The Original Cast Album of "West Side Story" was recorded a mere three days after the show opened on Broadway in 1957!
This week, we'll hear the "Romeo and Juliet"-based masterpiece by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.
The show was a revelation to audiences, as it featured current social issues, popular music and dance in a way that hadn't yet been seen on the Broadway stage.
Normally we'd give you a list of the show's "biggest hits" and "honorable mentions" - but how can we choose? The whole thing's brilliant.
You may raise your eyebrows at a few of Sondheim's lyrics, especially some of the stereotyping in "America" or when you note the rough-edged irony in "Gee, Officer Krupke."
"West Side Story," though, is a cautionary tale about "othering" and stereotyping.
Here's hoping the teenagers in our story grow up to know better.
- Overture
- Jet Song
- Something's Coming
- Dance at the Gym
- Maria
- Tonight
- America
- Cool
- One Hand, One Heart
- Tonight (Chorus and Quintet)
- The Rumble
- I Feel Pretty
- Somewhere (ballet)
- Gee, Officer Krupke
- A Boy Like That/I Have a Love
- Finale
