A Chorus Line Revival- Page 2

[musicman117]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 12:16am

I would really like to see a revival of A Chorus Line, but I do have some reervations....

First of all, some of the book would have to be updated because you really want to feel like the musical is actually an audition unfolding before you in the present time. revising some of the book and lyrics especially in Hello 12 and may make fans upset

Secondly, we are now in a time where there is a lot of feeling that in order for a revival to be successful, it needs to show something new in the show (for example - the revamping of Cabaret, the new format of Chicago). Tampering with A Chorus Line could create a big mess

But, if there was a revival, I would be very excited. I also will put in a vote for unknowns for the cast, except for maybe Cassie and Zach. How about Nancy Lemenager from Never Gonna Dance for Cassie??? and it would be really cool, in my opinion to get a broadway director who started out as an actor to play the director. Someone like Joe Mantello (maybe not him, but something like that; an actor turned director)

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 10:09am

you bring up a good point musicman117, the musical arrangements to a chorus line are a little dated. i was just listening to the OBC last week. it's really obvious in the "i hope i get it" opening number with the wa-wa-wa of the guitar as well as in "the music and the mirror". alot of what made it so fresh and exciting in 1975 will come off as dated and stale in 2004.

i guess the only way to present it in its original form is to present it as a period piece. unless someone is daring enough to do some updating of the material.

i remember reading somewhere that in the original playbills it stated the show took place "now. the present" but after some years passed they changed that to read: 1975.

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:15pm

I can see it all now....John Stamos as Zach, Bonnie Franklin as Cassie, Dixie Carter as Sheila....STOP ME.

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:29pm

As amazing as it would be to have a chorus lIne revial. they would have to change a few things. I lyrics to Hello 12, as I understand were changed as the times changed. At least thats what I read in The Longest Line. But stuff like that is the only thing they could change. I know Chicago and Caberet changed formats when they came back, but to do that with CHorus Line would just be ruining the show. The show was Micheal Bennets and to change anything drastic would be an insult to his memory. I don't like the idea at all of somone famous playing any of the roles. Most of all Zack and Cassie, remember what happened in the movie? To give any one famous any part would be going aganst everything the show stands for. Alhtough, when they were audtioning Zacks Kevin Kline tried out and didn't get it cause he couldn't dance. all in all, chorus line should defeenntly come back.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:36pm

Karen Ziemba is NOT too old to play Cassie.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:38pm

*kiss* Thank you, darling.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:40pm

I mean, really - if she's too old to do that role - I might as well just get back on the bus to florida right now!...damn these youngsters and their ageism - and she looks AMAZING on stage ...(hell - even up close she is a gem for her age)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:40pm

I love KZ and she of course would be a great Cassie ..... but 46 is certainly pushing it a bit for that role (she's old enough to be the mother of several of those characters in ACL).

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:41pm

I could really imagine Karen as Cassie.

But I agree about making everyone else unknown, also for the appearance of struggling actors. It's hard to imagine Hugh Jackman having doubts about himself during the audition...

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:41pm

I'd like to have seen Bebe Newerth as Shelia... shes too old now, but I would like to see it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:42pm

She looks young enough onstage - in NEVER GONNA DANCE she was supposed to look older, so she was made up and costumed accordingly.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:49pm

Suzanne Somers would be THE MOST PERFECT Val.

EVER!

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 3:52pm

she would be, but when I heard the soundtrack I thought it was her singing SING!

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 5:19pm

what soundtrack? from the movie? Sing wasn't in the movie.
you must mean the ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 5:21pm

if suzanne somers got to play val then they would have to raise everyone elses age. my grandmother would then be perfect for cassie. yay, grandma!

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 5:28pm

Alright...I'm gonna say it...actually...I'm gonna ask it?

Am I the only one on the board who is bored to tears by Karen Ziemba??? Very proficient in everything, but not a spark of starpower???

I know it's an unpopular opinion...but I HAD to say it!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 6:26pm

Now you've done it, robbiej. You've made Baby Jesus cry.

[Ann_Margrock]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 6:26pm

Back in the 1970s, if "A Chorus Line" would have been made into a movie as it should have been, Ann-Margret would have made a perfect "Cassie".

Of course I'm not being biased in the least.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:36am

You're right, Ann_Margrock.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:41am

Robbiej - I just have to disagree with you on this one. I love Karen Ziemba and think she has the ability to shine on stage. She just hasn't been given the proper star-vehicle yet.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:43am

I have to say, to me, she shone the brightest in NEVER GONNA DANCE. I wonder if it has to do with age and experience...she's come into her own...what do you think, redhot? Is it KZ's time now?

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:50am

i've only ever seen her do two things... I Wanna Be A Rockette and Sooner or Later with Bill Irwin... I thought she was fantastic in both, from the pure excitement in her eyes as a wanna-be Rockette, to the sultry singing and dancing of Sooner or Later... and i've only heard the Steel Pier OBCR (notice i didn't say soundtrack) and wished i would have seen that show, just for her... she can do anything she wants! Updated On: 9/9/04 at 10:50 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 10:51am

Tell that to the producers who aren't hiring her!

[dancinfan]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 11:07am

The oldest characters on the line are Cassie, Bobby, Sheila, and Connie - all 32, I believe. Although I admire Karen Ziemba greatly, she is too old now to play Cassie believably next to other 32 year olds.

Lemenager is an interesting choice because she is not well-known but slightly so. Also, you don't really notice her onstage until she starts dancing, which is one way Cassie can be played.

Still - how amazing would it be to use someone brand new and the right age? Fantastic. I want more producers to take the risk to MAKE stars instead of hiring established ones.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 11:12am

I love Lemenager as a dancer - she's beautiful to watch - but her singing is dreadful. MOVIN' OUT is definitely the right kind of show for her.

As far as Ziemba playing Cassie, I suppose it would depend on who is hired for the other roles and how she looks relatively to them. We all know that actors hired for specific roles aren't necessarily the correct age range.