'MY FAVORITE MUSICAL'
TITLE of MUSICAL: A Chorus Line
PART 1: THE BACKGROUND
A. Creative Artists of the ORIGINAL BROADWAY / OFF-BROADWAY Production.
Book Writer: Nicholas Dante and James Kirkwood Jr.
Composer: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyricist: Edward Kleban
Director: Michael Bennett
Choreographer: Michael Bennett and Bob Avian
Producer: Joseph Papp
B. Original Source: (was the Musical based on a Book, a Movie, a TV Show, an Historic
Event, etc.).
The story started with Michon Peacock and Tony Stevens. They both wanted to create
a musical about a theater troupe/auditionees of Broadway dancers and to discover
their own personal stories as people in the industry. They and Michael Bennett
actually recorded tapes of these dancers and of the OBC recounting their memories as
dancers.
C. Background History of ORIGINAL BROADWAY / OFF-BROADWAY Production.
YEAR of the ORIGINAL BROADWAY / OFF-BROADWAY Opening:
o Original Broadway Opening: July 25th, 1975
o Off Broadway Opening: April 25th, 1975
NAME of the THEATRE?
o Original Broadway: Shubert Theatre
o Off Broadway: The Public Theatre
RECEPTION: How was the original production received? Reviews? Audience
Response? Etc.
o The original production sold out before the run even started. A lot of people and
critics loved the show so much because it felt so believable—probably because all
the people who cast were dancers since that’s who the show was written for and
about.
ANECDOTES: Any interesting anecdotes (stories) about the Origins of the
Show, it's Cast, the Director, etc.
AWARDS: Did the Show win any of Broadway's most coveted Award - The
TONY? How about any Awards for 'Off-Broadway' Shows - The OBIE? etc.
D. What is the GENRE of the Musical? (For example: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Political
or Social Satire, Juke-Box Musical, etc.). Explain.
E. What is the SETTING?
WHERE is the GEOGRAPHIC Setting?
What’s interesting about this show is that it doesn’t really have any scenery or set
design. It almost takes place in like this limbo of an audition room.
WHAT is the TIME PERIOD the Story is set?
1970s
WHAT is the HISTORICAL BACKDROP?
o
What was/is Happening at the Time of the Story? Explain.
Politically? Explain. The Vietnam War ended and
the Fall of Saigon was going in 1975. The
unemployment rate had also reached 9.2%, which
is interesting how that lends itself to the characters
desperation to get cast.
Socially? Explain. Anti-war movements, women’s
liberation movements, and also just movements of
counterculture and general were going on. People
were standing up and saying what was on their
mind.
Culturally? Explain. Big movies released like Star
Wars and the Godfather and Jaws were being
released in the 70s. This new era of film was all the
rage. There was also the disco craze of course and
apparently a rise in a lot of people being one hit
wonders.
PART 2: THE STORY
BRIEF Synopsis of the Story. (5 Sentences MAXIMUM!).
This musical celebrates and gives a voice to performers, especially dancers, of
American Musical Theatre at the time and recognizes how hard they work and how
they don’t get the props they deserve for the work that they put in.
Describe the CHARACTERS
The characters each recount their own personal struggles and quirks that have shaped
them into the dancers they are today. There a lot of them as it is primarily an
ensemble pieces the main ones each have their own songs and monologues. The main
characters include Zach, Cassie Ferguson, Mike Costa, Greg Gardner, Sheila Bryant,
Bobby Mills, Bebe Benzenheimer, Judy Turner, Richie Walters, Al DeLuca, Kristine
Urich (DeLuca), Paul San Marco, Val Clark, Connie Wong, Diana Morales, Maggie
Winslow, and Mark Anthony.
Describe the MOST SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS between the Characters.
What’s so great about this show is the ensemble relationship the characters have with
each other. Thus, all characters relationships with each other as an ensemble is the
most important.
PART 3: THE MUSIC
What is/are the predominant STYLE (S) of the MUSIC?
The prominent style of music is very Musical Theatre/Broadway.
Composed for an Orchestra? Band? Piano? Guitar? Etc.
The orchestra is very important to the show because they play under most of the
dialogue and emphasize very specific beats.
What is the predominant STYLE(S) of the SINGING VOICES?
The prominent style of singing voices in heavily based in chorus and ensemble
singing. Very musical theatre as well.
PART 4: THE DANCE / MOVEMENT and/or STAGING
o Does DANCE serve the musical in TELLING THE STORY? Explain.
Describe.
Dance is essentially THE method of storytelling for this show. From the
way the ballet dancers in “At the Ballet” demonstrate the almost escape
from the hardships of life and a gateway back to childlike love and beauty
(as the song helps narrate), to Cassie’s longing for acceptance from others
and acceptance from herself as she watches herself dance in the mirror.
The whole show uses dance to weave an intricate web of vulnerability
between these dancers. Dance is not just how they survive, but how they
live.
o What is/are the predominant STYLE (S) of the DANCE or
MOVEMENT?
This show includes all kinds of dance, such as musical theatre dance,
ballet, jazz, and tap.
o Do ALL the Characters Dance? Do SOME Characters
o Dance? None? Explain.
All the characters dance except for the director. Even though some of the
characters don’t dance for very long, they all dance at some point.
PART 5: THE PASSION
Tell me WHY this is your Favorite Musical!
HOW did you FIRST Discover the Musical? Remember...
I first discovered this musical by stumbling upon a clip on TikTok a couple years ago
of the documentary “Every Little Step,” which follows dancers as they audition for
the 2006 “A Chorus Line” revival on Broadway.
Do you love the STORY Most? The MUSIC Most? The DANCE Most? Explain.
I think I love the story the most. I was dancer my whole life up until I was 13 and
then I stopped. Now that I’ve changed and grown, people don’t really view me as a
dancer and I have stopped viewing myself as one even though that was my lifeblood
for a long time. This story helps me connect with a part of my that I feel like I’ve lost
but has always been inside of me.
Which CHARACTER do YOU most closely CONNECT with? Why? How?
Explain.
I think the character I connect with the most is Maggie. The way she talks about their
relationship to her father and how it relates to the ballet reminds me so much of my own
childhood because I grew up with my dad watching my ballet recitals. It just felt so
nostalgic in that way.
What MESSAGE or LESSON did the Musical TEACH you? What can it Teach
All of US?
I think what the musical taught me is that I am enough as a performer. I will always
be a dancer even if I stop dancing. I will always be a performer even I stop performer.
No matter what hardships I go through in the industry and go through with myself, I
am enough how I am. This musical can teach everyone just that, but in the broader
scope of the sense that no matter what job we have, we are enough despite the
standards we and others may put upon us.
