West Side Story (1961) | Keeping the Score Series
Schedule
Wed, 05 Nov, 2025 at 07:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
108 E Butler Ave, Ambler, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19002 | Ambler, PA
ππ―πΌππ ππ΅π² π πΌππΆπ²: With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Steven Sondheim, WEST SIDE STORY is a modern retelling of Shakespeareβs Romeo & Juliet, about two young people from rival New York City gangs who fall in love despite growing tension among their respective friends. Featuring memorably catchy tunes and visually striking dance sequences, the film earned 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for a scene-stealing Rita Moreno.
ππ―πΌππ ππ΅π² π¦π°πΌπΏπ²: When a stage musical as timeless and masterful as Leonard Bernsteinβs WEST SIDE STORY gets a movie adaptation, itβs easy to take for granted the work of transposing that indelible music from stage to screen. Indeed, Bernstein himself was never fully pleased with the filmβs approach, which nearly tripled the scoreβs orchestra size. But even if the intimacy of the stage gets lost in translation, itβs hard to deny how this maximalist approach facilitates the cinematic grandiosity of this Oscar-winning classic of the genre. If the instrumentals feel bigger, then so too do the emotional heights they underscore.
ππ―πΌππ ππ΅π² π¦π²πΏπΆπ²π: Be it a gentle piano interlude or a glorious orchestral fanfare, no element of filmcraft sets a movieβs tone and identity quite like the musical score. Film music has the power to underline a filmmakerβs narrative ideas, forge our bond to a heroic character, and move us to the point of tears. Join us all year long as we showcase cinemaβs iconic composers whose musical talents enrich the images we see on screen and have us humming their unforgettable melodies as we exit the auditorium. See what else is playing this year at amblertheater.org/score
Where is it happening?
108 E Butler Ave, Ambler, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19002Event Location & Nearby Stays: