NEW CHORUS LINE LEADS ANNOUNCED- Page 3

[children&art]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 11:23am

ok someone mentioned that 3 other actresses were up against Charlotte for Cassie, who were they???

dumb thought, but why dont they update the show - have the actors tell their own stories, not rehash some stories of previous actors...like i said, dumb idea.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:35pm

I must say, I've seen the show many times with different Cassies, and while some of them were brilliant, the role itself just isn't big enough to be entered in the lead category. Cassie in Chorus Line compared to Rose in Gypsy, or Lovett in Sweeney, or Fanny in Funny Girl? Those are LEAD roles. Cassie is a member of a line of characters, and in no way should be considered a lead. Not saying someone can perform the SH*T out of that role, because it's a great role, but it's definitely not a lead.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:47pm

Well, the fact is according to the Tony committee, it's a Lead role. In 1976, McKechnie was classified in the Lead category and beat Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera (for Chicago) and Vivian Reed (for Bubbling Brown Sugar) for the Tony. D'Amboise presumably will be classified the same way for the 2007 awards.

[Flippancy]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:47pm

Did someone really say earlier that D'Amboise was too OLD for the role? Hmmmm...sounds like someone is basing their comments on the dismal movie version which, as we all know, was a complete bastardization of the original piece -- up to and including the age of the characters.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:50pm

Donna McKechnie was 35 when she originally played Cassie.

Charlotte will be 42 in May (according to IMDb.com).

[Jon]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:52pm

No, she IS too old. Cassise is not supposed to be in her 40's.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:54pm

The script I have listed Cassie as "around 32".

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:55pm

"(and honestly, i thought she was better than Christina in Charity). "

WAT, I can't imagine there would be many who disagree with you(I whole-heartedly agree)

Margo and others, thanks for clearing up the Zach thing. I'm still confused though, I know when someone was criticizing the movie they were saying something about Zach having too big a part or...like he wasn't supposed to talk to all the dancers near the end maybe? I don't know.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:01pm

I'll say it again.

I cannot wait to see Charlotte again!

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:03pm

Personally, I don't see too much of a difference between 35 and 42. Dancers are having much longer careers now than they used to, and Charlotte is still at the top of her profession. I think she can "pull off" 35 easily. And she's had enough of a parallel career to both Donna and "Cassie" to make this work very well.

I think she's an excellent choice.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:04pm

The movie constantly cut to Michael Douglas emoting, reacting and flaring his nostrils at what was happening on stage, putting too much focus on him and away from the dancers and their stories which is what the show is all about. He should be a disembodied god-like vocal presence and have very limited physical interaction with the dancers. In the movie, it became the Michael Douglas show and screwed up the whole story.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:04pm

Updated On: 1/27/06 at 03:04 PM

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:10pm

This is some amazing news. Charlotte surely deserves to open a show on Broadway finally. I think the fact Donna McKechnie was eligible for the Best Actress in a Musical category went against the concept of the show; it made some cast members upset (they were already a little mad Donna was the one getting much of the media attention)and it is rumored that Chita and Gwen Verdon were very upset as well. I'm sure D'Amboisse will be considered a leading actress as well although the Tony committee has been coming up with some strange decisions lately. She is so great for this role though, I'm sure she'll shine on stage.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:12pm

Has Charlotte ever been recorded on a CR?

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:14pm

The movie was NOT A Chorus Line. It was a modified, modernized mess.

In one of the better behind-the-scenes books out on ACL, they talk about how Neil Simon and Marsha Mason came in and offered suggestions to better the show... and Neil even served as a "ghost writer" for some of the jokier moments. (i.e., Sheila: "What do I want to be when I grow up? Young." Pure Simon.)

