Courtney Balcombe

Creative Editor

clb6264@psu.edu

Disney’s newest adaptation of Stephen Spielberg’s hit musical, “West Side Story” brought in first-time actress, Rachel Zegler, to play the female lead Maria alongside well-known actor Ansel Elgort as Tony.

While Zegler had attended the Oscars on March 27, she originally never received an invitation. According to BBC News, she had originally tweeted how she would spend the night in her “sweatpants and boyfriend’s flannel.” However, once she was added to the final list of stars who would present awards she took to Twitter once again.

“The absolutely incredible team at @Disney and our Snow White producers worked some real-life magic, and I am thrilled to be able to celebrate my @westsidemovie fam at the Oscars,” Zegler wrote on Twitter.

Though Zegler was not invited originally, there were many who raised their support for her to be at the Oscars. This list of support even included Russ Tamblyn, who played Riff in the original 1961 film, saying it was “your duty to find Rachel a seat at the Oscars.”

Tamblyn took to Twitter to call out the Academy for not inviting Zegler, tweeting  “She STARS in #Westsidestory which is nominated across the board. When they say representation matters, this is what that means. Please do right by her.”

While Zegler was not personally nominated, “West Side Story” was nominated for seven Oscars; including Best Picture, Best Actress in Supporting Role, Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Sound.

“West Side Story” lost to “Dune” in the categories for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design. However, it did win Best Actress in a Supporting Role to Ariana DeBose received the award, becoming the first openly queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar.