One theme that West Side Story touches on that Romeo and Juliet didn't, is the group mentality. In Romeo and Juliet the two lovers are pressured by families to be apart. In the musical its the peers who corrupt and influence Tony and Maria.
This is most likely part of the modern twist that was given to the story of Romeo and Juliet. I would find it hard to believe if I was watching a modern piece in which two actual families had a feud that strong. While we may not like our neighbors, there aren't people running around New York killing each other because they are the gardeners for different families.
Even though I believe the group mentality was the result of a modern twist, it still is a theme and there is still a statement. The argument on the group mentality can be seen as "don't join a gang" or "don't give in to peer pressure". Both of these could be plausible arguments for a Broadway musical turned motion picture.
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