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‘WEST SIDE STORY’ IS STAGED IN SOVIET

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December 31, 1964, Page 11Buy Reprints
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MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (UP)—The Soviet Union reached another free hand into Broadway's musical repertory tonight and came up with “West Side Story.”

The modern Romeo and Juliet tale of Manhattan's streets opened in Tallinn, capital of Soviet Republic of Estonia, following the openings of “My Fair Lady” in Leningrad and Moscow in the Russian language.

Soviet authorities refuse to pay royalties for either production.

Taas, the official Soviet press agency, acknowledged that the Tallin Opera House was putting on “West Side Story” because of “the great success” of ‘My Fair Lady.”

‘My Fair Lady” opened in Moscow on Monday after playing to packed audiences in Leningrad. “West Side Story” is expected in Moscow soon.

The Columbia Broadcasting System, which controls the foreign rights to “My Fair Lady,” has called the Soviet productions unauthorized and is preparing a protest.

A Soviet Culture Ministry official said that negotiations would have “no practical value.”

The Culture Official called the royalty issue “unprecedented and absolutely out of the question.” The Soviet Union has never signed the international copyright and patent conventions.