Why didn't Nicholas Dante act in "A Chorus Line"?

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 1:55pm

Why didn't Nicholas Dante act in "A Chorus Line"? I know that he transcribed it into a book form, that the character of Paul was based on him and that had done broadway shows before. So why didn't he act as Paul on broadway?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:15pm

From a quote in his obituary, I believe he was trying to pursue a career as a writer, so by writing (with James Kirkwood) A CHORUS LINE, he was leaving his dancing days behind him.

THE NEW YORK TIMES May 22, 1991 Obituary: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEED81231F931A15756C0A967958260

[morosco]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:25pm

There was a tour that went out in the mid-eighties that starred Donna McKechnie and it was announced that Dante would play Paul. He either didn't do it at all or he only did a few performances. Don't remember the reason.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:27pm

I could have sworn that he DID play Paul on Broadway during the original run, at some point.

Does anyone else out there remember that?

...and I don't go by IMDb.com, because they have huge gaps when it comes to their information.


EDIT: Morosco---Thank you. I'm sure that's what I'm thinking of.

Updated On: 6/17/08 at 02:27 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:33pm

And from googling I read that he played Paul during at least some part of that tours run.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:33pm

Thank you!

So did Sammy Williams just audition and get the role? Was he part of the original workshop?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:44pm

Everyone had to audition, even Kelly Bishop, Priscilla Lopez, Pamela Blair, etc. I believe even Donna McKechnie had to audition.

Even the actors whose stories were used even had to audition for the roles based on them. Most of them didn't even get cast. Mitzi Hamilton's story is the basis for Val. She auditioned but the role went to Pamela Blair. Mitzi eventually DID play Val later during the show's run on Broadway, plus she directed a production of the show a few years ago.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:54pm

Does anyone know who was in the Original Cast that didn't attend the workshops?

From what I remember reading, Kay Cole and the actors playing Don and Richie (whose part I think was based on a girl that was in the OBC of Chicago).

Who else?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 2:58pm

This'll answer everything for you (and more):

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 3:22pm

And this will answer the rest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1nfSdx6HAA

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:14pm

Just need to toss in the fact that "On the Line" is a REALLY good book.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:39pm

I have and "Inside the Music" and another ACL book but neither told me all I wanted to know.

I think I'll buy "On the Line" THanks! Updated On: 6/17/08 at 05:39 PM

[DBillyP]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:54pm

I saw Dante play Paul in the tour when I was 15. Unfortunately, Donna McKechnie hurt her knee the day before the matinee I saw, so her understudy, Lisa Christensen (sp?) went on for her.

While it was very moving to see Dante play his own story, I did not think he was a particularly good actor. However, it was the first time I ever saw ACL onstage, and I thought, "I want to play Paul someday." I had the opportunity to do so several years ago, in a production directed by a friend who saw the same tour when he was 15 and thought, "I want to direct this someday."

[morosco]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:05pm

I'm thinking that there was drama of some sort that resulted in Dante leaving the tour early. I can't remember if it was Dante who was unhappy or the producers.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 7:49pm

I found this article from the NY TIMES.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/theater/01line.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1