David Newman (West Side Story)

Right on Cue

This week, we're talking to David Newman, son of acclaimed composer Alfred Newman and a proud member of a film music family that includes brother Thomas Newman and cousin Randy Newman. He's a prolific and legendary composer and conductor who's scored more than 100 feature films and television shows. You may know his work from films like Serenity, the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and most notably, his iconic score to Galaxy Quest.

But his latest project isn't to compose a new original score, but to play musical steward for Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner's adaptation of one of the most celebrated musicals of all time -- Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Rather than reinterpret Bernstein's timeless score for Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner's new adaptation of the film, Newman used his lifelong experience with the musical (and familiarity with the Bernstein estate) to craft something that fit Spielberg and Kushner's updates to the script, choreography, and story, while keeping the essential spirit of those classic tunes alive. Today, Newman joins me to talk about his relationship to West Side Story, what they changed (and didn't change) in his new arrangement, and more. You can find David Newman at their official website here. West Side Story is currently playing in theaters; if you're vaxxed, boosted, masked, and feel comfortable going, please go for it. You can also listen to the soundtrack on your preferred music streaming service courtesy of 20th Century Music.