A Chorus Line Revival

[The8re phan]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 7:13pm

We're just a little over a year away from the 50th anniversary and it's inevitable celebratory revival.

Do we see this back at the Shubert, or perhaps re-opening the Palace?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 7:22pm

A 50th Anniversary production would be the PERFECT show to reopen the Palace!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 7:51pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1152542

🤞🏽 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 8:21pm

It's supposed to happen. Probably Fall 2024, at the Shubert if it's available. Limited run

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 8:27pm

Would love for Ryan Steele to be in this

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 9:02pm

The only revival, which wasn't that long ago, was mediocre, and I don't think it returned its investment.  I doubt we will see a major revival any time soon, but I have been wrong before.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/23/23 at 9:22pm

Jarethan said: "The only revival, which wasn't that long ago, was mediocre, and I don't think it returned its investment. I doubt we will see a major revival any time soon, but I have been wrong before."

The 2006 revival recouped in 19 weeks and ran for almost two years.

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/96299/chorus-line-revival-recoups-8-million-investment-after-19-weeks/

I want Robyn Hurder as Cassie again. But i think they need to think outside the box for a 50th anniversary revival. gender swap some roles?

 

[betyourass]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 11:46am

Why is gender swapping the only way to innovate? These characters were based on real people. So why erase their legacy? 

 

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 11:56am

I follow Baayork Lee on Instagram and she travels around the country directing and choreographing Michael Bennett’s original. It’s really cool to see her with young dancers and continuing Bennett’s legacy! 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 12:25pm

ACL2006 said: "I want Robyn Hurder as Cassie again. But i think they need to think outside the box for a 50th anniversary revival. gender swap some roles?"

It would certainly make 'Dance 10 Looks 3' take on a new meaning.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 12:48pm

betyourass said: "Why is gender swapping the only way to innovate? These characters were based on real people. So why erase their legacy?

EXACTLY! Not only would doing this NOT be innovative, it's just downright gimmicky. The one thing A CHORUS LINE does NOT need is a gimmick to stir up interest or to sell.

The show is a classic. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 1:50pm

Frankly, with the massive labor movement sweeping the country, especially in the entertainment industry which has had several reckonings in the past decade, this show feels like it could be very current if done well. Unsung heroes have deep stories worth exploring, that's one of the biggest things I got out of this play (I really do think of A Chorus Line as a very well musicalized play, kinda like Fun Home). There is absolutely no need for a gimmick, just an honest raw take which is driven by the stories and movement.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:13pm

I would love to see a Chorus Line revival that embraces the original production's earthy vernacular energy. Everyone onstage should be raw, desperate, and idiosyncratic - the whole point is that all of these rough, standout personalities get smudged into an indistinguishable line of top hats and teeth. The revival (or at least the first tour version, which I saw) was glee-club clean, and it felt like any of those people could just walk out and get a job dancing elsewhere, so why are they putting themselves through this?

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:14pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "A 50th Anniversary production would be the PERFECT show to reopen the Palace!"

The Palace will be re-opened by a massive star in residency...

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:17pm

OhHiii said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "A 50th Anniversary production would be the PERFECT show to reopen the Palace!"

The Palace will be re-opened by a massive star in residency..."

 

A Judy Garland hologram!

They're already doing it (successfully) in the UK with ABBA Voyage.

 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:17pm

OhHiii said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "A 50th Anniversary production would be the PERFECT show to reopen the Palace!"

The Palace will be re-opened by a massive star in residency..."

Where did you hear that? If true, who would it be?

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:22pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "OhHiii said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "A 50th Anniversary production would be the PERFECT show to reopen the Palace!"

The Palace will be re-opened by a massive star in residency..."

Where did you hear that? If true, who would it be?"

We all have our sources :)

I don't think anything's confirmed 100%, but this is definitely the intention in the vein of Judy/Liza at the Palace.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 2:46pm

Gaga at The Palace. Delightful. 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 3:17pm

This has probably been done before, but I've always wanted to see a performance of the Finale where the build-up to the final kick-line culminates with the cast turning to face upstage as an upstage curtain opens, revealing stage lights shining, bulbs flashing, and roses flying, as they finish the kick-line, with the actual audience now seeing it all as if backstage (ala that moment during Dawn in Jersey Boys).  It would either be really effective, or really dumb, but....a bold choice. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 3:48pm

Alexander Lamar said: "Gaga at The Palace. Delightful."

What an EVENT it would be.

[pmensky]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 4:07pm

OhHiii said: "Alexander Lamar said: "Gaga at The Palace. Delightful."

What an EVENT it would be."

Ooh, as in The Main Event? Streisand?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 4:10pm

pmensky said: "OhHiii said: "Alexander Lamar said: "Gaga at The Palace. Delightful."

What an EVENT it would be."

Ooh, as in The Main Event? Streisand?"

Now, there's a thought! THE MAIN EVENT: The Musical starring Orfeh and Andy Karl

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 5:30pm

bigbelterbaby said: "I follow Baayork Lee on Instagram and she travels around the country directing and choreographing Michael Bennett’s original. It’s really cool to see her with young dancers and continuing Bennett’s legacy!"

 

 

Baayork has so many assistants now to help her due to her age.  She's there but isn't as hands on as she used to be.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/24/23 at 9:45pm

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I would love to see a Chorus Line revival that embraces the original production's earthy vernacular energy. Everyone onstage should be raw, desperate, and idiosyncratic - the whole point is that all of these rough, standout personalities get smudged into an indistinguishable line of top hats and teeth. The revival (or at least the first tour version, which I saw) was glee-club clean, and it felt like any of those people could just walk out and get a job dancing elsewhere, so why are they putting themselves through this?"

To some extent I agree with you on this, but I also wouldn't want the entire cast to be directed in that manner. When the show really fires, for me, it's when you see a wide range from the attitudes you describe to those who are so sure of themselves for the very reason that they are indeed coming in with a very healthy resume to bolster them during this bizarre audition. Like much of Sheila wouldn't work if she was desperate and didn't believe she could walk out and get any job in any chorus that she wanted (even though in the end she doesn't get it). 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 9:42am

I don't think it's really possible to capture the original production's earthy vernacular energy fifty years later.  The original production, aside from being of its time (and for its time) was made of a cast who were mostly playing themselves for a director (Michael Bennett) who was symbiotic to the character of the director in the play. How do you even attempt to recapture that specific energy?  

I don't think A CHORUS LINE benefits from being updated textually (and gender swapping roles while keeping it set in 1975 wouldn't make sense) but it would be nice to let a different director / choreographer create a new vision for the next revival.