Since its first appearance on Broadway in 1957, West Side Story has captured audiences' imagination with its gritty realism, urban street gangs, extensive dances, and tragic ending. Something's Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination takes a critical, comprehensive look at one of the most inventive, influential, and internationally beloved Broadway musicals of all time û from its inception by a brilliant quartet of creators (Robbins, Bernstein, Sondheim, and Laurents) to its smashing success on film, to its ongoing popularity on stages around the world and its potent impact on the Great American Musical.

With a click, with a shock : enter West Side story -- Now it begins, now it starts : West Side story from brainstorm to Broadway premiere -- A time and a place for us : the book and characters of West Side story -- Gonna rock it tonight : the staging of West Side story -- The most beautiful sound I ever heard : the music and lyrics of West Side story -- Shooting sparks into space : the dances of West Side story -- I have a love : Romeo and Juliet and West Side story -- We ain't no delinquents : West Side story and the rise of juvenile delinquency -- What was just a word is a star : West Side story the movie -- The swinginest thing : West Side story recordings -- Here come the Jets : West Side story in production around the word -- Stick to your own kind : bigotry and West Side story -- Gold medal kid with the heavyweight crown : the rise of the dancer-choreographer -- We got troubles of our own : Broadway's youth musicals -- Suns and moons all over the place : West Side story in popular culture.