Marsha is very proud of two "notes" in particular she gave that were incorporated into the final show:

1) Cassie originally made a "late entrance" into the theatre after the audition had already started. Marsha (and Neil) both said that this was throwing too much of an emphasis on her character right from the start. The audience should begin to realize, as the show develops, that she and Zach have a history, and that Cassie is somewhat of a star and dancing legend. It should NOT be evident from a "look-at-me-I'm-late" entrance however.

2) That Cassie is cast in the show. Originally, she was not. Marsha found this terribly depressing at the end, and said you have to give the audience hope that they can go back and "start over" again, if they ever want or have to. It was a big “downer.”

Both changes were made. If ANYONE connected with the film had done a little research, they might have avoided #1, at least. I remember literally slapping my forehead when Cassie made a "late entrance" in the film. I kept thinking, “didn't they learn anything from the mistakes made and changed in the stage play?” Apparently not.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:15pm

It's true that a few people in the cast were upset by McKechnie being treated differently from the rest of the ensemble, but the flip side of that is that my moving her out of the Featured category it gave Kelly Bishop a chance to win her only Tony. There's no way she'd have beaten McKechnie had they had to compete against each other. I hope they stick to these categorizations, so that whoever playing Sheila, Diana, Val etc.... will have a better shot at an award.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:18pm

Ahh okay, thanks for clearing that up for me

[QMAN03]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:21pm

I may see this in San Fransisco. It would be my first time seeing/hearing any production of this show. I'm excited!

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:35pm

Whoever asked, Charlotte opened in, and was nominated for, Jerome Robbin's Broadway.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:43pm

Best12bars, I think the book you are referring to is "On The Line," a book co-written by Robert Viagas and Baayork Lee and Thommie Walsh who were both members of the original cast, I'd go as far as saying this is THE best book about A Chorus Line out there. I thought that Neil Simon's wife gave a suggestion different to the one you mentioned though, correct me if I'm wrong: during the Off-Broadway run nobody (including the actors or Robert LuPone) knew who would get cast in the imaginary show the audition was for, before the scene Bennett would give LuPone the names (based on whom he considered gave the best performances), and so it created a sense of being in a real audition for the dancers because they all wanted to get "cast." I think Neil Simon's wife told Bennett to change that and of course include Cassie because of what you said. This is what I remember but I might be wrong.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:47pm

I think you're right that it was two-fold.

"Lock" the choices for who gets the gig... and make sure you pick Cassie... so we all don't go home depressed!

EDIT: I've actually heard Marsha herself talk about about the "make sure Cassie gets chosen" thing. But I think the book talks about both decisions coming out of their suggestions.

EDIT2: And Charlotte can be heard on the Jerome Robbins OBCR, singing "I'm Flying" (from Peter Pan) and other songs. Also, in the Broadway revival of Company... she played Donna McKechnie's part. You can hear her on the CR there, as well.

Updated On: 1/27/06 at 03:47 PM

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 4:20pm

I ADORE Charlotte so this TOTALLY made my day!!! One of my favorite actresses in one of my favorite shows....*dies* Ijust hope the rest of the casting is this good.

[ashers2u]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 4:24pm

also, this is kind of cool: i work in a restaurant, and the other night all of a sudden, there was crazy cheering from the bar.....apparently this guy had JUST gotten the call that he had been chosen to be in bways A Chorus Line!!! Unfortunately, i couldnt tell who it was, but i am going to ask the bartender tonight :) Anyway, it was so cute and exciting to hear all his friends FREAKING OUT for him!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 4:48pm

I don't even think Charlotte looks her age...

About her cast recordings...

She can be heard on the JEROME ROBBIN'S BROADWAY cast recording, in her Tony Nominated role.

Also on the COMPANY Revival Recording. Her role is brief though.

* Woops. Just realized someone answered this already.

I wish Donna was in the supporting catergorie that year. It would've been amazing if Gwen won her final Tony for her final show. Or if Chita won her first tony for her now iconic role of Velma.
Updated On: 1/27/06 at 04:48 PM

[darkmist115]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 6:02pm

they should be GREAT.
can't wait for this!