A Chorus Line

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A Chorus Line is a Broadway musical that opened at the Shubert Theatre July 25, 1975 and closed there April 28, 1990 after 6,137 performances. It held the distinction of being the longest running show on Broadway until it was surpassed by CATS in 1997 and The Phantom of the Opera in 2006.

The musical is based on two taped sessions with Broadway dancers, including 8 of the actors/actresses of the original Broadway cast.

The show was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bennett, with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. The book was assembled by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante (and script-doctored by Neil Simon). It had a successful Off-Broadway run at the Public Theatre before opening on Broadway.

A Chorus Line also toured successfully, including a run at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. A Broadway revival is scheduled to open at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on October 5, 2006.

The setting is a theatre on Broadway in New York. Young hopefuls are auditioning for the part of a gypsy in the chorus line of a musical. The show gives a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. Highlights include the songs "One," "Nothing," "The Music and the Mirror," and "What I Did For Love."

A Chorus Line received 12 nominations for the Tony Awards in 1975, winning 9 of them: Best Musical, Best Actress (Donna McKechnie), Best featured Actor (Sammy Williams), Best featured Actress (Carole Bishop), Best Director (Michael Bennett), Best Musical Book(Dante and Kirkwood), Best Score(Hamlisch and Kleban), Best Lighting design (Tharon Musser) and Best Choreographer (Michael Bennett and Bob Avian). It also won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for drama, one of the few musicals ever to receive this honor.

There are 19 main characters in total.

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Musical Numbers

I Hope I Get It (Company)

I Can Do That (Mike)

"And..." (Bobby, Richie, Val, and Judy)

At the Ballet (Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie)

Sing! (Kristine, Al, and cast)

Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love (Company)

Nothing (Diana)

Dance: Ten; Looks: Three (Val)

The Music and the Mirror (Cassie)

One (Cast)

The Tap Combination (Company)

What I Did for Love (Diana and Company)

One (Reprise) (Company)

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Motion picture adaptation

In 1985, a movie version, A Chorus Line, was released by Columbia Pictures starring Michael Douglas as the choreographer, Zach.

It was adapted for the screen by Arnold Schulman and directed by Richard Attenborough. The film was controversial as many changes were made when the play was produced into a film, e.g. the homosexual elements in the original stage version, were toned down for the film. The film also expands the role of Cassie and her romance with Zach, while the play is an ensemble piece.

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