50th Anniversary Revival of A CHORUS LINE still on track for 2025?- Page 15

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/27/25 at 11:59pm

Crusty Bagel said: "They’d be lucky if directors and producers and choreographers actually gave a $hit aboutA Chorus Line enough to want to update it. The truth is, nobody cares about the old chestnut except the die hard fans. This is another one that needs to be put away on the drawer never to be seen again for50 years,let new generations take it in for the first time and enjoy it."

you just joined today to jump in and say this. Go away!

[getatme]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 1:20am

Thought tonight was just about one of the greatest evenings I've spent in a theatre in my lifetime. I was incredibly moved from the downbeat and only managed to catch my breath and dry my eyes a few times during the performance.

Others have already pointed out the highlights of the evening so I won't repeat, but seeing Priscilla Lopez, Kelly Bishop, and Donna McKechnie drop into their characters so easily after 50 years was breathtaking. I felt the clock wind back and suddenly it was 1975 and I was watching these people just live on that stage.

A few odd choices of performer -- why was Jessica Vosk doing At the Ballet when there were multiple Maggies in the building? Why was Debose there at all? -- but overall, a wonderful celebration of this show.

This show with the original staging and choreo is about as perfect a musical as we'll ever see. It does not feel dusty or tired or dated at all. It feels alive and vibrant and is a reminder of just how good musical theatre can be. I do hope we get one more revival of the show in its original form before it gets messed around with.

But obviously this sold out house with a virtually impossible ticket purchasing process and resale tickets in the thousands means no one cares at all and it should be shoved in the basement and forgotten about.

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 1:44am

Minor thing to note, the Playbill is the nicest Playbill I have ever received at any event, be it show, benefit, or opening night. The paper is so nice!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 3:13am

Unless there’s a different ACL overture that’s never been heard before, it has been recorded and performed previously:

https://youtu.be/LHWVCWsucSI?si=9msvW1c0nc_Ez2lm

https://youtu.be/Q465zK4m3CQ?si=auHK-CIXH5ACTepR

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 3:53am

It’s so interesting watching Charlotte damboise and Robyn hurder doing the same music and the mirror choreo at the same time.  Their timing, their personality, their body shape, it really gives off very different energy.  The number seems like the perfect vessel for dancers to bring their own individuality, it’s wonderful to see

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 7:57am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Unless there’s a different ACL overture that’s never been heard before, it has been recorded and performed previously:

https://youtu.be/LHWVCWsucSI?si=9msvW1c0nc_Ez2lm

https://youtu.be/Q465zK4m3CQ?si=auHK-CIXH5ACTepR"

yeah, that's odd. he clearly stated it's never been performed before.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 8:01am

A few odd choices of performer -- why was Jessica Vosk doing At the Ballet when there were multiple Maggies in the building? Why was Debose there at all? -- but overall, a wonderful celebration of this show.

 

I knew Vosk was doing it as someone within the rehearsal space let me know. However, I was hoping Mara Davi was doing Maggie's part.

DeBose has a connection to ACL. She played Cassie in Broadway Series South/ WCPSS's Production of A Chorus Line and was taught the choreo by Charlotte d'Amboise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zwqxDbaUC0

[abcd12]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 8:03am

ACL2006 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Unless there’s a different ACL overture that’s never been heard before, it has been recorded and performed previously:

https://youtu.be/LHWVCWsucSI?si=9msvW1c0nc_Ez2lm

https://youtu.be/Q465zK4m3CQ?si=auHK-CIXH5ACTepR"

yeah, that's odd. he clearly stated it's never been performed before."

Didn’t Bebe introduce it? And I think she said “never before performed in a Broadway theater.”

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 8:04am

ACL2006 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Unless there’s a different ACL overture that’s never been heard before, it has been recorded and performed previously:

https://youtu.be/LHWVCWsucSI?si=9msvW1c0nc_Ez2lm

https://youtu.be/Q465zK4m3CQ?si=auHK-CIXH5ACTepR"

yeah, that's odd. he clearly stated it's never been performed before."

They said it’s never been performed on a Broadway stage before. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 8:05am

Jordan Catalano said: "ACL2006 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Unless there’s a different ACL overture that’s never been heard before, it has been recorded and performed previously:

https://youtu.be/LHWVCWsucSI?si=9msvW1c0nc_Ez2lm

https://youtu.be/Q465zK4m3CQ?si=auHK-CIXH5ACTepR"

yeah, that's odd. he clearly stated it's never been performed before."

They said it’s never been performed on a Broadway stage before."

yes, it was Bebe who introduced it for the "In Memoriam".

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 9:02am

First part of M&TM w/Donna, Robyn and Charlotte.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMpB9y-OWVF/?igsh=MXA1bzhmZGo4c2JyYg==

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 9:22am

Thanks for that link ACL, it looks electric.

I always wonder now though, do the screamers not realize that they themselves aren’t receiving the entire performance when they banshee-shriek like that? Don’t they want to take it all in and remember it and hear it? They need to get out of their own way. Maybe just clap during songs and don’t scream. 

When you hear mid-title number cheers on the closing night Hello Dolly bootleg with Ethel Merman, it’s somehow charming and respectful and not overwhelming, and I can’t imagine it made people hate everyone around them. What happened since then?

