The story template is simple: star-crossed lovers caught in the crossfire of two rival groups.
We've seen this in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but in 1957, the story was reimagined with a modern flair — a masterful take that has become a landmark piece of musical production, both on stage and on screen.
Now, West Side Story is playing at Dubai Opera, adding to the UAE's growing portfolio of international musical productions.
The story is set in mid-1950s Manhattan in the blue-collar Upper West Side neighbourhood. Two teenage rival gangs from different ethnic backgrounds fight for street dominance. There's the Jets, who are white, and the Sharks, who are from Puerto Rico. The musical focuses on Tony, a former member of the Jets, who falls in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader Bernardo.
Themes of race, poverty, family, love and other social issues are shown throughout the story, told beautifully through music and movement.
A history of West Side Story
It all started in the '50s at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York where it had its stage debut. The musical was immediately a hit and continuously ran for 732 performances after closing in 1959. The production then toured the US for 10 weeks and returned to its home theatre in 1960 for another 253 performances.
At the same time, West Side Story also had its European debut, first in Manchester, UK, before transferring to London where it ran non-stop 1,032 times. In 1962, the West End production launched a five-month tour across Scandinavia.
The success of the musical was thanks to the talent of the four. The simplistic — archaic, even — premise was given some energetic treatment, from Bernstein's complex musical composition to Robbins' pivotal choreography. These aspects of the show have inspired modern musical theatre, setting the bar high.
One of the most celebrated elements of the show is the choreography and the way dance is used to drive important plot points throughout. For example, the show opens with a dance break between the two rival gangs. The intriguing, tension-building musical score is accompanied entirely by movements, with no dialogue whatsoever.
Robbins earned a Tony Award for his work. The show's choreography is an essential part of the storytelling, with movements that are character-driven, not just some complementary device used as a theatrical accessory.
Critics at the time accurately predicted the influence of West Side Story in modern musical theatre.
“Putting choreography foremost may prove a milestone in musical-drama history,” Time magazine wrote in a review in 1957.
It is also worth noting that the musical was Sondheim's first project. His lyrics hit the mark for audiences at the time, but have also managed to transcend generations and create universal relatability.
This is most evident in the show's power ballads and love songs, Somewhere and Tonight for example. But it's the song America that has perfectly conveyed Sondheim's wit, imagination and humour.
In 1961, West Side Story was adapted for the big screen and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Rita Moreno, who played Anita, one of the supporting roles in the film, became the first Latina actress to win an Oscar.
Timeless themes
West Side Story's charm still lies in its story and what it means to audiences. Even as it takes inspiration from Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story, the musical breaks out of the formulaic narrative and delves into other heavy themes such as race and poverty.
The conflict between the Jets and the Sharks is a reflection of the racial tensions in 1950s New York, a murky political climate that still exists today. It's why when Steven Spielberg adapted the 2021 retelling of the classic tale, the story still felt relevant as ever.
The main storyline of the protagonists, Tony and Maria, presents a more nuanced exploration of racial identity and politics. The two see past their differences, fall in love and are forced to confront their loyalties. Anita faces a similar strife, trying her best to get the best of both worlds by clinging to her heritage but also finding ways to assimilate into American culture.
This recurring theme of wanting to belong carries the heavier and more specific narratives seamlessly. The show has been staged in many languages, from Czech to Korean, but the heart of the story remains the same: we all want to belong.
West Side Story runs until Sunday at the Dubai Opera; tickets start at Dh290
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)
British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell
NBA Finals results
Game 1: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114
Game 2: Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103
Game 3: Cavaliers 102, Warriors 110
Game 4: In Cleveland, Sunday (Monday morning UAE)
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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