Tharon Musser's original A CHORUS LINE lighting design

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:46pm

With all the technology changes with lighting intruments (color changers, moving lights, etc.) I wonder if Musser's brilliant design will be different for the planned revival. Or if it will look the same as it did in 1975 but be accomplished with new technology. Tharon Musser...a genious.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:52pm

I read that while they will follow her original design, they will also incorporate certain new technologies that have come along in the past 30 years. Not sure to what extent it'll alter the look of the show, but I believe Breglio (the producer) said that he didn't want to tinker with anything in the original text or design so I'm guessing that the differences will be subtle.

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:02pm

Whatever they come up with, I'm happy that I will always have the memory of her brilliant work - still to this day one of the best I've ever seen.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:04pm

A Chorus Line is special because Tharon used movie techniques on stage (cross fades, etc).

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:07pm

Which she then took to its ultimate state of perfection in DREAMGIRLS.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:16pm

My heart would always skip a beat when I saw her name associated with a new show. She was such an artist.

EDIT: I should have said she IS such an artist. I believe she's retired but I'm sure she'll oversee ACL.


Updated On: 6/14/05 at 01:16 PM

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:24pm

Just because, here is Ms. Musser's Broadway experience - which is incredibly long, and shows exactly why she's a legend - including 3 Tonys in 10 nominations.
Tharon Musser's ibdb listing.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:29pm

"...Ms. Musser's Broadway experience..."

Remarkable career! Can you imagine the stories she could tell? I wish she would write a book. Also, she deserves the lifetime achievement Tony Award.

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:50pm

Isn't it amazing? When you START with the premiere production of what many consider to be the greatest American play, you know you're in for quite the ride!

And I agree completely about the lifetime Tony!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:58pm

I once saw the first ever computer that ran lights on Broadway, brought into the ACL run I believe in the late-'70s. It was at the no-longer-existent Computer Museum in Boston. It was like seeing the Donna McKechnie of computers.

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:04pm

I've talked to a few people who have lamented the taking over of running lights by computer. They all expressed a fondness for actually feeling the fades in sinc with the emotional content of what they were watching on-stage. Obviously, with the complexity that now exists in lighting plots, you'ld have to be a multi-armed monster to even remotely accomplish it - but I do understand the sadness concerning the removal of the human touch from the proceedings.
Updated On: 6/14/05 at 02:04 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:06pm

Just want to add my name to the list of people paying tribute: inspiring genius and ground-breaker and guiding light (ooops) for all that followed. (wow... think I need to sit down)

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:35pm

Here's an interesing article from 1999. Musser and the design team talk about the CHORUS LINE experience.
Entertainment Design Magazine

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 2:47pm

Light board operators (good ones) still do put that personal feel into the fades when appropriate and doable.


Having been very young when ACL closed, and now a lighting design student, I'm very anxious to see the revival. Updated On: 6/14/05 at 02:47 PM