#Anita west side story rita moreno movie#

The film’s music team includes renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of Bernstein’s iconic score by Leonard Bernstein’s own New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Academy Award-nominated composer and conductor David Newman ( Anastasia), who arranged the score for the new adaptation Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Broadway’s Fun Home and Thoroughly Modern Millie), who will worked with the cast on vocals and Grammy-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan ( Beauty and the Beast, Chicago), who served as executive music producer for the film. Also leading the production are Tony Award-winning producer Kevin McCollum and Academy Award-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger. Tony Award winner Justin Peck will choreograph the musical numbers in the film. The film has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway musical, which was written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Emile Ford, legendary St.West Side Story is produced and directed by Steven Spielberg from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony Kushner ( Lincoln).But even then, even if you haven’t watched the 1961 version in a while or at all, you should go to experience Rita Moreno taking on the new role of Valentina and DeBose absolutely kill it as Anita. There is a moment in Steven Spielberg’s that defines this character and makes this Anita something completely different.

#Anita west side story rita moreno movie#

And every time I see the movie and see that scene I go, “Ughhh.” In one of the scenes, and I don’t want to tell you which one, there’s something I didn’t do in a scene that has haunted me for years.

Moreno did give DeBose one acting tip that she absolutely wanted to keep a secret. So, Moreno told DeBose, “You’re gonna do your Anita. She was chosen for a reason and Moreno respected that. (Who wouldn’t be when meeting an icon like Rita Moreno?) In Moreno’s eyes, DeBose had nothing to be nervous about. Taking on such a role meant a lot to Moreno and she had to meet up with DeBose to talk about Anita. And I was thrilled about that.” That choice alone made the difference for her and will certainly make those in our communities feel seen in this story about love, heartbreak, and finding a home. In her own words, Moreno said, “One of the best choices that was made was that this Anita is Afro-Latina, which is not uncommon among Puerto Ricans. To her, it was the best choice that Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story could make and one of the reasons why fans should watch.

So, when she heard about DeBose and her casting as Anita, she was relieved and thrilled to see our people represented in a way that speaks to our reality. And I remember complaining to the makeup man about it one time and it kept streaking because it was so dark and wouldn’t stay.” Moreno said, “For me as an actress, I had to wear all that ultra-dark makeup and I kept saying I’m one of those Puerto Ricans with this color skin. We’re a vast array of people and the 1961 film didn’t respect that or how it made this actress feel. Because in Puerto Rico, we’re not a monolith. And while she did a riveting job that helped define her career, there were things that haunted her about her time on set, particularly the makeup they used on her to make her seem darker.įor Moreno, it left her feeling frustrated and like she couldn’t be her most authentic self. In the 1961 version of West Side Story, it was Moreno who played this part. That’s how Rita Moreno described West Side Story and its big-screen return when she sat down with Remezcla to talk about the 2021 remake.Ī huge part of that is due to the casting of Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita.

West Side Story hits theaters on December 10, 2021.