Arthur Laurents Videos

Today in 1980, the first Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY opened at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 333 performances. West Side Story is an American musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'America', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'Jet Song', 'I Feel Pretty', 'A Boy Like That', 'One Hand, One Heart', 'Gee, Officer Krupke' and 'Cool'.

He brought us a Tony-winning rap musical, IN THE HEIGHTS. He showed us another side of the founding fathers and landed Broadway squarely in the popular spotlight with HAMILTON. He's just an Oscar away from an EGOT. And he's 36 today.

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY runs now through January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic DirectorMatthew Gardiner(Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre, starring Austin Colby as Tony. Click below to watch Colby perform 'Maria' from the show!

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic DirectorMatthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre, starring Natascia Diaz, Austin Colby, MaryJoanna Grisso, Max Clayton and Sean Ewing. Click below for a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsal with the company!

The Harbor Lights Theater Company, Staten Island's only professional Equity Theater Company, led by Founders and Artistic Directors Tamara Jenkins and Jay Montgomery, welcomes a cast of Broadway veterans and Tony and Emmy nominees, as well as many Staten Islanders, for GYPSY. Below, check out rehearsal footage from the show!

The Skivvies and Tony winner Laura Benanti have joined the good fight against cell phone usage in the theatre with a new song, aptly titled 'Look Up.' Written by Benanti, the number 'provides musical advice to audience members tempted to use mobile devices during a performance.'

Happy Birthday Arthur Laurents! Laurents' first play, Home of the Brave, opened on Broadway in 1945, followed by many others. He wrote his first musical, West Side Story, in 1957, followed by Gypsy and others. His first screenplay was The Snake Pit in 1948, followed by others including Rope, Anastasia, The Way We Were and The Turning Point. His own play, Invitation to a March in 1960, was the first of several he directed. I Can Get It for You Wholesale in 1961 was the first musical he directed, followed by others including La Cage aux Folles and Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, then Tyne Daly and most recently, Patti LuPone. He pased away in May 2011.

Professional writer, playwright and lyricist, Stephen B. Crowley has shared astounding footage of the original 1959 production of GYPSY in rehearsal.

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

A world premiere recording by Adam Pascal!

Today in 2008, the fourth Broadway revival of Gypsy opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 332 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

The first production to be seen in London for forty years in a strictly limited season, Gypsy opens at the Savoy Theatre on 15 April 2015 with previews from 28 March 2015 and is produced in the West End by Michael Harrison and David Ian. Joining Imelda Staunton, who stars as the indomitable Momma Rose in the West End transfer of Jonathan Kent's production of Gypsy, are Lara Pulver who will reprise the role of Louise and Peter Davison who joins the cast to play Herbie. Check out highlights of Staunton in action below!

Before appearing in THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! on NBC in 2013, Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti made her Broadway debut in the same show in 1998. But that time, an 18-year-old Benanti was the understudy to Maria rather than Elsa Schrader. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a throwback clip of the young Broadway star beautifully performing the title song, 'The Sound of Music.'

Today in 1980, the first Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY opened at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 333 performances. West Side Story is an American musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'America', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'Jet Song', 'I Feel Pretty', 'A Boy Like That', 'One Hand, One Heart', 'Gee, Officer Krupke' and 'Cool'.

It's a Benanti family Christmas in a new video from Tony winner Laura Benanti, titled 'Santa Baby: A Short Holiday Film.' Click below to find out what happens when Laura goes home for the holidays and gets in touch with her inner child!

Can't get enough of Patti LuPone? A documentary following the legendary performer has just been released on Youtube, titled 'Entrances, Exits, and Everything In Between.' Creator Josh Johnston writes: 'What she and I have collaborated on is our effort to show aspiring performers and fans of the arts what it's like in the shoes of a veteran of the craft: everything from the Sunset lows to the Rainbow Highs of performing, Patti LuPone has seen and lived it all.'

Happy Birthday Arthur Laurents! Laurents' first play, Home of the Brave, opened on Broadway in 1945, followed by many others. He wrote his first musical, West Side Story, in 1957, followed by Gypsy and others. His first screenplay was The Snake Pit in 1948, followed by others including Rope, Anastasia, The Way We Were and The Turning Point. His own play, Invitation to a March in 1960, was the first of several he directed. I Can Get It for You Wholesale in 1961 was the first musical he directed, followed by others including La Cage aux Folles and Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, then Tyne Daly and most recently, Patti LuPone. He pased away in May 2011.

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

The girls in the cast of the WEST SIDE STORY International Tour made a fantasy video on how they get ready for their shows, set to Beyonce's track 'BLOW'. Check it out below!