September 24, 2010 - 11:12 AMT
U.S. Embassy to showcase West Side Story in Yerevan and Gyumri

The U.S. Embassy will showcase the American musical film West Side Story on September 25-26 in Armenia.

The screenings will take place at the Moscow Movie Theater in Yerevan on September 25, at 7:00 pm, and the Hoktember Movie Theater in Gyumri on September 26, at 4:00 pm. The musical will be shown in English with Armenian subtitles.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of West Side Story's film debut. In 1961, the musical won a stunning ten Academy Awards (Oscars), including Best Picture. West Side Story is a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, transplanting the timeless love story to the crowded tenements of New York City. West Side Story's beautiful score and dazzling choreography vividly bring to life the passions of rival gangs and young lovers caught in the crossfire of ethnic strife.

The West Side Story showcase is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with Art-Film. Art-Film LLC is a private company whose goal is to revitalize Armenian cinema and introduce classic films to wider audiences. Since 2002, Art-Film has organized numerous public events in partnership with foreign and local institutions, the Embassy's press office said.