IMAGES

West Side Story

BROADWAY, 1957



David Winters, Tommy Abbott,
and the Jets rehearse "Cool."




Peter Gennaro and Jerome Robbins lead the Sharks in the Mambo challenge. Co-choreographer Gennaro was responsible for most of the Sharks' dances and the choreography for "America," much of which is retained in the film.




Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert await direction on the final scene while Arthur Laurents [l] and Jerome Robbins confer.

Later they re-convene at the "balcony."




George Marcy [l] as Pepe looks on admiringly as Chita Rivera rehearses The Dance at the Gym. Five years later these two will appear together in a Los Angeles production as Anita and Bernardo. Also looking on [white t-shirt] is another perennial Bernardo, Jay Norman, seen here as Juano.




Jerome Robbins leads the dance.




The Shark girls like to be in "America."
Chita Rivera with [l-r] Carmen Guiterrez, Lynn Ross, Liane Plane, and Elizabeth Taylor.




The master cuts in on Tony and Maria for a little Cha-cha.




Tommy Abbott [right] and Hank Brunjes [center] are two of the Jets who were among the very first people to jump the Shark.




Mickey Calin [back to camera] and Ken Le Roy deciding not to slug it out.




The smallest gesture can speak volumes. [l-r] Chita Rivera, Jerome Robbins, Larry Kert, and Carol Lawrence.




Tony Mordente as A-rab tries to see things from a different point of view. Jay Norman, behind him, right, in dark shirt, lends a hand.




They are in costume on a dressed set, but no scene in the musical requires the diverted attention pictured here. This is most obviously a rehearsal shot for Chita Rivera, Ken Le Roy and the Shark boys and girls, as they unanimously pay close heed to some off-camera direction.






A photo session to sing about.

With Stephen Sondheim at the piano, Leonard Bernstein leads [l-r: top photo] Chita Rivera, Marilyn D'Honau, Carmen Guiterrez, Nanette Rosen, Elizabeth Taylor, Lee Becker [partially hidden], Lynn Ross, Wilma Curley, and Carol Lawrence. Since this assemblage of Sharks and Jets have no on-stage singing assignments in common, one can assume the occasion here was a generic vocal warm-up, or, more likely, a photo opportunity for the production's publicity.




Mickey Calin [left] and Ken Le Roy rehearse the Rumble. Among the onlookers are Jay Norman [second from left], and Larry Kert as Tony, being restrained by Grover Dale [far right].




The lovers meet on a backstage balcony, then share a lighter moment during a break in rehearsals.






Carol Lawrence and Mickey Calin (below right, with Stephen Sondheim) at the Original Cast album recording session, September 29, 1957.









Outside, the Winter Garden marquee is alive with the promise of the exciting new drama; inside, behind the curtain, the cast is lined up for their curtain call.






Opening night party at Sardi's.

[top] Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince

[below] Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein.





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