West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic Backdrop Blur
West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic Poster

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.

Top Cast

  • Bruno Tonioli

    Bruno Tonioli

    Self

  • Suzy Klein

    Suzy Klein

    Self

  • Stephen Sondheim

    Stephen Sondheim

    Self

  • Chita Rivera

    Chita Rivera

    Self

  • Rita Moreno

    Rita Moreno

    Self

  • Carol Lawrence

    Carol Lawrence

    Self

  • Hal Prince

    Hal Prince

    Self

  • Jerome Robbins

    Jerome Robbins

    Self

  • Arthur Laurents

    Arthur Laurents

    Self

Overview

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.

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