How Rita Moreno auditioned and rehearsed for West Side Story (1961) | American Masters | PBS

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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).

[Editor's Note: This video contains some minor artifacting and noise due to the normal wear and tear of the source footage.]

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

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Now in its 37th season on PBS, American Masters illuminates the lives and creative journeys of those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape—through compelling, unvarnished stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim: 28 Emmy Awards—including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special—two News & Documentary Emmys, 14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast “American Masters: Creative Spark,” educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.