He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city. Best known for the hit musicals west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing socially minded plays such as home of. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. His book ends up being a tribute to them, and, whether it was his intention or not, it is a tribute to arthur laurents as well. Best known for the hit musicals west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing socially minded plays such as home of the brave and time of the cuckoo. Mar 31, 2017 author of invitation to a march, the time of the cuckoo, a clearing in the woods, romeo and juliet west side story, west side story, the way we were, home of the brave, the enclave.
Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, hallelujah, baby. Selected plays of arthur laurents, backstage books 0 copy quote. Laurents, the author of plays and films that are household names e. See all books authored by arthur laurents, including gypsy, and west side story vocal score, and more on. His next project was the stage musical anyone can whistle, which he directed and for which he wrote the book, but it proved to be an infamous flop.
Arthur laurents first play, home of the brave, was a hardhitting look at the plight of a jewish gi during the war and opened on broadway in 1945. A selection of theater artists share their memories of the playwright and director arthur laurents, who died on thursday. Based on the 1957 broadway musical with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Jerome robbins, arthur laurents below ladder, carol lawrence and larry kert on ladder during rehearsal for the stage production west side story, friedmanabeles, 1957, from the collection of. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961. Arthur laurents, a tony awardwinning playwright and director who wrote the books for the classic broadway musicals west side story and. In both books, he reflected on his relationship with his partner of. Arthur laurents, arthur levine, american playwright, director, and screenwriter born july 14, 1917, brooklyn, n. He is the author of original story by, his first autobiography. One last time, arthur laurents speaks out hartford courant. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Stephen sondheim may 16 to june 8, 2019 mainstage wednesday saturday shakespeares romeo and juliet is transported to 1950s new york city as two young lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. May 11, 2011 a selection of theater artists share their memories of the playwright and director arthur laurents, who died on thursday.
Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6939 ratings. Yellen, managing director, lehman engel, musical director presents carol taylor, frank green, rita tanno, in west side story, based on a conception of jerome robbins, book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, production staged by john o. Gypsy by arthur laurents book cover, description, publication history. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Still going strong, arthur laurents looks back at a broadway career of writing and directing musical theater. In his attempt to defend a fellow jet, tony kills marias. Laurents highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of. Home of the brave is an honest play by an honest playwright on an honest theme. Its arthur laments first novel although youll remember him as the playwright time of the cuckoo and scenarist and the backgrounds, new york and hollywood, seem just right because they probably are although the story in spots could have used another conference or two.
Over six decades in the theater, arthur laurents who wrote the celebrated books to gypsy and west side story has earned a reputation for honesty. A memoir of broadway and hollywood applause books laurents, arthur on. Find out what gypsy looks like on the printed page. Book by arthur laurents music by jule styne lyrics by stephen sondheim one of the the greatest of all american musicals, gypsy tells the story of the dreams and efforts of one hungry, powerhouse of a woman to get her two daughters into show business. Say his name, and images of west side story, gypsy. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a trace of use. Aug 23, 2018 composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director, choreographer and original ideaman arthur laurents who wrote the book and stephen sondheim lyricist aimed for lofty ideals in the shows themes and every detail of its production. New york ap arthur laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such enduring stage musicals as west side. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby.
Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. May 05, 2011 arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u. A memoir of broadway and hollywood, published in 2000. Arthur laurents is credited as director, performer, writer, creative consultant and source material. An american family story and biographies of montgomery clift and diane arbus. Funeral home services for arthur are being provided by frank e. A musical in which a modern day romeo and juliet are involved in new york street gangs. He also garnered impressive credits as a screenwriter. Jul 31, 2009 t he last line of arthur laurents s memoir, original story by, refers to his partner tom hatcher, with whom the author lived for more than 50 years. Arthur laurents the official masterworks broadway site. Original story by arthur laurents is an excellent autobiography by a very talented man. Patricia bosworth is the author of anything your little heart desires. His talents include screenwriting, directing, playwriting.
University theatre, the san juan drama festival, barry b. Arthur laurentss most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. On the harsh streets of the upper west side, two gangs battle for control of the turf. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. He is very upfront about being gay and his various affairs in hollywood and new york, noticeably his long affair in the late 40s, early 50s with farley granger. Laurentss book gave a contemporary spin to the tale of. A milestone was west side story, the 1957 musical for which mr. This is another one of those love stories about irreconcilables the way it was during and after world war ii. But she of course soon realizes that things arent as easy as they seem. Best known as the author of scripts for such hit musicals as west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing strong, socially conscious plays. This is the book or libretto if you will by arthur laurents that played broadway in 1959 with ethel merman as the indelible mama rose, julie styne furnishing the music and stephen sondheim the lyrics.
Features songs that have become standards of the musical theatre canon, including some. Random house firm, the feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of the jets. Do i hear a waltz is a lesserknown musical about an american secretary who goes off to italy and falls in love. Home of the brave, a play by arthur laurents, 1946 online. Arthur laurents american playwright, director, and. Laurentss autobiography, original story by, was published in 2000. The new york public library for the performing arts.
Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Say his name, and images of west side story, gypsy, anastasia, the turning point, and the way we were appear.
Here is the original story of a true original, the celebrated and internationally renowned director, playwright and screenwriter arthur laurents, whose creative genius continues to energize american stage and screen today. Arthur laurents books list of books by author arthur. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. The obituary was featured in legacy on may 6, 2011, new. Among american dramatists of his generation, arthur laurents certainly stands out as one of the more versatile. Discover book depositorys huge selection of arthur laurents books online. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6920 ratings. On a crisp, sunny march afternoon, arthur laurents welcomed me into.
The feud between two new york teenage gangs abruptly ends the brief happiness shared by maria, a puerto rican girl, and tony, a member of the jets. Arthur laurents interview by emma brockes somebody said to me, if you dont stop going to parties, youll never write a play. Vintage photograph from the set of the 1961 film, showing director robert wise looking through a viewfinder while his codirector jermone robbins looks through a pair of sunglasses. Here is the original story of a true original, the celebrated and internationally renowned director, playwright and screenwriter arthur laurents. Laurents s book gave a contemporary spin to the tale of. Born in flatbush, brooklyn on july 14, 1917, he graduated from cornell university and was a. In both books, he reflected on his relationship with his partner of more. In it, he discusses his lengthy career and his many gay affairs and longterm relationships, including those with farley granger and tom hatcher august 24, 1929 october 26, 2006.
Laurents arthur, died may 5, 2011 after a brief illness in his home in manhattan. The memoirs of director, playwright, and screenwriter, arthur laurents, best known for gypsy, west side story, anastasia, the turning point, and more. He is the author of plays that have received new york productions as well as of. Laurents highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of his life as he. Laurents highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of his life as he recounts the great moments, the trials and the joys of his incredible career. Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare. Arthur laurents books list of books by author arthur laurents. A memoir of broadway and hollywood applause books arthur laurents on. Theres a great anecdote in your first book where tom hatcher asks you if sondheim is gay and you say. His numerous broadway credits include the books for the musicals west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, anyone can whistle 1964, do i hear a waltz. Composer leonard bernstein and his cocreators, jerome robbins director, choreographer and original ideaman arthur laurents who wrote the book and stephen sondheim lyricist aimed for lofty ideals in the shows themes and every detail of its production.