A Chorus Line (play)
"A Chorus Line" is a groundbreaking musical conceived by director-choreographer Michael Bennett, which premiered in the mid-1970s. It emerged from the frustrations faced by dancers during that era, who often felt undervalued and typecast in background roles while non-dancing stars garnered the spotlight. The musical poignantly depicts the competitive and often demoralizing audition process dancers undergo, allowing their stories and struggles to take center stage for the first time in musical theater.
Notably, Bennett's innovative approach involved incorporating a diverse range of musical styles, including classical, rock, ballet, and jazz, creating a rich and varied score. The creative process involved direct input from dancers, who shared their personal experiences in sessions that informed the show's development. "A Chorus Line" premiered Off-Broadway in 1975 before moving to Broadway, where it received critical acclaim and won nine Tony Awards. The production serves as a theatrical documentary, exploring themes of isolation, sexuality, and the emotional maturity of dancers in the challenging world of show business. Its impact on both theater and the representation of dancers' identities in popular culture has been profound and lasting.
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Subject Terms
A Chorus Line (play)
Identification Dance musical
A Chorus Line, a musical portraying the reality of working dancers, explored the working conditions for dancers in Broadway theater, many of whom experienced a shrinking job market as a result of the decade’s economic recessions.
Date Opened on Broadway on July 25, 1975
Director Michael Bennett (1943-1987)
Authors Music by Edward Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch; book by Nicholas Dante and James Kirkwood
Key Figures
Marvin Hamlisch (1944- ), musical composerEdward Kleban (1939-1987), lyricistNicholas Dante (1941-1991), musical book writerJames Kirkwood (1924-1989), musical book writer
A Chorus Line was conceived and created by the Tony Award-winning director-choreographer Michael Bennett, who previously had done sixteen Broadway shows, although none paralleled the scope, impact, and success of A Chorus Line. The frustration and dissatisfaction that dancers experienced throughout the 1970’s motivated Bennett to create this musical. Dancers were highly trained but poorly paid, and their talents were restricted to background dancing while nondancing stars were featured in the shows and assigned speaking parts. A Chorus Line was an attempt to depict the demoralizing selection process that dancers had to undergo when they auditioned for a job.
A Chorus Line was a remarkable musical. Bennett not only created a show featuring dancers as main characters but also conceptualized the show from a choreographic point of view. He made dance a unifying element in the production, something yet unseen in the world of musical theater. The creative process of the production was equally impressive. Dancers were invited to participate in two sessions to share their lives and their experiences both as everyday human beings and as dancers. Moreover, the score for A Chorus Line was also innovative for the era. It deviated from the standard Broadway score in that it included a variety of musical styles, including classical, rock, ballet, and jazz.
The first taped session took place on January 18, 1974, and a second one occurred on February 8, 1974. The actual script for the musical, its score, lyrics, and the choreography were composed later during a five-week rehearsal period. A second rehearsal period of seven weeks followed in order to refine and focus the material that had been compiled in the first five weeks. The creation of the character Zach as a unifying concept throughout the musical came out during this second rehearsal period.
The first public preview of A Chorus Line took place on April 16, 1975, at New York City’s Newman Theater. The show held its Off-Broadway run from May to July 1975, and it began previews on Broadway on July 25, 1975.
Impact
A Chorus Line won nine Tony awards. It served as a theatrical documentary dealing with auditions, competitions, and rejection and with the isolation, sexuality, and maturity of dancers in show business.
Bibliography
Mandelbaum, Ken. “A Chorus Line” and the Musicals of Michael Bennett. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1989. Includes a thorough coverage of Bennett’s background and a step-by-step description of the creation of A Chorus Line.
Viagas, Robert. On the Line: The Creation of “A Chorus Line.” New York: William Morrow, 1990. Provides twenty chapters arranged by date detailing the creation of this musical and its subsequent success as a 1985 film.