The Ballet Dancer

A Chorus Line

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.

Cassie and Zach’s vague relationship re-emerges during a run-through of the number created to showcase an un-named star. Feeling that Cassie is dancing down, Zach confronts her. They rehash what went wrong in their relationship and her career. Zach points to the gypsies who will probably never get out of the line. Cassie replies, ‘ I’ll take the Chorus, if you take me’. Later, during a tap sequence, Paul falls injured and is carried off to the hospital. His audition is over. The final eight dancers are selected. These include Cassie, Bobby, Diana, Judy, Val, Mike, Mark and Richie.

“One’ begins with an individual bow for each of the 19 characters. The dancers’ hodgepodge rehearsal clothes are replaced by identical spangled gold costumes. As each dancer joins the group, it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other. Ironically, each character who was an individual to the audience is now an anonymous member of the musical.

A Chorus Line received 12 nominations for the Tony Awards in 1975, winning nine. The winning categories were Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Director, Best Musical Book, Best Score, Best Lighting design and Best Choreographer. The musical also won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for drama, becoming one of the few musicals ever to receive this honor.

For More Information On A Chorus Line

Visit: http://www.a-chorus-line.net

About the Author

Maria is a professional writer for A-Bronc-Tale.com. Music and Art is her passion and she enjoys writing on various Arts events including concerts and theatres. She can be reached at maria@a-bronx-tale.com.

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