Publication date:
19 November 2010Length of book:
326 pagesPublisher
Scarecrow PressDimensions:
240x163mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780810876668
In West Side Story: Cultural Perspectives on an American Musical, Wells presents a major scholarly study of the famous American musical West Side Story, viewing the work from cultural, historical, and musical perspectives. From the "mambo craze" of the 1950s to the work's ongoing permeation of popular culture, Wells looks at the myriad ways in which this canonic musical reflects and refracts American culture.
Drawing on primary documentary sources, oral history—including interviews with members of the original creative team such as Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents—and early sketch material, Wells explores the creation and dissemination of West Side Story to diverse audiences. After a short history of West Side Story's creation, each chapter investigates the musical from a different cultural perspective, examining its relationship to the classical canon and Leonard Bernstein's investment in that tradition, juvenile delinquency in the 1950s, feminism and the women of West Side Story, Latin-American and Hispanic influences, and its international reception and distribution. Richly illustrated with images and musical examples and complete with factual appendixes like a chronological timeline, discography, and cast and crew list, this fascinating account is exciting for specialists and non-specialists alike.
Drawing on primary documentary sources, oral history—including interviews with members of the original creative team such as Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents—and early sketch material, Wells explores the creation and dissemination of West Side Story to diverse audiences. After a short history of West Side Story's creation, each chapter investigates the musical from a different cultural perspective, examining its relationship to the classical canon and Leonard Bernstein's investment in that tradition, juvenile delinquency in the 1950s, feminism and the women of West Side Story, Latin-American and Hispanic influences, and its international reception and distribution. Richly illustrated with images and musical examples and complete with factual appendixes like a chronological timeline, discography, and cast and crew list, this fascinating account is exciting for specialists and non-specialists alike.
In this expansion of her doctoral dissertation, Wells (Mount Allison Univ., Canada) explores West Side Story in terms of musical and cultural expression. She begins with an account of the show from its inception to its Broadway opening. She next considers Leonard Bernstein's musical score and then discusses ethnic (primarily Hispanic) issues, gender relationships, and juvenile delinquency as revealed in the show. Finally, she writes of how perceptions of the work have changed over time. Wells's approach is broader than Nigel Simeone's in Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story (CH, Jun'10, 47-5555), which emphasizes the composer's contribution; thus the two works complement each other well. Both join Keith Garebian's The Making of West Side Story (1995) in providing in-depth treatment of this major Broadway musical. Numerous illustrations and musical examples enhance the text. Wells demonstrates command of the subject through her excellent documentation and bibliography. However, neither Wells nor Simeone provides major discussion of the film made from the musical, a subject that cries out for consideration. Summing Up: Recommended. Performing arts and large academic collections.