Learn about the production history of 'West Side Story'

The legendary musical, which has a long history on Broadway, in the West End, and on film, is getting a major revival at the National Theatre in 2027.

Summary

• West Side Story is being revived at the National Theatre in 2027
• The show premiered on Broadway in 1957
• It has played in London numerous times
• It has also been adapted into two acclaimed Hollywood movies

Something’s coming… and it’s a major revival of the landmark musical West Side Story! The National Theatre is staging an exciting new production of Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim’s show in 2027, directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell.

It’s been 13 years since West Side Story played in London, although this popular musical has a long production history here and of course in the States. Adapted from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and set in mid-1950s New York with rival gangs, it’s packed with phenomenal numbers, such as “Tonight”, “Maria”, “I Feel Pretty”, “Somewhere”, “Something’s Coming”, and “America”.

Get to know the production history of West Side Story ahead of your trip.

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Broadway opening (1957)

Following tryouts in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, West Side Story had its official Broadway premiere at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1957. It was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, and starred Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence, Chita Rivera, and David Winters.

The show ran for 732 performances and was hugely acclaimed. West Side Story was nominated for six Tony Awards and won two: for Robbins’s choreography, and Oliver Smith’s scenic design. Lawrence also won a Theatre World Award.

West End premiere (1958)

The musical crossed the pond straightaway, beginning with a tryout at the Manchester Opera House before having its London premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre in December 1958. It was an instant hit here too, running for even longer: 1,039 performances, until June 1961.

Robbins once again helmed the production, with Peter Gennaro co-choregraphing, and the cast included Don McKay, Marlys Watters, Chita Rivera reprising her role, and George Chakiris, as Bernardo, who went on to play the role in the later movie adaptation.

US national tour (1959)

West Side Story quickly embarked on its first national tour, opening in Denver. It went on to play in locations such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Boston, before making a triumphant return to New York’s Winter Garden Theatre for another 249 shows.

Australian premiere (1960)

The musical headed Down Under in October 1960, playing at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne and then the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney. It has proved a popular title in Australia, returning there multiple times, including a recent run in 2024.

Hollywood movie adaptation (1961)

West Side Story was turned into a remarkable Hollywood movie musical, directed by Robbins and Robert Wise, with a script by Ernest Lehman. It was a critical and commercial smash, winning 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The cast was led by Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, and Rita Moreno – the latter making history as the first Latina actress to win an Oscar. The soundtrack also won a Grammy.

There were some interesting changes from the stage version, including moving the position of songs like “I Feel Pretty”, “Tonight” and “Gee, Officer Krupke”, and giving Riff the song “Cool” instead of Ice.

West End revival (1974)

The first London revival of the show was staged at the Shaftesbury Theatre in a production by Bill Kenwright, choreographed by Roger Finch. It starred Lionel Morton and Christiana Matthews as the star-crossed lovers.

Broadway revival (1980)

Soon after, Broadway hosted a major revival at the Minskoff Theatre, with Robbins returning to direct and choreograph; the production also used the original scenic, costume and lighting designs. The company was led by Ken Marshall, Josie de Guzman, and Debbie Allen, and the acclaimed run was nominated for three Tony Awards. Allen won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

London production (1984)

West Side Story returned to the West End in 1984, running at Her Majesty’s Theatre. This was a re-creation of the 1980 Broadway production by Tom Abbott, and the cast featured Steven Pacey, Jan Hartley, and Maxine Gordon.

UK national tour (1997)

David Habbin, Katie Knight and Anna-Jane Casey led the UK’s first national tour in 1997, which was followed by a West End run at the Prince Edward Theatre and then the Prince of Wales Theatre. The popular production then embarked on a second UK tour.

International tour (2005-2010)

Joey McKneely helmed a mammoth international tour of West Side Story, playing in countries such as France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, Singapore, China, and Spain. This faithful production also visited London's Sadler's Wells in 2008, celebrating the show's 50th anniversary in the process, and toured the UK. The cast featured Sofia Escobaras, Ryan Silverman, and Lana Gordon.

The production was back by popular demand in 2013 for another run at Sadler's Wells and a further UK tour, this time led by Liam Tobin, Elena Sancho Pereg, and Penelope Armstead-Williams.

Broadway revival (2009)

Arthur Laurents, West Side Story’s book writer, turned director for this adapted version of the show, which he aimed to make more contemporary – partly with the addition, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Spanish lyrics and dialogue. The hit production ran at Broadway’s Palace Theatre, starring Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, and Karen Olivo – the latter wining a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress. The production also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Leicester Curve Theatre production (2019)

West Side Story had a significant regional revival, playing at the Curve Theatre in Leicester for the 2019-20 Christmas season. This notably bold, gritty production was directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Ellen Kane, and it starred Jamie Muscato, Adriana Ivelisse, and Carly Mercedes Dyer.

Broadway revival (2020)

The show also got a revamp in Ivo van Hove’s divisive Broadway revival, which trimmed back the book significantly, gave it a more contemporary framing, and cut songs like “I Feel Pretty” as part of the shift to a darker tone. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s movement featured more Latin and hip-hop influences, and technology was heavily incorporated. The cast featured Shereen Pimentel, Isaac Cole Powell, and Amar Ramasar.

New movie adaptation (2021)

Steven Spielberg helmed this second Hollywood film version, with a new script by acclaimed playwright Tony Kushner. The character of Doc became Valentina, played by a returning Rita Moreno, and she sang the iconic number “Somewhere”. Other new additions included the Black character Abe, and an increased focus on and sensitivity to the different communities, Puerto Rican culture, the themes of racism and immigration, and depiction of gentrification.

The cast included Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and, making her film debut, Rachel Zegler. The movie was largely praised and was nominated for seven Oscars: DeBose won Best Supporting Actress. The film also won three Golden Globes, including Best Actress for Zegler.

National Theatre revival (2027)

Marianne Elliottt and Miranda Cromwell, who co-directed the phenomenal West End and Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, are teaming up once again for this incredibly exciting National Theatre production of West Side Story, coming to the venue in winter 2027.

The production will use Robbins’s original choreography, reproduced and adapted by Julio Monge (a consultant on Spielberg’s movie adaptation). That suggests a revival which honours West Side Story’s rich heritage and artistic origins, while also finding a new framing for this extraordinary, enduring work.

Inset photo credit: West Side Story on Broadway in 2020, the 1961 film, the 2021 film (Photos by Jan Versweyveld, courtesy of the movies)