A Chorus Line

A Chorus Line
Name	A Chorus Line
Music	Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics	Edward Kleban
Book	James Kirkwood Jr., Nicholas Dante
Basis	Workshop with Broadway dancers
Productions	1975 Broadway
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical, Pulitzer Prize for Drama

A Chorus Line. A groundbreaking musical that offers a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the lives of professional dancers auditioning for a spot in a Broadway chorus. Conceived, choreographed, and directed by Michael Bennett, with a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban, it revolutionized the form by focusing on the ensemble's personal stories. Its unprecedented success and emotional honesty earned it critical acclaim and a record-setting initial run, cementing its status as a landmark of American theatre.

Background and development

The musical originated from a series of late-night tape-recorded sessions organized by director-choreographer Michael Bennett in January 1974, where a group of professional Broadway dancers shared intimate life stories. These raw transcripts, initially envisioned as a potential PBS documentary, were developed by Bennett with writers James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante into a theatrical workshop. With financial backing from Joseph Papp and his New York Shakespeare Festival, the show was further refined at the Shubert Organization's Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. The collaborative workshop process, integrating the contributions of composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Edward Kleban, was instrumental in shaping its documentary-style authenticity and emotional core.

Plot summary

On the bare stage of a Broadway theatre, director Zach puts a large group of dancers through a rigorous audition for a new musical. He narrows the field to seventeen finalists, then demands they share personal histories to help him make his final selections. The narrative unfolds through a series of monologues and musical numbers, revealing the dancers' diverse backgrounds, motivations, and sacrifices. Key stories include Cassie's struggle as a former featured performer now desperate for work, Diana's painful memories of a dismissive high school drama class, and Paul's poignant recollection of his early life in New York City's drag and Off-Broadway scene. The show culminates in the final selection and the iconic, unified performance of "One."

Musical numbers

The score by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban seamlessly blends character-driven solos with powerful ensemble pieces. The audition begins with the demanding combination "I Hope I Get It," followed by a series of revealing solos like "I Can Do That" from Mike and "At the Ballet" from Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie. Character-defining numbers include Diana's "Nothing" and "What I Did for Love," Val's comedic "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three," and Cassie's passionate solo "The Music and the Mirror." The show builds to its legendary finale, featuring the glittering spectacle of "One" and the poignant reprise of "What I Did for Love."

Original Broadway production and cast

The original production, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, opened at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975, following previews at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Newman Theater. The ensemble cast featured Donna McKechnie as Cassie, Kelly Bishop as Sheila, and Robert LuPone as Zach. Other notable original performers included Priscilla Lopez as Diana, Sammy Williams as Paul, and Wayne Cilento as Mike. The production's minimalist design by Robin Wagner and lighting by Tharon Musser focused attention entirely on the performers, contributing to its immediate and massive success.

Critical reception and legacy

Upon its premiere, the musical received universal critical acclaim for its innovation, emotional depth, and electrifying choreography. Critics from The New York Times and The New Yorker hailed it as a revolutionary work that redefined the Broadway musical. It became a cultural phenomenon, running for 6,137 performances and holding the record as the longest-running musical in Broadway history for a time. Its influence is profound, inspiring countless subsequent works focused on ensemble casts and "backstage" narratives. The show's exploration of ambition, identity, and the fleeting nature of a performer's career continues to resonate, ensuring its place as a canonical work of American musical theatre.

Awards and honors

The musical achieved an unprecedented sweep of major awards. It won nine Tony Awards in 1976, including Best Musical, Best Book for James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, and Best Score for Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban. Michael Bennett won awards for both his direction and choreography. In a rare honor for a musical, it was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976. The original cast recording won a Grammy Award, and the 1985 film adaptation, directed by Richard Attenborough, introduced the work to an even wider global audience.

Category:American musicals Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners Category:Tony Award for Best Musical winners