A Chorus Line Original Tape Sessions

[BwayBabyCA]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 8:20pm

This is just a question to all my fellow Broadway Nerds out there.

I've been obsessed lately with this YouTube video from filmmaker Rick McKay where he talks to some of the original dancers who participated in that legendary tape session that became the basis for A Chorus Line. Among the interviewees were original ACL cast members Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop, Priscilla Lopez, Thommie Walsh, Wayne Cilento, Sammy Williams, Renee Baughman and Trish Garland as well as several dancers who were not in the original production like Candy Brown, Steve Bockvoor, Denise Pence, Andy Bew, Mitzi Hamilton, Tony Stevens and Michon Peacock. The latter two (Stevens and Peacock) were the two who had galvanized this whole thing by getting dancers together to do something to improve dancers' creative output at the time and they invited Michael Bennett who took over and turned it into the landmark it became.

But my question is: They mention that there were about 25-30 dancers there that first night and does anyone know the names of all of those dancers who took part? I mean above I list about 15 or so, and in the video they mention a few other names who were there like Nicholas Dante (who was the basis for the Paul character and got libretto credit because the Paul monologue is his story VERBATIM), Christopher Chadman (who was in Pippin with Priscilla Lopez and Candy Brown), and Jackie Garland (who was Trish Garland's sister). But I haven't found anything in my searches that lists all the participants. Now I understand that there may be legal reasons for this, but I thought I'd throw the question out there to my fellow Broadway buffs and see what we know.

So, does anyone know?

Jeremy B.

BwayBabyCA

[morosco]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 8:49pm

I don't have an answer but wouldn't it be amazing if these tapes were ever released to the public?

[Tag]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:19pm

Although this settlement was confidential, perhaps it's an avenue to explore?

[Tag]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 9:24pm

This is also from the NYT's article about his will:

In the will, Mr. Bennett directed Bob Avian, his longtime collaborator, and John Breglio, his attorney, to establish a trust for the commercial development of the original interview tapes with Broadway dancers that formed the basis of the musical ''Chorus Line.'' Mr. Avian and Mr. Breglio are each to receive one-quarter of the profits from that enterprise and are to have sole discretion on how the tapes are to be used. The balance would be split equally among the people who participated in the interviews.

I guess that never happened?

[BwayBabyCA]

Posted: 7/26/18 at 11:50pm

It does seem like there's some legal reason why ALL the names cannot be made public. It certainly seems the reason that only snippets of the tape sessions have been played (primarily in the documentary Every Little Step, made when the revival came about). I mean, original cast members like Kelly Bishop, Donna McKechnie, Wayne Cilento, et al are all identified with the show and their respective roles so their names being brought up in disputes is practically inevitable. It also is well-established Broadway lore that it was Tony Stevens and Michon Peacock that got the ball rolling that eventually led to A Chorus Line. And of course the dancers selling their stories for $1 does seem to most people today like "WTF?!?!," but its what happened and John Breglio (along with Bob Avian) seem to be the "owners" of all the secrets. Maybe someday the tapes will be put in some sort of Broadway or Dance museum. Maybe...

[ApexPredator]

Posted: 7/27/18 at 2:43pm

It's very possible that these reel-to-reel tapes are located in the Michael Bennett papers at Yale's Beinecke library in New Haven. You'd probably have to call the library in advance to find out, though.