The dancers later move on to the next stage of audition: to learn a song, but Cassie stays onstage to talk to Zach. She is a veteran gypsy with notable successes as a soloist. Zach had the history of casting her in a featured part previously, and they had lived together for several years. Zach tells Cassie that she is too good for the chorus and shouldn't be at this audition but she intended to express her passion for dance.
Cassie and Zach's complex relationship resurfaces during a run-through of the number created to showcase an un-named star ("One"). Zach confronts Cassie, feeling that she is "dancing down," and they rehash what went wrong in their relationship and her career. Eventually the final eight dancers are selected: Cassie, Bobby, Diana, Judy, Val, Mike, Mark and Richie.
"One" begins with an individual bow for each of the 19 characters, their hodgepodge rehearsal clothes replaced by identical spangled gold costumes. As each dancer joins the group, it is suddenly difficult to distinguish one from the other; ironically, each character who was an individual to the audience is now an anonymous member of an ensemble. The musical was formed from several taped workshop sessions with Broadway dancers, known as "gypsies," including eight who eventually appeared in the original cast.
A Chorus Line opened off-Broadway at The Public Theater on May 21, 1975. The show was directed and co-choreographed (with Bob Avian) by Michael Bennett. The original cast starred Scott Allen, Kelly Bishop, Robert Lupone, Wayne Cilento, Ronald Dennis, Baayork Lee, Priscilla Lopez, Donna McKechnie, Thommie Walsh, Nancy Lane, Kay Cole, Ron Kuhlman, Rick Mason, Don Percassi, Renee Baughman, Pamela Blair, Sammy Williams, Clive Clerk, and Trish Garland.
With a truly innovative idea, the show has marked its name and viewer ship. The public is running after A Chorus Line to experience the flamboyant and lurid world presented for the entertainment, which actually carries stalk and harsh realities of life. The performance is a sure hit and tickets are all up for sale!! Go and grab your share now!
A Chorus Line
Opened at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975 was a Broadway music al called ‘A Chorus Line’. The musical holds the record for the fourth longest-running musical, after Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. Its music is given by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban.
A Chorus Line is based mainly on two taped sessions with Broadway dancers. It also includes eight of the actors/actresses of the original Broadway cast. The musical toured successfully, including a run at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. With 19 main characters, the setting sets as a Broadway theater where young dancers are being auditioned for the part in the chorus line of a musical. The show gives a glimpse into the personalities of the performers.
In the setting of Act 1, director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the gypsies through their paces for an upcoming Broadway production. Every dancer is desperate for work but Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. In order to learn more about them, he asks the dancers to introduce themselves. The dancers reveal their pasts with reluctance. The first candidate and the youngest of 12 kids, Mike, recalls his first experience with dance. He used to watch his sister’s dance class and took her place one day when she refused to go to class.
Another candidate, Bobby, tries to hide the unhappiness of his childhood by cracking jokes. As he speaks, the 17 dancers have reservations about this strange audition process and debate what they should reveal to Zach. The session continues and Zach is angered when he feels that the streetwise Sheila is not taking the audition seriously. She reveals that her mother married at a young age to a man who neither loved nor cared for her. She goes on telling that when she was six, she realized that ballet provided relief from her painful family life.
The scatter-brained Kristine is tone-deaf, and her lament that she could never ‘Sing’ is interrupted by her husband. While sharing memories of adolescence, Gregory speaks about his discovery of his homosexuality, Diana recalls her horrible high school acting class, Don remembers his first job at a nightclub, Richie recounts how he nearly became a kindergarten teacher, Judy tells about her problematic childhood, and Connie laments the problems of being short.
Finally, the newly-buxom Val explains that talent doesn’t count for everything with casting directors. All go downstairs to learn a song for the next section of the audition, but Cassie, a soloist, waits to talk to Zach. They have a history together as Zach had cast her in a featured part previously. They had also lived together for several years. Since she hasn’t been able to find solo work for long, thus is willing to the chorus where she can at least express her passion for dance.
Maria is a professional writer. Music and Art is her passion and she enjoys writing on various Arts events including concerts and theaters. For more information about A Chorus Line visit:
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