Arthur Laurents was a trailblazing American playwright, screenwriter, and director whose work left an indelible mark on both Broadway and Hollywood. Known for his bold storytelling and complex characters, Laurents wrote the librettos for some of the most celebrated musicals in American theater, including West Side Story and Gypsy. His collaborations with prominent artists like Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim helped shape the direction of modern theater, blending powerful narratives with timeless music. Laurents’s influence extended to film, where he wrote the screenplays for notable works like Rope and The Way We Were, although his Hollywood career was disrupted by the McCarthy-era blacklist. Despite these challenges, Laurents continued to push boundaries in theater, even directing innovative revivals of his own works. His career is a testament to resilience, creativity, and an enduring commitment to the arts.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Arthur Laurents was born Arthur Levine on July 14, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. Growing up during the Great Depression, Laurents developed a love for storytelling early on, inspired by radio dramas and Broadway productions. He attended Cornell University, where he studied English and honed his writing skills. Laurents’s journey into professional writing began during World War II, when he was assigned to write training films and radio scripts for the U.S. Army. This experience introduced him to the world of screenwriting and set the foundation for his later work in Hollywood and Broadway.
After the war, Laurents began writing plays, gaining recognition for his talent and unique voice. His early works, such as Home of the Brave (1945), addressed social issues like racism and anti-Semitism, and he quickly earned a reputation as a fearless writer. His foray into theater led to opportunities in Hollywood, marking the beginning of a versatile and prolific career across multiple mediums.
Broadway Success – West Side Story and Gypsy
West Side Story
Laurents’s role as the librettist for West Side Story is one of his most celebrated accomplishments. Collaborating with composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, Laurents reimagined Romeo and Juliet in a contemporary setting, focusing on two rival street gangs in New York City. Laurents’s script brought a raw, authentic voice to the characters, reflecting the tensions of urban life and the struggles of young love caught between cultural conflicts. His portrayal of these themes resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike, establishing West Side Story as a groundbreaking work in musical theater that remains beloved today.
Gypsy
Laurents’s success continued with Gypsy, a musical inspired by the memoirs of famous burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. Once again collaborating with Sondheim, Laurents created a story that delved into the complexities of family, ambition, and personal sacrifice. At the heart of Gypsy is the character of Rose, played by the legendary Ethel Merman in the original production. Laurents’s writing gave depth and dimension to Rose, presenting her as a complex, determined, and sometimes difficult mother whose dreams for her daughters drive the narrative. This character-driven storytelling showcased Laurents’s ability to capture human emotion, and Gypsy has since become one of the most frequently revived and cherished musicals in theater history.
Hollywood Achievements and Challenges
Arthur Laurents made significant contributions to Hollywood, particularly through his screenwriting for major films. One of his early successes was Rope (1948), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Laurents adapted the screenplay from a play by Patrick Hamilton, crafting a tightly woven narrative that follows two young men who commit murder as an intellectual exercise. Rope became known for its experimental single-shot technique, a stylistic choice that added tension to Laurents’s sharp dialogue and suspenseful pacing, aligning well with Hitchcock’s directorial style.
In 1973, Laurents achieved notable success again with The Way We Were, a romantic drama that became one of his most celebrated screenplays. Starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, the film tells the story of a turbulent love affair between politically opposing characters against a backdrop of Hollywood’s Golden Age and the Red Scare. Laurents infused the screenplay with personal and political insight, drawing from his own experiences during the McCarthy era. The film became an iconic romance and earned Streisand a Golden Globe for her performance.
However, Laurents’s Hollywood career faced challenges due to the political climate of the 1950s. Like many in the industry, he was blacklisted during the McCarthy-era Red Scare, which accused him of Communist sympathies. This blacklisting temporarily halted his work in Hollywood, leading Laurents to focus more on theater. The experience influenced Laurents’s later work, fueling his critical outlook on censorship and political oppression. The blacklisting also deepened his commitment to authenticity and integrity in storytelling, themes that would resonate throughout his Broadway and film projects.
