The plot is based on the story of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, but adapted to modern times. In New York, two bands of young people, the Sharks, of Puerto Rican origin, and the Jets, Americans of European origin, are rivals and live in disputes. The conflict arises when Maria (Natalie Wood), sister of the head of the Puerto Rican gang, Bernardo (George Chakiris), and Tony (Richard Beymer), ex-member of the Jets, fall in love. The two bands incite the leaders, Bernardo and Tony, to fight. Tony does not want to but he is forced to do it, since Bernardo kills his friend Riff (Russ Tamblyn) with a knife. Tony then goes after Bernardo and kills him. To avenge Bernardo, Chino, María's suitor, looks for Tony and shoots him: Tony dies in the arms of María. As in Romeo and Juliet, the two bands end up solving their disputes as a result of the death of the lovers. Unlike the character of Juliet in the play of Shakespeare, in West Side Story Maria goes out with her head held high.
The musical was innovative: for the dances, which are part of the dramatic action, for the very varied music of Bernstein (Latin rhythms, jazz, love songs of great melodic beauty ...) and for the theme. One of the most famous songs of this work is "America", in which the two visions of the emigrants are contrasted when arriving in the United States: the illusion for freedom, modernity and consumerism, and on the other hand the disappointment with racial marginalization and poverty. The staging of the song "America" is located on a rooftop where members of the Puerto Rican gang Sharks and their girlfriends discuss their lives in the United States.
