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Bing West Side Story Quiz: 10 Questions With Answers
West Side Story is a groundbreaking musical that transformed Broadway with its sophisticated music, innovative choreography, and exploration of social themes. This quiz covers the creative team behind the show, its development, and key facts about this classic musical and its adaptations.
Looking for Microsoft's own quiz? It is on your Microsoft Rewards dashboard. This page is our own practice quiz on the same topic, so you can learn the facts first. For the daily image quiz see today's Bing Homepage Quiz.
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Pick A, B or C for each question. The right answer turns green and a short fact explains it.
All 10 questions and answers
Every question with its answer and explanation. Open “Show answer” after you guess.
1 Who conceived West Side Story?
- A Jerome Robbins
- B Leonard Bernstein
- C Stephen Sondheim
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✓ Answer: A. Jerome Robbins
Did you know? Jerome Robbins conceived the musical in 1949 and originally approached Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents about collaborating on a contemporary musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
2 In what decade is West Side Story set?
- A 1940s
- B 1950s
- C 1960s
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✓ Answer: B. 1950s
Did you know? The story takes place in the mid-1950s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood at that time.
3 Who wrote the lyrics for West Side Story?
- A Arthur Laurents
- B Leonard Bernstein
- C Stephen Sondheim
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✓ Answer: C. Stephen Sondheim
Did you know? Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story. Oscar Hammerstein convinced Sondheim to take on the task, and it marked his Broadway debut.
4 What is the name of the Upper West Side neighborhood in the show?
- A Spanish Harlem
- B Hell's Kitchen
- C San Juan Hill
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✓ Answer: C. San Juan Hill
Did you know? The Prologue describes the location as the San Juan Hill neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where the two gangs struggle for control.
5 What was the original concept for West Side Story before it was changed?
- A A conflict between rival business owners
- B A conflict between Catholic and Jewish families
- C A conflict between Irish and Italian families
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✓ Answer: B. A conflict between Catholic and Jewish families
Did you know? In 1949, Robbins proposed focusing on conflict between a Catholic family and a Jewish family on the Lower East Side during Easter-Passover, with antisemitism as the central theme.
6 How many performances did the original 1957 Broadway production run for before touring?
- A 1000 performances
- B 732 performances
- C 500 performances
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✓ Answer: B. 732 performances
Did you know? The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Robbins, ran for 732 performances before going on tour.
7 Who was the original actor Laurents wanted for the role of Tony?
- A Marlon Brando
- B James Dean
- C Montgomery Clift
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✓ Answer: B. James Dean
Did you know? Arthur Laurents wanted James Dean for the lead role of Tony, but the actor died before the show was produced. Larry Kert ultimately created the role.
8 How many Tony Awards did the original Broadway production win?
- A Six
- B Four
- C Two
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✓ Answer: C. Two
Did you know? The original 1957 Broadway production was nominated for six Tony Awards and won two of them.
9 How many Academy Awards did the 1961 film adaptation win?
- A Twelve
- B Eight
- C Ten
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✓ Answer: C. Ten
Did you know? The 1961 musical film adaptation, co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won ten, including Best Picture.
10 Who directed the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story?
- A Steven Spielberg
- B Denis Villeneuve
- C Martin Scorsese
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✓ Answer: A. Steven Spielberg
Did you know? Steven Spielberg directed the 2021 film adaptation, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture along with six additional nominations, winning for Best Supporting Actress.
About West Side Story
West Side Story was conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, marking Sondheim's Broadway debut. Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the musical is set in the 1950s on Manhattan's Upper West Side and explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, of different ethnic backgrounds.
Questions and facts checked against the Wikipedia article West Side Story. How we write quizzes: editorial policy.
West Side Story Quiz FAQ
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