Later Career – Directing and Revival Work
After finding enduring success as a playwright and screenwriter, Arthur Laurents returned to Broadway as a director in his later years, specifically to revive his iconic musicals. His directorial approach brought fresh energy and a modern sensibility to these classics, starting with a 1974 revival of Gypsy. Laurents’s direction brought a nuanced depth to the characters and showcased his understanding of the original text, ensuring that each revival stayed true to the spirit of the work while engaging new generations of audiences.
In 2009, Laurents directed a groundbreaking revival of West Side Story, in which he introduced significant changes to enhance the authenticity of the Puerto Rican characters. He collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who translated portions of the dialogue and lyrics into Spanish, bringing a new cultural layer to the production. This bilingual approach allowed audiences to experience the tension between the American and Puerto Rican characters in a more nuanced way, adding a layer of realism that Laurents felt was essential to the story. The revival received widespread acclaim, further solidifying West Side Story‘s status as a timeless piece of American theater.
Through his directorial work, Laurents not only revisited his celebrated musicals but also reaffirmed his commitment to theater as a living art form, capable of evolving with the times. His influence on both the original productions and their revivals underscores his role as a transformative figure in American theater and film.
Mentorship and Legacy
Arthur Laurents was not only a creative force in his own right but also a mentor who inspired and guided the next generation of theater artists. Perhaps his most notable mentee was Stephen Sondheim, who became a towering figure in musical theater. Laurents and Sondheim first collaborated on West Side Story, where Laurents’s storytelling and structural guidance played a pivotal role in shaping the young lyricist’s approach to character-driven narratives. Laurents’s influence extended beyond Sondheim to other artists, as he fostered a culture of fearless creativity and encouraged authenticity in storytelling.
In his autobiography, Original Story By, Laurents offers candid insights into his experiences, from his artistic philosophy to his encounters with Hollywood’s blacklist. The memoir is rich with reflections on his successes and struggles, including personal anecdotes that reveal his unyielding commitment to the arts. Through this work, Laurents shared the lessons he had learned with readers, providing a valuable resource for those interested in theater and film.
Conclusion
Arthur Laurents’s career was marked by an unwavering dedication to authentic storytelling and bold artistic expression. From his iconic contributions to Broadway musicals like West Side Story and Gypsy to his impactful work in Hollywood, Laurents shaped the American cultural landscape with a distinct voice. His willingness to address complex social issues, paired with a dynamic approach to character and dialogue, has left an enduring legacy in both theater and film. Known for his outspoken personality and creative vision, Laurents continues to be celebrated as a trailblazer whose work resonates with audiences and artists alike.
FAQ
1. What are Arthur Laurents’s most famous works?
Arthur Laurents is best known for writing the librettos for the Broadway musicals West Side Story and Gypsy. He also wrote screenplays for notable films, including Rope (1948) and The Way We Were (1973).
2. How did Arthur Laurents contribute to West Side Story?
Laurents wrote the libretto, or script, for West Side Story, transforming Romeo and Juliet into a modern-day New York City tale about rival street gangs. His collaboration with Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim helped make the musical a classic piece of American theater.
3. What impact did the McCarthy-era blacklist have on Laurents’s career?
During the McCarthy era, Laurents was blacklisted due to suspicions of Communist affiliations. This significantly disrupted his Hollywood career, causing him to focus more on theater. His experiences with the blacklist influenced his later work and his views on artistic integrity.
4. How did Laurents influence Stephen Sondheim and other artists?
Laurents was an influential mentor to Stephen Sondheim, helping shape Sondheim’s approach to character-driven storytelling. Laurents’s mentorship extended to other artists as well, fostering a legacy of creativity and bold expression in theater.
5. What changes did Laurents make in the 2009 revival of West Side Story?
In his 2009 revival, Laurents introduced Spanish dialogue and lyrics, aiming to add cultural authenticity to the portrayal of Puerto Rican characters. This choice received positive responses for enhancing the musical’s realism and emotional depth.
6. Did Arthur Laurents write an autobiography?
Yes, Laurents wrote an autobiography titled Original Story By, in which he reflects on his career in theater and film, his experiences with the blacklist, and his insights into the creative process.
7. What makes Arthur Laurents a significant figure in American arts?
Laurents’s work broke new ground in both theater and film, known for tackling social issues and creating complex characters. His contributions to Broadway and Hollywood, along with his mentorship of future generations, cement his legacy as a trailblazer in the performing arts.