The Line: Casting Choices (within the show)

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 8:39pm

There has been a lot of great discussion about A Chorus Line lately and I just wanted to pose one more question:

Why do you think Zach made the casting choices he made for his final line?

I think it's pretty clear that Zach was probably going to choose Paul to be one of the men had he not injured himself. Who do you think took his place? And why did he change his mind at the last minute about Diana?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 9:23pm

I think the people on the line originally chosen were "picked" -at least partially based on the strengths and look of the original cast.

Pam Blair, Donna McKechnie, Trish Garland, and Priscilla Lopez, for example, were definitely the strongest female dancers in the original production of ACL. Rene Baughman, who played Kristine, was, next to McKechnie probably the absolute best female dancer in the original cast - and during the first week at the Public Theatre, it was actually she and not Cassie who was chosen.

I think the "back in line" bit with Morales is simply a brilliant theatre device to keep the audience on its toes. When I played Zack, I simply played the bit as if he had put her card in the "no" pile by accident and quickly corrected himself.

Updated On: 2/8/07 at 09:23 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 9:25pm

MB-
When did you play Zach?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 9:26pm

In a regional theatre production a few years ago - contrary to popular belief - I'm not quite old enough to have been in the original production

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 9:29pm

LOL, I actually figured you to be closer to my age than Margo or Best12 (Not that either of them are old by any means, they just seemed older than you, putting you closer to my age).

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 9:56pm

Hey!

*Margo pours herself another cup of Geritol and goes back to watching a Matlock rerun*

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/8/07 at 10:03pm

*grovels at Margo's feet*
You know I love you, and besides, I have you pegged to be 35 tops, with MB about 30.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:25am

To answer your original question, I think that it was probably Bobby who took Paul's place.

It's funny how in the movie, for some odd reason we will probably never know (along like many others with that movie), Judy is not picked and it is Bebe who is picked. To me, Janet Jones would be a heck of a easier to believe as being picked.

Slight threadjack but Don't you love the little "sex pot" Judy that Janet had going on instead of the tall and akward Judy?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:29am

I liked some of the films performances. And the dancing is nice...it was just what they did to the story that was soo bad.

[ILUVTOMG]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:52am

i always thought it would be great if zach chose different people every night.. i know that sounds gimmicky (or very EDWIN DROOD) but it sure would be interesting

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:15am

Well originally it was someone differently every night ILUVTOMG, but they realized very quickly that they needed to solidify who was chosen based on the very quick costume changes for the finale, which is the main reason that all those not chosen come out first for "One".

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:17am

Um...broadwaystar, the ones who DO make it come out, b/c the cut dancers are doing their quick changes.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:31am

Isn't Paul the first one out?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:33am

No, he is unvieled at the very last, when they start the wedge.

Granted, I may be remembering wrong, it's been a while, but I'm pretty sure he's not out until the wedge, b/c he leads it, with Shelia flanking him.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:11pm

No husk charmer, Paul does come out for the bows before the Wedge formation. Not sure of the order, but he is one of the first men out, if not the first. The dancers who are "cut" are the first ones on for the bows and the dancers who are "cast" come out last (separating, of course, males and females).

Paul does lead the wedge, but he has already been part of the number, and exits the stage when the cast forms couples in the cake-walk section prior to the wedge.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:16pm

Paul leaves the stage when everybody comes out. Then he comes back on just before the wedge.

ETA: Never mind. WestVillage said it. Updated On: 2/9/07 at 02:16 PM

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 5:00pm

I could haved SWORN thay Paul doesn't come out at all until he runs on to lead the wedge, at which time he gets a huge audience reaction. (Or maybe the last local production I saw just did it that way....)

But I guess I'm wrong....in the current BW revival, Paul comes out first (lots of time for the costume change LOL), then Larry.....Then Paul slips offstage and comes back for the wedge. ("Wedge"....is that a technical dance term LOL.)

Posted: 2/9/07 at 8:15pm

It was told to me, that "zach" picks the people who have no "alternatives"....(in the alternatives section)....only those who can live, eat, sleep theater/performing are kept.

connie- wants to retire to vermont, dance around her kitchen cooking- CUT
shelia- tired of being a chorus cutie, wants to open a dance studio - CUT
don- stage manager? - CUT
bebe- "i can't take it"- CUT

the list goes on...those who have that fire, the strongest of body AND mind....they are all kept.

It is said that "zach" (michael bennett) was manipulitive in that way. He couldn't make up his mind in the show....so he gets to know them and sees who is going to work the hardest for him.

the only iffy one is Val, but it was rumored that he was having an affair with her at the time.

This is all information from an orignal cast memeber....not talking out of my butt here.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 8:24pm

I just have to add that that Diana thing drives me crazy. If I were her I wouldn't be able to focus knowing I was so incredibly close to not being cast.

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:00pm

no you wouldn't...you would be THRILLED to be cast. either way.

[parislover87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:12pm

paul mcgill as mark is the obvious best male dancer in this production

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/10/07 at 10:49am

Mercades, I guess that answer would make sense for most of the dancers, but what about Richie who comes out and says "There's no security" and "no work anymore?" and "the only chorus line you can depend on is the one at unemployment" or on the opposite end with Maggie who says "I can't think of anything else I'd do"

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 2/10/07 at 11:07am

Thank you BroadwayStar2Be. I was just going to say that. We did this show my Junior year of High School, and I played Maggie. And by that logic, she should have been cast in the show, but she isn't. I was under the impression she lived and breathed dance, so when she is cut, it always made be actually upset, because she put herself out there as much as the rest of them.

I love this show, but I am afraid to see the revival.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/10/07 at 12:20pm

I think it's fun to figure out why Zach cast who he cast (at least in the revival).

I think the guys in the revival are all around much more talented than the girls.

Paul McGill, Jeffrey Schecter, and Ken Alan are, in my opinion, the top male dancers (and in that order, I'm going to say). Tony Yazbeck is probably the best male singer on the stage, followed by Schecter. I don't think Yazbeck is as strong a dancer as the others.

I know I am in the minority, but I enjoy Charlotte. I think the dancing in MUSIC AND THE MIRROR is not her fault. It was choreographed for someone with a different body than hers.

Mara Davi obviously has the best vocals on the stage, followed by Natalie Cortez. I always though Davi's Maggie did a better job than Heather Parcells' Judy. But seeing it again, I realized Judy is just a ball of energy running around the stage. Maggie is more subdued and doesn't do anything to stand out. Plus, Judy is tall and thin and just looks like a chorus girl.