A Chorus Line
Musical
Writers:James Kirkwood Nicholas Dante Marvin Hamlisch Edward Kleban Michael Bennett
Overview
Synopsis
A Chorus Line examines one day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the “chorus line” of a Broadway musical. After the first round of cuts, Zach, the director and choreographer, asks each dancer to speak about themselves. Discomfort opens into revelation, confession leads to redemption, and within the bright, outwardly homogenous chorus, the audience begins to see each dancer’s individuality. From Cassie, the star who just needs the “music and the mirror and the chance to dance,” to Val, a small-town girl with a brand-new big-town body, to Mike, who took his sister’s place in dance class, saying “I can do that.” Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, as told to fellow dancer and choreographer Michael Bennett, A Chorus Line is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest.
Show Information
- Book
- James Kirkwood , Nicholas Dante
- Music
- Marvin Hamlisch
- Lyrics
- Edward Kleban
- Conceived By
- Michael Bennett
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1976
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- new york, 1970s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Beginning in 1974, dancers Michon Peacock, Tony Stevens, and Michael Bennett began a series of taped workshop sessions with fellow Broadway “gypsies.” In these sessions, the dancers talked about their childhoods, their roads to becoming professional dancers, their fears, their hopes, and their thoughts about the business. These tapes provided the content for workshop productions of the musical that would eventually become A Chorus Line.
In the 1970s, most Broadway shows followed the
to read the context for A Chorus Line and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Zach and his assistant Larry are holding dance auditions for an upcoming Broadway show. At the audition is a large, diverse group of dancers, all of whom wear leotards of various styles and numbers on their chests. The dancers are all desperate to get a job (“I Hope I Get It”). Zach and Larry teach them a jazz combination and a ballet combination. The first cut occurs, and 17 dancers remain. Zach tells the auditioners that he wants to get to know a bit more about them. The dancers are
to read the plot for A Chorus Line and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
Songs
- *I Hope I Get It– Zach, Tricia, Paul and Company
- *I Can Do That – Mike
- And... – Bobby, Richie, Val, and Judy
- At the Ballet – Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie
- Sing– Kristine, Al, and Company
- *Montage Part 1: Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love” – Mark, Connie, and Company
- *Montage Part 2: Nothing– Diana
- *Montage Part 3: Mother – Don, Judy, Maggie, and Company
- *Montage Part 4: Gimme the Ball – Greg, Richie, and Company
- *Dance: Ten, Looks: Three – Val
- *The Music and the Mirror – Cassie
- *One – Company
- *The Tap Combination – Company
- *What I Did For Love – Diana and Company
- *One (Reprise) – Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
A musical where a theme, metaphor or concept is just as important as the overarching plot and the featured songs.
Performance of gender expression, often when men imitate or exaggerate a feminine style.
The act of inventing or executing action or dialogue in the moment without preparation, often with input and suggestions from audience members.
The script of the musical, separate from the musical orchestrations.
The middle female vocal type, generally A3-A5.
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