West Side Story Archives

Ariana DeBose is First Afro-Latina and First Openly Queer Woman of Color to Win an Oscar

Virginia IsaadMarch 28, 2022March 28, 2022

by Virginia IsaadMarch 28, 2022March 28, 202203360

Afro-Latina Ariana DeBose‘s role as Anita in West Side Story marked her first major film starring role and now she’s also celebrating another first after her best supporting Oscar win. During the 94th Academy Awards ceremony DeBose, who is of...

News and Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ Star Rachel Zegler Invited to the Oscars After Backlash

Sofía AguilarMarch 23, 2022

by Sofía AguilarMarch 23, 202203713

At only 20 years old, Rachel Zegler has already risen to prominence in Hollywood for her critically acclaimed role in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story as Maria. She is the youngest person in history to receive a Golden...

News and Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ & ‘Encanto’ Get Oscar Nominations

Virginia IsaadFebruary 8, 2022

by Virginia IsaadFebruary 8, 202203872

When West Side Story and Encanto were released they were praised for Latinx representation and after winning Golden Globes, both films have been nominated for Oscars. Afro-Latina actress Ariana DeBose, who played Anita in WSS, earned her first Oscar nom...

News and Entertainment

‘Encanto’ & ‘West Side Story’ Win Big at Golden Globes 2022

Virginia IsaadJanuary 10, 2022January 10, 2022

by Virginia IsaadJanuary 10, 2022January 10, 202205788

If you feel like you missed the 2022 Golden Globes this year, you didn’t. The awards show didn’t air on TV, instead the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the winners on Twitter Sunday night, with no media in attendance...

News and Entertainment

‘Maria’ Play Follows ‘West Side Story’ Lead Character’s Return to Puerto Rico

Sofía AguilarDecember 21, 2021

by Sofía AguilarDecember 21, 202104478

Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen the play or film If you’re like us and can’t get enough of Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of West Side Story starring Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno, then you’re in luck! Long...

Culture News and Entertainment

Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose Call ‘West Side Story’ a Film for Latinxs

Virginia IsaadDecember 10, 2021December 10, 2021

by Virginia IsaadDecember 10, 2021December 10, 2021064134

Warning: Some spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen either film Roughly the first 10 minutes of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is a scene with no music or dialogue that features the Jets, the gang of white boys, defiling a...

News and Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ Remake Authentically Represents Latinidad Unlike Original Film

Sofía AguilarDecember 9, 2021December 10, 2021

by Sofía AguilarDecember 9, 2021December 10, 202105105

Steven Spielberg’s first-ever musical film of his career, West Side Story, brings to life 1950s New York through a more modern lens than the original and with authentic Latinx representation. Starring newcomer Colombian-American Rachel Zegler (María), Ansel Elgort (Tony), Afro-Puerto...

News and Entertainment

Rachel Zegler First Latina to Win National Board Review’s Best Actress Since 1998

Sofía AguilarDecember 3, 2021December 8, 2021

by Sofía AguilarDecember 3, 2021December 8, 202105610

Rachel Zegler is a rising star with not one but two major movies coming up: the West Side Story remake and the leading role live-action Snow White. With her leading role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film adaptation of...

News and Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ Drops a Special Look Ahead of December Release

Virginia IsaadJuly 28, 2021

by Virginia IsaadJuly 28, 202107723

Jets and Sharks, get ready! Just when we thought we wouldn’t see any more footage from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake until its release this December, a new Special Look video dropped during last night’s Olympic games and set...

News and Entertainment

Here’s Your First Look at Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story

Araceli CruzJune 17, 2019August 5, 2020

by Araceli CruzJune 17, 2019August 5, 202002596

It’s really happening! The first look of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is finally here! New images from Spielberg’s West Side Story were released to the public, and we can’t stop obsessing over them. We finally see Rachel Zegler as...

News and Entertainment

Rita Moreno Shares the West Side Story Lyric That Almost Made Her Quit

Araceli CruzMay 17, 2019August 7, 2020

by Araceli CruzMay 17, 2019August 7, 202007535

The living legend, Rita Moreno, is experiencing a lot of emotions lately. One minute she’s feeling anxiety because the fate of her show One Day At A Time is still up in the air — there’s a chance it could...

News and Entertainment

Steven Spielberg Casts Rachel Zegler, a 17-Year-Old Colombian-American, to Play Maria in ‘West Side Story’

Araceli CruzJanuary 15, 2019August 17, 2020

by Araceli CruzJanuary 15, 2019August 17, 202004037

Steven Spielberg has finally found his Maria! It’s been a month since auditions took place in Puerto Rico to see who would play the famous role of Maria in the new remake of West Side Story, and it looks like Spielberg...