'Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch' Act One

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Fran Liebergall was subbing as the pianist/musical director for the Off-Broadway production of Godspell at the Promenade Theatre when Marvin Hamlisch saw the show. He immediately asked her to assist him by being rehearsal pianist for a workshop he was doing at Joe Papp's Public Theater. That show was A Chorus Line. That chance meeting was the beginning of a 35 year relationship with Mr. Hamlisch, A Chorus Line and Broadway.

Fran was A Chorus Line's original rehearsal pianist and pit keyboardist and eventually became the Music Supervisor and was involved in ACL auditions and the teaching of all new cast members. Fran has travelled internationally for A Chorus Line and has played at the White House on two occasions. This also began her long association with Michael Bennett which continued on Ballroom, Dreamgirls and Scandal. She was musical supervisor & associate conductor for Mr. Hamlisch's productions of They're Playing Our Song and The Goodbye Girl and was involved in the original workshops of his musicals Smile and Sweet Smell of Success. Many of the artists participating in this all star event are doing so in gratitude to her skills, talents and patience in the early development of those productions.

Fran is currently living with Multiple Sclerosis which for the past several years has limited her abilities to volunteering her time teaching and lecturing, which she enjoys immensely.

BroadwayWorld was on hand for the benefit and brings you photo coverage below.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride