A Chorus Line Revival- Page 2

[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.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 9:59am

I think that's mostly an issue with the industry as a whole. They don't value any of that anymore. They want cookie cutter plug-into a show vibes. They want everyone to look and sound the same. There is no originality anymore

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 11:18am

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.  

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 11:22am

Others mileage may differ, but A Chorus Line is one show I prefer to have preserved as close to the original as possible over little tweaks here and there ... sort of how choreographers set their dances on difference dance companies.

I'm open to a more significant reinterpretation and staging, but I think nibbling at the margins ends up unsatisfying.  Come in with a new vision and align all the elements of the production with that, so it is judged on its own merits.

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 2:42pm

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

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 2:57pm

Bennett would also spy on the cast and watch the show in disguise. If he wasn't satisfied with someone's performance, they would get fired on the spot. Hence why it would be quite frequent for an u/s to play a role for several months. AEA changed the rule once this became a recurring theme in A Chorus Line.

No way Bennett would have ever agreed to have hired Mario Lopez in the revival. And if he did, Lopez would have been immediately fired for his lackluster performance.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 2:58pm

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. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 3:19pm

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. I've seen productions try different choreography when they've been granted permission. Most end up looking chaotic and miss the mark.

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 3:39pm

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. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 3:55pm

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."

 

Im usually fine with people trying new takes on older shows but for this show, I completely agree with the above. For me, it’s the same as saying you want to do the show but want to rewrite the score. 

 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:15pm

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

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:42pm

While "A Chorus Line" is an icon and a classic. It is also of a specific place and time. Not saying it shouldn't be revived ,but it should be a 1st class presentation. 

I'll never forget sitting 5th row center on the aisle at 44th Streets Shubert Theater, in August 1975, and being absolutely floored in a great way by what I saw,heard and felt. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 4:49pm

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]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 6:16pm

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".

Updated On: 8/25/23 at 06:16 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/23 at 7:55pm

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]

Posted: 6/17/24 at 8:01pm

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

MASSIVE

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

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 6/17/24 at 8:40pm

Every role will be played by Mario Lopez's arms.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/1/25 at 6:26pm

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.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/1/25 at 6:27pm

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]

Posted: 6/1/25 at 7:03pm

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

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/1/25 at 8:22pm

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

"

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

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 6/1/25 at 8:36pm

I had to try a few times.  Searching for Chorus Line beginning 01/01/2024 is what finally pulled it up among other results.