September 25, 1957

This day was marked by the opening of the musical West Side Story at the Winter Garden Theater in New York. The musical featured music and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. The show was Sondheim’s first Broadway credit and its success ensured that it would not be his last. The story is an updated and retold story of Romeo and Juliet set in contemporary New York. Rival street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, battle for territory and respect. The impossible love affair brews between former Jets leader Tony and Sharks’ leader Bernardo’s sister Maria. When the show was released as a movie in 1961, it won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress.

In April 2003 MGM Home Entertainment re-released West Side Story on DVD in a special limited edition. The two disc set has several extra features including: “West Side Memories”: a one hour retrospective documentary, a collectible scrapbook, and the original film intermission music (the film is over 150 minutes long).