A Chorus Line

Musical

Writers: James Kirkwood Nicholas Dante Marvin Hamlisch Edward Kleban Michael Bennett

Overview

Show Information

Lyrics
Conceived By
Category
Musical
Number of Acts
1
Tony Award®
Best Musical 1976
First Produced
1976
Genres
Drama
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
new york, 1970s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal for
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes adult, young adult characters

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.

Lead Characters

A Chorus Line guide sections