In A Chorus Line...

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:12am

Where does At The Ballet fit in? I'm not familiar with the show (I know, shoot me) and I'm singing it for a master class. Just trying to get some background info on it, get some ideas on how it should be performed, etc.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:32am

Well, in A Chorus Line, the dancers auditioning for the show all tell their stories about how they got into dancing and survived growing up. At The Ballet shows the backstories of Shelia, Bebe and Maggie. Updated On: 1/16/05 at 11:32 AM

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:57am

So basically they're all just sitting around before the audition talking to one another about that? So it's casual, warm-up time kinda thing?

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:59am

sort of casual, but you can bet they're all incredibly nervous and trying to figure out what the director wants from them.

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:01pm

Ok that makes sense...Thanks!!

besides the actual show is there anywhere online or something that I might find a video clip of the presentation? I thought there might be something on Broadway: The American Musical but I didnt see anything

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:10pm

"So basically they're all just sitting around before the audition talking to one another about that?"

The stories they're telling are actually in response to the director's request to know more about them - so the telling is actually a PART of the audition. They are ostensibly addressing the director sitting in the theatre, but their reminiscences cause a sort of 'fade to memory' moment within the piece.

[marebare]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:14pm

You could watch the movie version

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:23pm

"You could watch the movie version"

Don't put yourself through that pain

[marebare]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:27pm

Yes, it's pretty awful, and I hate that song in it, but then you can see how *not* to do it!

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:27pm

haha well, anything is worth a shot at this point.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:32pm

Don't put yourself through that pain

I concur

[Paul LW]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:46pm

Right.

It's Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie's account of what it was like "at the ballet" for all of them when they were children.

It's horrible in the movie

Fabulous and powerful on stage

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:16pm

You could fast forward to At The Ballet in the movie. It's actually one of the better parts and I really only say that because I'm partial to Vicki Frederick who played Sheila in the movie.

That being said, it's during the audition that At the Ballet takes place. Zach (the director) is trying to get to know what they're all about and thus, asking them questions about their childhood, families, what got them into dancing and so forth. The song is prompted by Zach asking Sheila about her mother and after a short dialogue between the two, Sheila starts singing about the 'relationship' between her mother, father and her as a child.

Bebe and Maggie join in with their stories, respectively, having one thing in common with Sheila: While their home lives may have been less than perfect (and that's an understatement), everything was always beautiful at the ballet. Take that literally and metophorically speaking.... it was an 'escape life' for all of them where there were no problems and everything was perfect/beautiful.

Updated On: 1/16/05 at 01:16 PM

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:20pm

I agree that the woman who plays Sheila is one of the only good parts in that movie. She was the only character who was casted correctly

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:30pm

I love you for giving props to my girl, but I have to tell you it's just cast, not casted. Sorry to be a pain, that word's one of my biggest pet peeves.

Anyway, yes, Vicki was one of the only people cast correctly. She's such a phenomenal talent and while I loved her sassy attitude as Sheila, I would have loved to have seen her as Cassie (the role she played so brilliantly on Broadway and in LA). There were actually a LOT of talented Broadway people in the opening numbers who were subsequently cut. I have a lot of fun slowing the DVD down, trying to pick out the people I know haha.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:34pm

haha sorry-I'm not fully awake yet

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:35pm

It's all good... neither am I

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:38pm

I was just looking at the sheet music I have for the song and it's all melody blah --

more searching for me

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:39pm

Which part are you singing?

What's wrong with melody?

Maybe we're confused as to what you're looking for, but I answered your question about the song more than adequately. We shouldn't be seeing any 'sad faces'

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:42pm

haha no you answered my question...I'm doing the song as a duet with another person (at the direction of our vocal coach) and we're cutting out the third part of the song (right before the monolgue) and theres no harmony...it's all written as one voice if ya know what mean. It's not horrible but we were looking for something with contrast. Like the harmony in "For Good" which I already did in that class.

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:44pm

Dear lord, you're cutting At The Ballet? That's sacreligious!

What part are you cutting? Maggie's?

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:44pm

No!!!!! Not Maggie's!! THat's the best part!!!

[Sienner921]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:45pm

Yeah, Maggie's part isn't going to be in it. Believe me, if it was my decision I would grab another person, but the teacher told me and this girl to do At The Ballet as a duet. I don't even know what she was thinking but yeah, thats where I'm at right now

--and yeah I LOVE maggie's part lol Updated On: 1/16/05 at 01:45 PM

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:46pm

But it's MAGGIE!!!!
She's got the money note and everything!!!!

[CJR]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:48pm

I see Maggie's part as tying it all together really... because she talks about the fantasy of her father coming home and asking her to dance.