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'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

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#1

'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 10:52pm

Has anyone ever seen a version of 'A Chorus Line' where the language had to be altered? For instance, how do high schools deal with the lyrics, 'tits and ass,' from 'Dance:10 Looks:3'? I am just curious because I might have to direct it for a local theatre, and I am not sure how our core audience will deal with some of the 'real-ness' of the show; however, I am not crazy about changing a classic.

Updated On: 2/3/07 at 10:52 PM

#4

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:00pm

I've heard about HS productions doing "This & That"

However, if your audience is a bit more conservative, I'm not sure they'd care for the constant language throughout, the very frank "Hello 12; Hello 13" or Paul's monologue either

If these are major concerns, you may want to look into other shows
#5

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:02pm

I ditto broadwaystar.

First of all, I can't imagine those changes are legal. Especially changing the entire joke in Dance 10! The whole show is full of very frank dialogue and slightly strong language, much of which made the production as emotional as it is. To change that is truly criminal.

If a theater is afraid that their audience is going to react in a strongly negative manner to that language and subject manner, then they need to choose a new show.
"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. " --Sueleen Gay
#7

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:12pm

I have seen some hilarious school productions that have made all kinds of bizarre changes: you name it: adding characters to the line, cutting Paul's monlogue (and homosexuality) making Richie a white girl named "Vicki" - turning "Tits and Ass" into "Boobs and Buns." My guess - is that Tams Witmark has some "authorized" changes because the show is done all too often in school environments --

But I agree with Colleen and others - if you have to alter the show, why do it? Why not give the students the respect of picking a show they can do "as written."

And cuts/changes aside - ACL is just not a good musical for a high school/base community theatre. The dancing is just way over most students abilities. If you don't believe me, just check out Youtube...

Updated On: 2/3/07 at 11:12 PM

#8

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:14pm

Are you looking specifically to do a dance heavey show?

If so, here are some much more "G-rated" options you may want to look into:

Anything Goes
42nd Street
The Boyfriend
West Side Story
Babes in Arms
Crazy for You
Good News!
On the Town
Hello, Dolly!
Oklahoma
Cats
Pippin
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
#10

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:23pm

Thanks, broadwaystar2b...I think my executive director just wants a show that features or highlights most of the cast. We have done most of the 'traditional' shows that community theatres produce, and now I believe she wants to 'step up our game' by doing something a little more 'sophisticated' or 'mature' while still allowing our actors to have their moment (We recently did 'Les Mis'). I appreciate the suggestions.
#11

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:25pm

I suggest Pippin.
"Zac is sweet as can be. He's very much just a sweet kid from California who happens to have a face that looks like it was drawn by Michelangelo, (if Michelangelo did anime)."
-Adam Shankman.

"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"

"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
#12

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:27pm

Typically if they change it to "This and That" the actress points to the respective places, and they usually only tone down Paul's monologue (and cut for time, which in many HS cases is good b/c the Paul whines the entire time).
While I agree that the dance can be really difficult for High Schoolers, a friend's school didn't use the Bennet choreography, and had the students do it, which worked beautifully.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#13

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/3/07 at 11:33pm

My old HS did A Chorus Line.

The director played Diana in national tours and international casts. So needless to say they used original choreography - and she worked the hell out of them.

The significant changes made were "This and That."
Mark's Gonorrhea verse was cut. "I got hard" was cut.
Choice words, mostly from Val were changed.


Paul's monologue remained intact. Homosexuality was not cut in any way.

They wanted to keep as much as they could and got away with a lot for being a HS.


"Zac is sweet as can be. He's very much just a sweet kid from California who happens to have a face that looks like it was drawn by Michelangelo, (if Michelangelo did anime)."
-Adam Shankman.

"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"

"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
#14

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:22am

*hangs head in shame*

I was in a children's production of A CHORUS LINE at my local Jewish Community Center when I was in 6th grade. The cast members were in 4th-7th grade (except for Zach, who was played by a high school kid). The director made tons of changes, all illegal -- she photocopied the script and took a black marker to song after song, dialogue and more dialogue and wrote in whatever she felt suitable. "Tits and Ass" became "Boobs and Tush". Mark's gonorrhea bit became a monologue on diarrhea. Paul became a female character named Vicki and the monologue became about her growing up without parents. Richie became Tricia, and "SH*T, Richie" became "Shoot, Tricia". In Sing!, "Guys are cumming in their pants" became "Guys are thinking of romance". Looking back at the video, it's pretty frightening. I agree that if you're going to have to re-write a show, you might as well just choose a different show to do in the first place.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#18

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:21am

When The Company Theatre did the show for the Teen Conservatory Program, the only noticeable changes they made was that they took out the two f-words. Instead of, "I don't give a f**k about The Red Shoes", it was "I don't give a s**t about the Red Shoes" and instead of "Big f***ing deal", it was "Big friggin' deal." They're very liberal at the Company Theatre about bad language. The most censoring they do is that they don't say Goddamn (however, they are doing The Full Monty and will make an exception for "The Goods").
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#22

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:53am

"Pippin??? Um hello??? Think about that."

But the thing is - racy as the original Broadway production of PIPPIN was - the risque element was completely in Fosse's staging: there is nothing in the actual script that would really have to be cut for contents sake. I've seen many a "clean" staging of PIPPIN that managed to still be effective. The director/choreographr can control the subject matter - not so much ACL.
#23

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 10:01am

A main theme of Pippin, though, is suicide and the players convincing Pippin life has no purpose. I've seen a number of high school productions (including one high school infamous for their musical theatre performances) and none have been able to capture it without making it a joke.

Anyway, I have to agree with people who are saying if you have to drastically change the words in the show, it's probably not for you. However, the phrase "boobs and buns" makes me happy.
#24

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:33pm

A Chorus Line would not be the same if you had to make all of those changes, IMO. If you want to do a show that features a lot of the cast and has a lot of dancing, I suggest Cats.
#25

re: 'A Chorus Line' changes for amateur productions

Posted: 2/4/07 at 3:24pm

When I did the show 2 years ago, we were forced to change tits and ass to this and that, and some other typical changes. We kept paul's whole bit, which was great. One weird change that was made was that our principle didn't want us talking about wet dreams, so the guy playing Mark said "Nochternal emmition".It was great.
The last night of the show the whole cast rebeled and put all the "bad words" back in. it was great!
Man that was a good show...

"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"

"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu

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