People have also been posting their comp ticket photos on Instagram. Would hate to have dropped several hundred to see this and the person next to me got in for free. 

Updated On: 7/28/25 at 09:22 AM

[johnny_g]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 9:36am

Wonder what happened to michael berresse, who opened as Zach in the 2006 revival?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 9:41am

johnny_g said: "Wonder what happened tomichael berresse, who opened as Zach in the 2006 revival?"

Not sure. I was up in the balcony, but from what others have told me was that a lot of the cast members from the revival were seated in the orchestra but didn't perform.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 9:49am

BorisTomashevsky said: "Thanks for that link ACL, it looks electric.

I always wonder now though, do the screamers not realize that they themselves aren’t receiving the entire performance when they banshee-shriek like that? Don’t they want to take it all in and remember it and hear it? They need to get out of their own way. Maybe just clap during songsand don’t scream.

When you hear mid-title number cheers on the closing night Hello Dolly bootleg with Ethel Merman, it’s somehow charming and respectful and not overwhelming, and I can’t imagine it made people hate everyone around them. What happened since then?

People have also been posting their comp ticket photos on Instagram. Wouldhate to have dropped several hundred to see this and the person next to me got in for free."

I thought the audience was well behaved last night. I expected Music and the Mirror to be electric and each Cassie given a warm reception upon their entrance. The "Proud" note is always given applause and I was expecting it with Donna and Robyn doing it together. Still don't know who the other four Cassies were that danced with Goldyn.

 

FYI, my digital ticket said $0. I'm sure any OBC or revival cast members were there on comps. I do wonder about the other living OBC and if there were there last night but physically could not be on stage (Kay Cole, Nancy Lane, Renee Baughman, etc.). 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 10:02am

Looks like it was Donna plus 8 Cassies. What I’ve gathered from posts so far is:

Jessica Lee Goldyn, Robyn Hurder, Sarah Bowden, Sara Esty, Charlotte D’Amboise. So three more that I can’t place. 

Updated On: 7/28/25 at 10:02 AM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 10:11am

As far as I know, all tickets said COMP on them.

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 10:59am

n2nbaby said: "As far as I know, all tickets said COMP on them."

My physical ticket for the balcony, and my friends’ in the mezz all said comp as well.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 11:32am

BorisTomashevsky said: "Looks like it was Donna plus 8 Cassies. What I’ve gathered from posts so far is:

Jessica Lee Goldyn, Robyn Hurder, Sarah Bowden, Sara Esty, Charlotte D’Amboise. So three more that I can’t place."

Carleigh Bettiol was another. She did the national tour in 2009-10 and covered Cassie(and others).

[DaveyG]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 11:39am

I respect that ACL was Michael Bennett’s baby. But was any time devoted to the authors of the show last night? Marvin Hamlisch often gets his due, but Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood, and Nicholas Dante always seem underappreciated in events like this. Their contributions were just as vital to what made the show extraordinary.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 11:46am

I could be completely wrong but my gut instinct is that an overture for ACL was never considered artistically necessary during the creation of the show. If there was ever a show that shouldn't have an overture... this is it. I think the overture is just something that Marvin (or someone else) threw together long after the show opened and the story was fabricated to give Marvin the opportunity to introduce the "overture" to his concert audiences.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 11:53am

DaveyG said: "I respect thatACLwas Michael Bennett’s baby. But was any time devoted to the authors of the show last night? Marvin Hamlisch often gets his due, but Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood, and Nicholas Dante always seem underappreciated in events like this. Their contributions were just as vital to what made the show extraordinary."

All 3 were mentioned numerous times last night.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 12:00pm

morosco said: "I could be completely wrong but my gut instinct is that an overture for ACL was neverconsidered artistically necessary during the creation of the show. If there was ever a show that shouldn't have an overture... this is it. I think the overture isjust something that Marvin (or someone else) threw together long after the show opened and the story was fabricated togive Marvin the opportunity to introduce the "overture" to his concert audiences."

I can see a case for both your theory and the “official” story. It does seem strange to me that an actual overture would open with the theme from “One”, the finale of the show and now the mainly-known song along with “What I Did For Love”. Giving the punchline away early like that seems rookie and unconsidered to me. And the overture plays more like an ACL “suite” to me as opposed to an overture.

And yet in support of the “official” story… I can’t see Hamlisch so desperate as to make up something that wasn’t true, and to have his collaborators “in” on the story. Why not just do his concerts and say “If ACL did have an overture, here’s what I would have written.”

Either way, here’s the official story from one of the YouTube links above:

"When I was growing up there was this show called Gypsy, and Gypsy had this great overture, I always considered to be the best overture, and when I was writing A Chorus Line I was hoping to write an overture that we will use for the show. Well, I wrote the overture but we never used it because we didn't think it was right to have an overture in front of a show that supposedly takes place at an audition.”

Updated On: 7/28/25 at 12:00 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 12:05pm

Was the orchestra in the pit? I was somewhat disappointed they didn't get a shoutout at all - I was hopeful they were going to be on the stage, in the same spots as the HK orchestra. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/28/25 at 12:08pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Was the orchestra in the pit? I was somewhat disappointed they didn't get a shoutout at all - I was hopeful they were going to be on the stage, in the same spots as the HK orchestra."

No. The orchestra was on stage in the same spots as HK. I'm guessing Hell's Kitchen is using the pit for something else?