West side story with gay character

Originally written as a “tomboy”, the character of Anybodys (a tomboy, who strived to be one of the Jets & is subsequently rejected) is clearly written with the kind of vague ambiguity that LGBTQ characters of that time had to be. Reviewers praised West Side Story for its sociological boldness and for changing the face of the American musical theater, but they did not comment, at least publicly, on the gay subtext of character relationships or the homoeroticism of the dancing.

When Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg, and actor iris menas reexamined the year-old musical, they found a trans character in plain sight. For many years, queer audiences have flocked to West Side Story and seen themselves represented in the gender non-conforming character Anybodys. In the original film, the character is depicted as a tomboy who desperately wants to be accepted by the Jets, a gang of west side story with gay character boys who wage a territory war on a rival Puerto Rican gang.

West Side Story, of course, had a wealth of gay and bisexual talent among its creators, including book writer Arthur Laurents, composer Leonard Bernstein, director-choreographer Jerome. When the show opened in Washington, the reviews completely ignored Sondheim, and he became despondent. Of the four gay men who were responsible for the stage play, only Jerome Robbins had any involvement with the movie, but before filming was complete the producers decided to fire Robbins.

Reviewers praised West Side Story for its sociological boldness and for changing the face of the American musical theater, but they did not comment, at least publicly, on the gay subtext of character relationships or the homoeroticism of the dancing. Sondheim never again worked with Bernstein, whose kindness towards the younger man had been so crucial. Inafter a long hiatus, the project came back to life, but the story was radically recast to focus on racial rather than religious prejudice.

By the s, former mentors such as Leonard Bernstein were participating in tributes to Sondheim, sometimes pronouncing him the greatest creative force in musical theater of the 20th century. At the time of West Side Story, he was in his late thirties, extroverted and ebullient, with a zest for life and a passion for political causes, including the new nation of Israel.

The big colors decorating what was essentially an extended stage are replaced by bombastic lights peering through cracks in a full but crumbling cityscape, creating a distinct Blade Runner effect, west side story with gay character most scenes take place in daylight. The full playbill can be seen here. Co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, the film received reviews that were even more laudatory than those for the stage production.

Published in: November-December issue. Riff has lived with Tony and his family for four years, and while Tony is drifting away from the Jets, Riff is determined to hold onto him. Expand the sub menu Awards Circuit. Next Article Bernsteinomania.

Popular on Variety. The meetings consisted primarily of reviewing, line by line, that which each person had written and of suggesting, compromising, arguing, backpatting, dreaming.

Inside West Side Story - The Gay & Lesbian Review

Along with Arthur Laurents, composer Leonard Bernstein, director-choreographer Jerome Robbins, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim were all in various stages of coming to terms with their homosexuality in the oppressive atmosphere of s America. By the mids, the truth of his sexual nature had become apparent to Felicia, as indicated in a frank letter she wrote to her husband in the early years of their married life.

The near-miracle of finding almost thirty people to rehearse six to twelve hours weekly the bulk of those hours falling on weekends fades in comparison with the remarkable forging of team spirit and loyalty felt among the cast and crew. Gay Side Story.

Who played anybodys in west side story (2021)

Bythe persecutions were essentially over, the far Right was in retreat, and West Side Story afforded four gay men an opportunity to create a work of art that challenged prejudice and affirmed the power of love in defiance of social norms. Laurents published several west side story with gay character written memoirs in his later years and died in at age If you are already a premium subscriber please login.

Home Film Spotlight. The daily collaboration with three gay men whom he admired deeply must have been amazing, a hint of things to come. If Anybodys were empowered by the Jets, she might have assisted Tony in his plan to leave New York with Maria, thus saving him from being murdered. By Carole Horst. Your Name required. I read a little side for Cindy Tolan and their assistant Nick [Petrovich] and saw a bunch of trans and nonbinary people there.

Robbins is credited by his collaborators with the original concept for the musical.