Vintage Sheet Music, “Maria,” from West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim, 1957

This is sheet music for the song, “Maria,” from the musical, “West Side Story,” music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with a copyright date of 1957. Published by G. Schirmer, Inc. and Chappell & Co., Inc. It was sung by Richard Beymer in the 1961 film “West Side Story”, about his love for Maria, played by Natalie Wood. This movie was made about five years after its successful Broadway run. The cast and credits for the move are seen on the bottom right. This is an ORIGINAL vintage piece of sheet music, not a reprint or reproduction It measures about 9 by 12 inches, and is seven pages of music with an insert for the song. According to Wikipedia: “West Side Story is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, the story is set in the mid-1950s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, then a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The Sharks, who are recent migrants from Puerto Rico, and the Jets, who are white, vie for dominance of the neighborhood, and the police try to keep order.[1] The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang's leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, tragic love story, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in musical theatre. The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Robbins, marked Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran for 732 performances before going on tour. The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 1958, winning two.[2] The show had an even longer-running West End production, a number of revivals, and international productions. A 1961 musical film adaptation, co-directed by Robert Wise and Robbins, was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won ten, including Best Picture. A 2021 film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with six additional nominations, winning for Best Supporting Actress.” CONDITION: The music is in very good vintage condition. There is some slight wear around the edges, with no writing inside on the music, and the music is completely usable. The cover remains bright and lovely. Please look at the photos, as they will give you a good idea of the overall condition of this vintage treasure. More photos are available and can be shared upon request. Contact me with any questions. *Accessories shown in photos are for inspiration only. Materials: Vintage sheet music, paper