On December 12, 2006, Rita Moreno reflected on how Jerome Robbins’ toughness as a director and choreographer shaped the 1961 production of West Side Story and helped her sharpen her skillset. Interview conducted by director Judy Kinberg for Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About (2009).
Chapters:
00:00 – Moreno pushes beyond her limit in order to prepare for the dancing audition for West Side Story
04:20 – How a lucky twist of fate secured Moreno’s role in the movie
07:17 – On how Robbins’ perfectionism ensured a grueling, meticulous process for both production and rehearsals
09:09 – The astounding complexity of Leonard Bernstein’s music and how it complicated the choreographing process
10:45 – How the mix of character dancing, jit singing, and vibrant contemporary costuming contributed to the picture’s uniqueness
13:19 – The unexpected ballet technique in the choreography and the strange relationship between dancers and a domineering director
16:31 – The harsh process of choreographing the films’ “Cool” sequence and how Robbins pushed his dancers into a sublime “controlled frenzy”
18:33 – An amusing anecdote about the production of West Side Story’s prologue
19:30 – The lasting legacy of West Side Story as one of Hollywood’s most singular musicals
The post How Rita Moreno auditioned and rehearsed for <i>West Side Story</i> (1961) appeared first on American Masters.
