Chorus Line Record breaking performance in 1983

[irememberitwell]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 9:51am

just saw some fantastic footage you know where. Music and the Mirror, Paul's monologue and At the Ballet. Really priceless pieces of theatrical history. Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop and Sammy Williams joined by many others including Terri Klausner. Wonder if there is more footage of this performance.

[once a month]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 9:55am

I recall that they showed part of the finale on a special LIVE television show. I've since landed it on video, but I would love to see it in its entirety. I STILL kick myself for not buying tickets that night, but since I'd already seen it four times, I wasn't quite willing to shell out the bucks. That's a shame, I've seen it at least two more times, and I tell you-not seeing that one performance was my biggest theatrical disappointment.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:00am

Squee!

It's every Chorus Line fanatic's wet dream!

Edit: And apparently it's already gone

Updated On: 7/18/08 at 10:00 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:22am

I just watched it so it ain't gone!

I absolutely love it when all the mirrors go up in front of Donna McKechnie, and the reflections are replaced by all the other "Cassies." So brilliantly staged, for a one-night performance!

And it's fascinating to watch all their different styles doing the dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI7CgQOIlgo

[irememberitwell]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:23am

they are still up. you just need to search for them. i don't know how to post the links here.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:24am

Astonishing. And McKechnie's power belt! She wasn't even wearing a body mic was she?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:25am

Why won't MATM work for me????

This must be from all of my Charlotte nay-saying. (Which she wasn't perfect, but she was really good the night I saw her.)

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:27am

Nope, no body mic, Morosco!

Here's At the Ballet... looks like Nancy Lane wasn't there, so Terri Klausner (original matinee Evita) was filling in as Bebe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyu--xC72jg

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:28am

YEs, Klausner was filling in.

That night's performances:
Opening: I Hope I Get It - Current New York Company
Photo and Names - Original Cast - Terri Klausner as Bebe, Karen Jablons as Val and Eivind Harum as Zach
I Can Do That - Wayne Cilento
Bobby Monologue/...And... - Thommie Walsh and OBC
At the Ballet - Kelly Bishop, Terri Klausner and Kay Cole
Ballet Blaze (last verse of ATB) - International Company
Sing! - Kerry Casserly, Scott Plank (The currents I guess)
Mark Monologue - Timothy Scott
Four Foot Ten - Jennifer Ann Lee
Nothing (in Japanese!) - Chikae Ishikawa
Don Kerr Solo - David Thomé
Judy Solo - Sandahl Bergman (Judy)
Mother Montage - National Company
Greg Solo - Justin Ross
Monster Montage - Bus & Truck Company
Gimme the Ball - Gordon Owns and Bus & Truck Company
Dance: 10, Looks: 3 - DeLee Lively, Mitzi Hamilton and Karen Jablons
Short Paul Monologue - Wayne Meledandri
Music and the Mirror - Donna McKechnie, joined by Cheryl Clark, Vicki Fredrick, Deborah Henry, Angelique Ilo, Wanda Richert, Ann Louise Schaut and Pam Sousa
Paul Monologue - Sammy Williams, joined by Tommy Agulair, Rene Clemente, Steve Crenshaw, Drew Geraci, Wayne Meledandri, Evan Pappas, George Pesaturo, Sam Viverito, and Timothy Wahrer
One Rehearsal and Cassie/Zach Fight - Las Vegas Comapny with Ann Reinking and Joe Bennett
Tap Combination/Accident - Chicago Company
Alternatives - Foreign Companies (Each character spoke in a different language, with Zach in English)
What I Did For Love - Priscilla Lopez (OBC joined the Foreign companies, along with "ghosts" of each character)
Elimination Walk - Original Company
One - 338 Cast Memebers filling the stage, aisles, balcony and mezz


Now *that* is how you celebrate becoming the longest running show.

Updated On: 7/18/08 at 10:28 AM

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:47am

Aww, I LOVE Kay Cole! You would never expect that power voice out of her tiny body!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:48am

those are priceless!!

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:49am

Aww, I LOVE Kay Cole! You would never expect that power voice out of her tiny body!

Her money note never fails to give me goosebumps.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:49am

And she's the nicest person too! I knew her briefly (Nancy Lane too) when I worked at Second City in Santa Monica. Both of them took classes there, and I talked with Kay many times. She's an absolute doll.

Husk---I agree! To think that all of this wonderful staging and re-directing was done for 1 night only...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:02am

Yes, that entire performance survives via a bootleg video.

If interested, its easy to locate.

Good luck!

Yes... this photo was taken on that memorable night in 1983:

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:07am

Incredible. Thank you!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:23am

Michael Bennett knew what he was doing.

While the OBC "At the Ballet" trio is always my favorite, I was actually impressed by the current trio, Melissa Lone is the only one from this current revival to hit the money note properly, and boy did she hit it.

I love being able to watch Kelly Bishop in FULL color and clearly deliver Shelia's Monologue. Did she do the stop and glare at Zach after she got cut in the end? Or is that a Deidre thing?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:30am

In the current revival, Lone as well as Mara Davi nailed that note every night I saw it. I've heard Lyndy Franklin & Jessica Lea Patty(Maggie covers) also nail that note anytime they went on. That's one of my favorite moments in the show.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:37am

In the current revival, Lone as well as Mara Davi nailed that note every night I saw it.

Davi did it in a way that didn't seem organic. She made it sound like she was working hard to hit that note. A bit shrill too.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:37am

I didn't like Davi as Maggie at all. Her note was always a hair too sharp for me.

Edit: heh, morosco, same wavelength it seems.

And, Jessica Lea Patty can do *no* wrong.

Updated On: 7/18/08 at 11:37 AM

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:41am

I loved Melissa Lone as Maggie too. She always hit the note wonderfully.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:59pm

There were actually two public performances. There was a dress rehearsal that afternoon where the finale was taped and shown in part on some tv show that night and then the performance that night followed by a party in Shubert Alley.

I was lucky enough to have a nice 3rd row mezz seat for the dress rehearsal. I don't know about the evening performance, but the matinee tix were free. However you had to know someone and I knew the then-General Manager of the Shakespeare Festival. Like I said, lucky me.

This is one of the few genuinely legendary performances I have seen in 48 years of theatre-going. When the originals walked to the line and froze with their photos in front of their faces while the orchestra vamped, it was a sight that none of us ever expected to see again. The applause went on and on and on and many of us were crying then and the show was what, 10 minutes old.

Sheila ought not to be doing a glare at Zach at her final exit. An original told me that moment "was rehearsed within an inch of its life". Sheila is looking at her life and she may begin to realize that her dancing days are indeed numbered. It ought to be extraordinarily touching. I think it is the moment that clinched the Tony for Kelly Bishop.

I'm glad she got a second act to her career.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 9:38pm

WOSQ-
That's really cool.

I think what made the glare of death work was that you could tell it was a "thanks for getting those kids hopes up Zach" versus a "Why didn't you cast me, jerk?"

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:02pm

My late great roomate at the time had been on the first Bus and Truck, so I also got in to ONE imcredible afternoon sesnsation.
Michael Bennett had always intended for this to be some sort of Video, so I am sure it exists.
I thought at the time they said it would come out in 10 years?
It's a little late.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:11pm

I would KILL to see the full video of this performance. I've heard hte audio version, but seeing it would be...wow...

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:17pm

I would love to see the finale!