West Side Story is a classic musical written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. The story follows two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, and their struggles in New York City. The main characters are Maria, a Puerto Rican girl who falls in love with Tony, a Jet; ANITA, Maria's best friend and the Sharks' girlfriend; and Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The character SHARK is Bernardo's brother and a member of the Sharks. All three characters are integral to the story and help to drive the plot forward.