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West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim about a gang war between a group of Puerto Rican immigrants (the Sharks), and working class white kids (the Jets) in 1950s New York City. The musical, which was conceived and directed by Jerome Robbins is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
A film version of the musical starred Rita Moreno as Anita, a role which won her an Academy Award.
West Side Story has been spoofed by the Muppets on several occasions, including:
- "Inside/Outside Story" on Monsterpiece Theater, which featured Anything Muppet parodies of the two main characters, Tony and Maria
- A 2007 "Ready To Learn" commercial, which parodied "The Jet Song." Instead of the two gangs preparing to brawl, however, Ernie and Theo (from Between the Lions) illustrate to the Kids how rhyming can enhance reading abilities.
- On Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch sings "There's a Grouchy Place," a parody of the song "Somewhere."
- "Veg Side Story" on Sesame Street's Dinner Theatre sketch.
- The song "Maria" is spoofed on the video Big Bird Gets Lost."
Songs from West Side Story performed by the Muppets include "America," "A Boy Like That," "I Feel Pretty," and "Tonight."