Listening to ACL OCR- Page 3

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 4:25pm

who else saw RHAPSODY OF SETH with his wonderful anecdote about loving the ACL OCR because it also gave you the choreography in the lyrics...and his mom yelling up the stairs as he played it OVER AND OVER that they were "dancers not singers" so turn it DOWN!....

I love that story.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:00pm

That show means so much to me, it's quite difficult to put into words. Honestly, I thought I was the only person touched by that show the way I was, until I moved to the U.S. and met so many others who, like me, were touched that way.

One of the biggest deals at the time the show came out (granted - I didn't live in this country, and my first exposure to it was the movie. I didn't see the show until 1988 ) was how ground breaking it was. It was the experience... as a dance/actor/really bad singer, they were telling our stories.

My first experience was the movie. I know... the horror. That's what happens when you live in a foreign country without lots of musical theater. I loved every minute of it! I saw it so many times. But that experience was NOTHING compared to the first time I saw the show on Broadway. My very first Broadway show.

My first time... I did not have the cast recording, so all I had to go by was the memory of the movie. Just walking into the theater, the stage empty but for the white line... it was so ominous. I didn't quite understand then what it meant. But somewhere inside of me, the anticipation began to grow. Then the black out, the pitter/patter, and you hear the opening number chords. I was choked up from that moment forward. Sitting on the edge of my seat. By the time it got to the Alternatives scene (right before "What I did For Love") I was a mess.

And I pretty much have the same reaction every time I see the show.

I also have had the great opportunity to be in it twice. Two very different experiences. But I got to learn the all the symbolism in the show... the line, the lighting... everything had a reason. And it just blew me away. And it still does.

THAT is MY experience. I can't wait to hear your first reactions.

edited to fix the pesky sunshade smiley

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 09:00 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:04pm

"That show means so much to me, it's quite difficult to put into words. Honestly, I thought I was the only person touched by that show the way I was, until I moved to the U.S. and met so many others who, like me, were touched that way."

I felt similarly DD, until I found other folks in my age group who felt the same way. I faced some negativity from gay guys who were about 8-10 years older than me who were reticent about ACL. One complained about it being the first of the "miked" musicals (until I pointed out that his beloved Babs had been miked in Funny Girl).

The first time I really realized the generational imprint was when I saw David Drake's wonderful one-man show, "The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me." Drake goes to see ACL and is transformed.

I turned to one of those queens who had always given me a hard time for loving ACL so and elbowed him in the ribs. "Seeeee?" I hissed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:12pm

My ribs STILL hurt.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:02am

"Clearly funds and accessibility are not a concern for you so enjoy your premium seats and stop being mean to someone with legit concerns and an articulate voice".

Since paljoey has explained the unlikelihood of being mean to Namo, I won't go into further detail, bettyboy. For myself, I merely thought that FOUR posts about the inequity of ticketing crossed the line from "an articulate voice" to whining.

I am very much looking forward to this revival (sorry I won't see you there, Namo. You'll be missed).

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:44am

I just want to share a post by MargoChanning on a thead on the Main Board.

The thread is infuriating, but Margo's post is brilliant. (page 4)

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?page=4&thread=904661&startthread=2348295

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 10:44 AM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:10am

I love margo.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:19am

Thank you Margo!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:58am

Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts about this revival. From PalJoey's post (which made me cry), to the understandable anger over ticketing policies, it has been fascinating to read. I'm also one of the younger posters who never got the chance to see the original production, although I love the OCR. I'm so excited that the revival will be a recreation (as much as it can be) of the original, which obviously had a profound effect on so many people. I'd be so happy to experience even a fraction of the magic that you've experienced with this show, so although I'm sure for many of you the revival can't live up to the incomparable original, it will hopefully bring this show to life for a new generation. And I hope it recalls some of that for those who did see it before. Updated On: 7/20/06 at 11:58 AM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 7:14pm

which one of your favorites? Am I still your favorite favorite?*wink*.

