A Chorus Line Revival — Page 2

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.

To be fair, most of the replacements in the original A Chorus Line (except perhaps the first replacement cast) were more or less cookie cutter to the original cast.

On the subject of replacements, I seem to recall reading somewhere, it may have been in the Mandelbaum book, "A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett", that Bennett was not confident in the fourteen newcomers that were hired as replacements for the original cast. They were signed to something called "conversion contracts" which gave the management the option to convert the performer's contract to a run-of-the-play contract after the fifth performance or leave them on a standard minimum contract where they could be fired with as little as two weeks notice.

This is what happened to BarBara Luna, a friend of Bennett's who was hired to replace Priscilla Lopez. She was let go quickly after she was hired.

Updated On: 8/25/23 at 02:42 PM

Never in my life do I want to see A Chorus Line without the original choreography. For me, it’s as important to the story as the text and music.

Alexander Lamar said: "Never in my life do I want to see A Chorus Line without the original choreography. For me, it’s as important to the story as the text and music."

I agree. The choreography is part of the show's DNA. For me it simply is not A CHORUS LINE without Bennett's choreography.

The dancing is fine…update it alittle bit. The problem with the show is people playing a character. If you can’t be yourself and overact the role, the show is dull. Does that make any sense ? Lol

It's all on the director to be able to bring out the stories of each member on the line. I've seen productions that perfect the choreography but fail to tell the stories properly. This was the fault in the original production in the mid-80s after Bennett passed.

morosco said: "I hope they remove that "full on orchestra" that happens after Zach says "Let's do the whole combination facing away from the mirror, from the top, a 5, 6, 7, 8". In the original production there was a dramatic build of instruments. In the revival there was just an explosion from the orchestra right away. It took the thrill away from me. There needs to be a slow build or otherwise the orchestra has nowhere to go after that. Let it build like it was originally orchestrated.

A 5, 6, 7, 8!

And I continue to suspend disbelief when Zach counts of "a 5, 6, 7, 8" to count of a dance sequence that's written in 6/4 time"."

Always been brought up in any production of ACL I've done.

Broadway Flash said: "OhHiii said: “The Palace will be re-opened by a massive star in residency..."

MASSIVE

anyways, it’s happening. Summer 2025 one year away"

Simpler times…

SteveSanders said: "ACL2006 said: "Not sure where the thread about a 50th anniversary revival disappeared to, but anyway...



Hearing an announcement about a 50th anniversary revival, possibly Off-Broadway, will be announced either during the Tony Awards or the week after. Final details are coming together for a Fall short-term revival."




https://forum.broadwayworld.com/thread/50th-Anniversary-Revival-of-A-CHORUS-LINE-still-on-track-for-2025--1152542

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funny, because when I searched for this thread, it didn't come up.