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Rachel Zegler Is Maria In The New "West Side Story" Film And I Couldn't Be More Excited

Living proof that YouTube covers can still get you far in life.

dmedina

Mar 28, 2019

University of West Georgia

111

Rachel Zegler Is Maria In The New "West Side Story" Film And I Couldn't Be More Excited

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"West Side Story" is an iconic musical that portrays a more modern story of Romeo and Juliet involved in the street gangs of New York. Taking place in the upper west side, the two gangs consist of the Puerto Rican Sharks led by Bernardo and the white Jets led by the Riff. The musical contains well-known songs like "America," "I Feel Pretty," and "Maria" as well as iconic dance numbers. The main characters, Maria and Tony, separately come from both gangs and fall in love. Maria's brother is Sharks leader Bernardo and Tony is a part of the Jets.

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The original movie from 1961 captured a grand audience and was extremely successful. Now acclaimed director Steven Spielberg is doing a remake of the film. He cast Ansel Elgort as Tony and YouTube phenomenon Rachel Zegler as Maria. Rachel Zegler is a Colombian-American senior in high school who takes part in many of her school's Broadway show productions. She posts covers of her singing Broadway songs as well as some currently popular songs. She's best known for her short viral cover of Shallow by Lady Gaga:

— (@)

The internet is very excited about her being cast to play Maria, as am I. She's an extremely talented 17-year-old and was selected out of 30,000 applicants! I wouldn't say she was lucky, but much rather that her talent is what got her this legendary role. I fell in love with her covers of No One Else from "Natasha, Pierre, And The Great Comet Of 1812" and Breathe from "In The Heights". Zegler began performing in theatre at the age of twelve and hasn't stopped since. She's played Belle in "Beauty and the Beast," Cosette in "Les Miserables," Ariel in "The Little Mermaid," and Maria in a performing arts school presentation of "West Side Story".

Zegler already has experience with this famous musical, which only further enables her to play this strong female lead. She even posted a clip of her in the final scene of the theatre production of "West Side Story" in which she starred:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIjDdiC0LHo

Rachel Zegler will become a household name that I hope to never stop hearing. She's only just getting started and I can't wait to see how far she goes in her career. I'm definitely looking forward to the day she's performing her heart out on Broadway.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Rachel Zegler Is Maria In The New "West Side Story" Film And I Couldn't Be More Excited

Living proof that YouTube covers can still get you far in life.

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For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

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15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

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17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

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"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

Who isn't stressing out over finals right now?

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