Seriously, with this cast, it has a LOT going for it. Let's just hope that Avian can actor-coach a bit better than the otherwise wonderful Ms. Lee. The vocals and the dancing will be impeccable regardless---it will be up to the acting choices to make or break the wonderful associations the show has so far. Bennett was notoriously stringent in casting the national tours and NYC replacements, and he had a natural instinct for interesting and appropriate actors. This cast seems more than able to carry on that tradition potentially, but the objectivity of the director in balancing interpretation and focus is also key. They have resisted the urge to cast near-replications of the original cast in terms of look and general affect (something that has eluded Ms. Lee in the past), so I'm very hopeful they will continue to trust fine choices and let the new cast bring their own take to the archetypes the show can't help but have created.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 7:25pm

My feelings exactly, Tx!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 7:31pm

Time will tell, my gallant DD, and of course the result will be subjective. Wish I could make the SF previews...can't wait!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 6:29pm

who else remembers Priscilla Lopez guesting on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW and Carol's intro (paraphrasing) about this "little show" that knocked her out? can't remember if Lopez did "Nothing" or "Kiss Today", I might be getting it confused with other TV appearances. Somehow I remember Carol doing some of the music too...then is it on a Julie Andrews special that Julie does a bad production number of "At The Ballet"?!?!?

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:19pm

Going back to first experiences...

This has truly been an ACL week. I ran into the director of the one I was in last year... not such good choreography but great director.

Anyway, she told me, and I do not lie, that a friend of hers saw the show. Straightlaced, computer geek dude, girlfriend of 5 years. Not huge into musical theater.

Saw the show, and it changed his life. Within a week, he had quit his job, put his house for sale, broke up with his girlfriend, and moved to CO. He realized, especially during Alternatives, that he wasn't doing what he was passionate about (my memory fails me as to what his passion was - but it took him to Colorado) and it was time he did. That was over a year ago, and apparently he's now happier than he's ever been.

edited - thanks TX

Updated On: 7/28/06 at 02:19 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:23pm

Gallant DD, "not" happier or "now" happier?!?!

That reminds me of what some people wrote about BROKEBACK...of course it's a gay movie, but it's also a movie about suppressing your passion, and what that can cost you in peace of mind. Regardless of attraction to whatever gender, regardless of occupation as a dancer or not.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:27pm

I think DD meant "now."

Either that, or it's a terribly tragic story.

...and the moral is "stay put in your sucky job or you could lose everything."

PalJoey---What a beautiful, extraordinary post!

Updated On: 7/28/06 at 02:27 PM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:29pm

LOL

I was meant to be "now." I've corrected it. :P

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 10:13am

The entire Donahue show featuring the original cast from 1990 is now posted on the Main Board.
Original Cast of A Chorus Line on The Donahue Show (1990)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 1:18pm

I was listening to the 30-second clips of the revival on iTunes yesterday. How has that thing managed to make 500 performances?

Updated On: 1/6/08 at 01:18 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 3:00pm

American Express?

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 3:20pm

I hope I Get It on the revival recording just lacks the "pop" that the original had. But I will still see the revival when the tour opens here in Denver.

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 1:34am

I just went through this whole thread and I have to say Joey's post left me with a lump in my throat.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:41pm

PalJoey's post was really beautiful.

My first exposure to A Chorus Line was the movie. I HATED it. I swore up and down that if that "garbage" ever made it back to Broadway I was staying far away. When I first heard plans for the revival, I did just that. I wouldn't hear any of it. Then, the revival opened on Broadway. From the first video clip I saw, I was sold. All of a sudden the "garbage" seemed like something really interesting. I talked about the show so much that I received not one, but two copies of the cast recording for Christmas.

I didn't actually see the show until May of last year. I had been registering for my first semester in college, and realized that if I ran, I would have just enough time to grab a standing room ticket to that day's performance. I hauled it across town, making it to the Schoenfeld about 15 minutes before that day's matinee. I asked for standing room, and the man at the box office told me that he had one more lottery ticket left. In the front row. I took this first bit of good fortune as a sign, and went to find my seat.

Well, I couldn't have imagined what was in store. From the minute that the show started, I was in complete awe. I had never been so immediately taken in by a show before. Everything about it was perfect. I found myself relating to a lot of things about the show, particularly the song "At the Ballet." Dance has always been sort of an "escape route" for me. It was just little things like that about the music and the characters that I related to. The material spoke to me not only as a dancer, but as a person in general. I laughed, I cried, and had a generally amazing experience.

I was too young to see the original production, but A Chorus Line is still a show that holds a special place in my heart.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 10:10pm

SO glad to see this thread again! I was just searching for it.

PalJoey, I never tire of reading your post.
And re-reading this thread is wonderful after having just seen "Every Little Step" again this evening.

Thanks for finding this again!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 10:11pm

Who bumped this?
Did PalJoey bump it? And if so, WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS POST?

That happened to me on the Main Board. Why are our posts disappearing.

Sorry to threadjack this special thread, but I think I'm losing my mind....

Updated On: 5/7/09 at 10:11 PM