‘West Side Story’ Musical Showing in Cinemas This Month

‘West Side Story’ Musical Showing in Cinemas This Month

The movie musical remake of West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, has finally set a date for its Philippine cinematic release.

According to 20th Century Studios, the movie will be coming to theaters on February 16, 2022. The opening date can also be found on clickthecity.com. It was released in US cinemas last December 10, 2021.

The film stars Rachel Zegler as Maria, Ansel Elgort as Tony, Ariana DeBose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo, Josh Andrés Rivera as Chino, Mike Faist as Riff, Brian d’Arcy James as Officer Krupke, and Corey Stoll as Lieutenant Schrank.

The film is adapted from the original 1957 Broadway musical written by Arthur Laurents, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and concept, direction, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The 2021 version uses a screenplay by Tony Kushner and choreography by Justin Peck.

The musical was previously adapted into film in 1961, winning multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno, who appears in the new film as Valentina.

West Side Story is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and is set in 1950s New York City as two young, idealistic lovers, Maria and Tony, find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.