West side story

Plot The story is based, with little variation, in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, set on the Upper West Side of New York City between American and Puerto Rican street gangs. Tony and Maria fall in love despite their rival gangs (the Jets with Tony and Maria, born in Puerto Rico, with the Sharks). The Sharks are led by the brother of Maria, Bernardo, the Jets by Tony's best friend, Riff. When the bands are organizing a "fight", Tony and Mary pray to avoid it, but when Bernardo unintentionally hurts to death Riff, Tony, in a moment of madness, kills Bernardo. Tony and Maria agree to escape together. Bernardo's girlfriend, Anita, agrees to help them but when she was approached by the Jets, she said that Mary was killed by Chino, the man who was supposed to marry. Tony runs into the street where Chino chases him and kills him. Following his death, Mary manages to pacify rival gangs.

Music  Famous Numbers  “Somewhere (There’s a Place for Us)”  “Jet Song”  “Tonight”  “America”  “I Feel Pretty

Main characters: Tony : Riff’s best friend and Maria’s lover. Maria: Bernardo’s sister and Tony’s girlfriend. ● Riff: Leader of the Jets. ● Anita: Maria’s friend and workmate. Bernardo’s girlfriend. ● Bernardo: Leader of the Sharks. ● Policeman. ● Chino: Future boyfriend of María and member of the Sharks. ● Doc: Owner of the bar.

STORY “The two opposite bands” In the West Side of New York there are two bands of teenage boys, the Sharks and the Jets. The Sharks are teenagers from Puerto Rico and their leader is Bernardo. The Jets are American teenagers and their leader is Riff.

THE END Sara Avagliano 3 I