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Cover to vocal scoreA Chorus Line

Conceived & Originally Directed & Choreographed by Michael Bennett
Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante
Music by Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Co-choreographed by Bob Avian

Original Broadway Production produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival. Joseph Papp, Producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc

First performed at the Public Theatre, New York - 16 April, 1975
Shubert Theatre, Broadway - 19 October, 1975 (6137 perfs)
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - 22 July, 1976 (3 years)

Synopsis


Adam Faith as Zach in the 1996 UK
touring production of A Chorus Line

A celebration of those unsung heroes of the Musical Theatre, the chorus dancers, valiant, over dedicated, underpaid and highly trained troopers who back up the star and often make them look more talented than they are.

The characters portrayed in "A Chorus Line" are, for the most part, based upon the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers. This show is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step .. . anywhere.

Story

The story takes the audience on a heart-rending, nail-biting roller-coaster of emotions as a group of potential performers are put through a vigorous series of dance numbers and their numbers are gradually reduced to the sixteen from whom the director, Zach, must make his final choice. Instead of making them read a short audition, Zach asks, each hopeful to give a personal history of how they came to be in show business and what are their hopes, and inspirations. By the end of the show the audience can identify with each performer and why they have endured a life filled with rejection, injury, pain and heartache to be involved with what is, to them, the glamorous world of the musical theatre. The show finishes when the successful few, now dressed in full costume, step forward in turn to receive an individual bow, before joining together to perform the brilliant dance finale showing exactly the talent required to make up that usually unappreciated essential of every successful show - A CHORUS LINE.

 
"Well what do you want to know?" 

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS

  1. Opening - I Hope I Get It
  2. "Morales"— Underscore
  3. After "The Opening" (The Line)
  4. Intro — I Can Do That
  5. I Can Do That
  6. Introduction ". . . And . . ."
  7. ". . . And . . ."
  8. Introduction — At The Ballet
  9. At The Ballet
  10. Introduction — Sing
  11. Sing!
  12. Montage — Part 1 ("Hello Twelve;' Mark Connie)
  13. Montage — Part 2 ("Nothing")
  14. Montage — Part 3 (Don, Judy, "Mother")
  15. Montage — Part 4 (Judy (cont.), Greg, Richie)
  16. Dance: Ten; Looks: Three
  17. Short "Paul" Scene
  18. The Music And The Mirror
  19. After Music And Mirror
  20. End Of Paul's Scene
  21. One
  22. Tap Dance

Alternatives

  1. New — What I Did For Love — 1977
  2. After — What I Did For Love
  3. Bows

 

Cast of Characters

  • Roy
  • Kristine
  • Sheila
  • Val
  • Mike
  • Butch
  • Larry
  • Maggie
  • Richie
  • Tricia
  • Tom
  • Judy
  • Lois
  • Don
  • Bebe
  • Connie
  • Diana
  • Zach
  • Mark
  • Cassie
  • Al
  • Frank
  • Greg
  • Bobby
  • Paul
  • Vicki

Scenes and settings


SCENE: An Audition : Time: Now. Place: Here.

Note: A CHORUS LINE IS PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION

Orchestra

REEDS:

I. Alto Sax, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Alto Flute
II. Alto Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, E Flat Clarinet, Flute
III. Tenor Sax, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Flute
IV. Bari. Sax, Bassoon, E Flat Contra-Bass Clarinet, Flute, Clarinet

TRUMPETS I, II, III (All Double Flugelhorn)
TROMBONES I, II, TROMBONE III (Bass Trombone)
PERCUSSION: Timpani, Xylophone, Vibes, Grande Casa, Bell Plate, Bell Tree, Bells, Drums, Harp, Bass (Doubles Fender Bass), Guitar/Banjo
KEYBOARD I: Piano, Electric Fender Rhodes Piano, Celeste
*KEYBOARD II: Yamaha Y-30 Organ + Leslie Speaker Baldwin Harpsichord (Electric)
*Keyboard II is played by the conductor.