The 8 PM event is part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival's music and movies series. Choreographer Lawrence Goldhuber will assume the identity of Officer Krupke and teach the audience some of the iconic dance moves from West Side Story prior to the screening. Lyrics will scroll across what is billed as New York City's largest outdoor screen during the film. "West Side Story" is offered for free at the Prospect Park Bandshell, but a $3 contribution is suggested at the gate. The Bandshell is closest to 9th Street and Prospect Park West.

West Side Story has lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. The film, which credits Ernest Lehman as screenwriter, was co-directed by original Broadway director Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. It stars Natalie Wood as Maria, Richard Beymer as Tony, Rita Moreno as Anita and George Chakiris as Bernardo.

The Bernstein-Sondheim score features the American classics "Somewhere," "Tonight," "One Hand, One Heart," "Maria," "I Feel Pretty" and "America."