Research Catalog

Title

Look up and live [videorecording] : West Side story / presented by CBS Television ; directed by Marvin Silbersher.

Publication

1958.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Lanier, Sidney
• Robbins, Jerome
• Callan, Michael, 1935-2022.
• Lawrence, Carol, 1935-2022.
• Kert, Larry
• Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990.
• Sondheim, Stephen
• Silbersher, Marvin
• Kuney, Jack, 1919-2007
• Gundlach, Robert
• Urban, Walter
• Gold, Sanford
• WCBS-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.)
• National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America

Description

• 1 videocassette (VHS, NTSC) (30 min.) : sd., b&w; 1/2 in.
• 1 reel (30 min., 1067 ft.) : sd., b&w ;

Summary

Part 5 in a 5-part series examining contemporary theater and religion on the CBS television program Look up and live. The subject of this program is the stage musical West Side story. Rev. Sidney Lanier gives opening and closing remarks about the connections between theater and religion. Rev. Lanier discusses West Side story with Jerome Robbins, who conceived, choreographed and directed the show, and Carol Lawrence (Maria), Larry Kert (Tony) and Mickey Calin (Riff) of the Broadway cast. Robbins discusses the origins of the show and his search for a way to bring the story of Romeo and Juliet into the present. Calin sings the "Jet song" and talks about how the song expresses gang mentality. Kert compares companionship in gangs and boys' clubs. Lawrence discusses the role of Maria. Kert and Calin talk about the reactions of real gang members to the show. Kert talks about why the character of Tony has left the Jets, and sings "Something's coming." Kert and Lawrence perform "Tonight." Robbins talks about the research he did for the show and his experiences meeting with gang members. He discusses the song, "Gee, Officer Krupke," and talks about how musicals have begun to address social problems. Calin sings "Cool." Robbins discusses the central themes of West Side story.

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Uniform Title

Look up and Live (Television program)

Subjects

• Musical theater > New York (State) > New York
• Musicals
• Gangs > Drama
• Musical comedies > West Side story
• Television
• Theater > Religious aspects

Genre/Form

• Musicals.
• Television.

Note

• Credits at end of tape.
• No time/date code on frame.

Credits (note)

• West Side story. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Jerome Robbins.
• Look up and live. Producer: Jack Kuney. Lighting: Walter Urban. Set design: Robert Gundlach. Pianists: Joseph Lewis and Sanford Gold. Cosponsored by the National Council of the Churches of Christ.

Event (note)

• Filmed in CBS studios, New York City, in 1958.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biography (note)

• West Side story premiered on Broadway Sept. 26, 1957.

Call Number

*MGZIA 4-6197 JRC

OCLC

NYPT03-F628

Title

Look up and live [videorecording] : West Side story / presented by CBS Television ; directed by Marvin Silbersher.

Imprint

1958.

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Credits

West Side story. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Jerome Robbins.

Look up and live. Producer: Jack Kuney. Lighting: Walter Urban. Set design: Robert Gundlach. Pianists: Joseph Lewis and Sanford Gold. Cosponsored by the National Council of the Churches of Christ.

Performer

Host: Rev. Sidney Lanier. Guests: Jerome Robbins, Carol Lawrence, Larry Kert, Mickey Calin.

Event

Filmed in CBS studios, New York City, in 1958.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biography

West Side story premiered on Broadway Sept. 26, 1957.

Local Subject

Musical comedies. West Side story.

Added Author

Lanier, Sidney. Host

Robbins, Jerome.

Callan, Michael, 1935-2022. Performer

Lawrence, Carol, 1935-2022. Performer

Kert, Larry. Performer

Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990. West Side story.

Sondheim, Stephen. Lyricist

Silbersher, Marvin. Director

Kuney, Jack, 1919-2007, television producer.

Gundlach, Robert. Designer

Urban, Walter. Lighting designer

Gold, Sanford. Instrumentalist

WCBS-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.)

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Added Title

Look up and Live (Television program)

Research Call Number

*MGZIA 4-6197 JRC

*MGZHB 12-2702 JRC