Life is nothing but a series of tribulations and ordeal which might be grave or easier to perform but they carry immense significance all along. The crux of the matter comes forth when the impeccable performance is brought forward keeping aside all the torment and hard slog. Many narrative plays and theatrical performances comprised of such issues but still they carry great following and demand, the reason being the close proximity with life and its bitterness.
A Chorus Line is one such musical where the plot glides around seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. With nineteen main characters, it is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre. The show provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. This also highlights the stalk reality of the life of such talented people who get inspired or pushed forth into this world of rhythm and movement, thus marking themselves as entertainers.
The original Broadway production was an unprecedented box office and critical hit, receiving 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine of them, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history up to that time. It remains the longest running Broadway musical originally produced in the United States. The show has enjoyed many successful productions worldwide and was revived on Broadway in 2006.
The musical opens up with the note when an audition for an upcoming Broadway production, director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the gypsies through their paces. Zach is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. Every dancer is desperate for work. After the first cut, 17 dancers remain. He wants to learn more about them, and asks the dancers to introduce themselves. With reluctance, the dancers reveal their pasts. The stories generally progress chronologically from early life experiences through adulthood to the end of a career.
The first candidate, Mike recalls his first experience with dance, watching his sister's dance class when he was a pre-schooler. Mike took her place one day when she refused to go to class – and he stayed. Bobby tries to hide the unhappiness of his childhood by making jokes. Zach is angered when he witnesses that the sharp-witted Sheila is not taking the audition seriously. She later claims ballet as a relief from her family life and as she was not a beautiful child, she was also drawn to ballet, where she could feel beautiful. At the ballet, notes Maggie, someone is always there; unlike the father she has never had.
The scatter-brained Kristine is tone-deaf, and her lament that she could never "Sing!" is interrupted by her husband Al finishing her phrases. Mark, the youngest of the dancers relates to his first wet dream and the other dancers share memories of adolescence. Gregory and Diana speak about their horrible recollections. Don remembers his first job at a nightclub, Richie recounts how he nearly became a kindergarten teacher, Judy reflects on her problematic childhood, and the 4'10" tall Connie laments the problems of being short. Finally, the newly-buxom Val explains that talent doesn't count for everything with casting directors. Thus a comprehensive introduction of all the cast members creates a personalized effect in the performance and audience create their own special bond with the characters.
A Chorus Line
Opened at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975 was a Broadway music al called ‘A Chorus Line’. The musical holds the record for the fourth longest-running musical, after Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. Its music is given by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban.
A Chorus Line is based mainly on two taped sessions with Broadway dancers. It also includes eight of the actors/actresses of the original Broadway cast. The musical toured successfully, including a run at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. With 19 main characters, the setting sets as a Broadway theater where young dancers are being auditioned for the part in the chorus line of a musical. The show gives a glimpse into the personalities of the performers.
In the setting of Act 1, director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the gypsies through their paces for an upcoming Broadway production. Every dancer is desperate for work but Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. In order to learn more about them, he asks the dancers to introduce themselves. The dancers reveal their pasts with reluctance. The first candidate and the youngest of 12 kids, Mike, recalls his first experience with dance. He used to watch his sister’s dance class and took her place one day when she refused to go to class.
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