom in america.# stephen sondheim was notjust a lyricist of the 1957 broadway west side story musical, but also for the 1961 movie and speilberg s new film. sadly, he died at the age of 91, just a few days before the world premiere. the production boasts a very talented cast. rachel zegler plays the pivotal role of maria, pretty much an unknown actress. this is her performing maria four years ago, well before stephen spielberg had even heard of her. # i have a love # and it s all that i need.# the actress responded to an open casting call online and was selected from more than 300,000 applicants. rachel zegler may be a novice, but she has no problem selling
i have never seen you before. you are not puerto rican. is that 0k? do you want to start world war three? west side story is a love story inspired by shakespeare s romeo and juliet, set amid warring teenage gangs the sharks and thejets in new york in the 1950s. it is an adaptation of the 1957 musical from four greats director and choreographer jerome robbins, composer leonard bernstein, arthur laurents who did the book, and lyricist stephen sondheim. at the world premiere of his adaptation of west side story, stephen spielberg made it clear he was indebted to all the musicals creative forefathers. the first feeling is gratitude and such an honour to be able to have been entrusted by the trustees and stephen sondheim to be able to make our west side story. # skyscrapers bloom in america # cadillacs zoom in america.#| stephen sondheim was notjust a lyricist of the 1957