In honor of the upcoming Academy Awards, we are celebrating West Side Story and Tick, Tick...Boom!, which have received a combined total of 9 Oscar nominations! These exquisite films have brought the shows's characters and songs to audiences around the world, whether on the big screen or at home. We are thrilled they have garnered well-deserved accolades and awards.

We invite you to explore these shows and enjoy some Free Reads!

See the full list of nominees here.

Tick, Tick...Boom!

Before Rent, there was Tick, Tick... Boom!. This autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, tells the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theatre. Containing fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors and a band, Tick, Tick... Boom! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to a Broadway blockbuster.

For Tick, Tick...Boom!, Andrew Garfield's performance as Jonathan Larson earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum are nominated for Best Editing. Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda with an adapted screenplay by Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hansen), this imaginative adaptaion is a poigant tribute to Larson's legacy.

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West Side Story

Directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, this new screen adaptation of West Side Story is nominated for seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana DeBose's highly lauded performance as Anita. The screenplay has been adapted by MTI author and acclaimed playwright Tony Kushner (Caroline, or Change).

From the first notes to the final breath, West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Arthur Laurents' book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. The world's greatest love story takes to the streets in this landmark Broadway musical that is one of the theatre's finest accomplishments.

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West Side Story School Edition

With additional resources for students and directors, West Side Story School Edition makes the iconic musical more accessible and meaningful for high school performers. With this version, you receive a Director's Guide, Enhanced Study Guide,  Guide Vocal tracks, Performance Accompaniment tracks, and Choreography Manual and Videos.

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Photo credit: Ariana DeBose in West Side Story, Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios ; Andrew Garfield in tick, tick...BOOM! © Netflix

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