West Side Story is a modern, musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in 1950s New York City.  The story follows the doomed romance of Tony and Maria, who’s love blossoms amid a bitter turf war between two rival teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks.  

The 1961 film swept the awards season, winning 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director (Wise/Robbins), Supporting Actor (Chakiris), and Supporting Actress (Moreno). It also won three Golden Globes and a Grammy for Best Soundtrack.

On Broadway, the show premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. It ran for 732 performances and earned two Tony Awards.  

It has been revived on Broadway and in the West End on several occasions and is still a crowd favourite. 

Don’t miss out seeing this theatrical masterpiece in Adelaide this October.