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THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: She's The One! A CHORUS LINE Turns 40

By: Apr. 16, 2015
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Today we celebrate a major milestone anniversary of a legendary Broadway mainstay, A CHORUS LINE.

I Can Do That

On April 15, 1975 what would go on to become the longest-running Broadway musical of the era opened with much pomp, circumstance and an inordinate amount of buzz at the Shubert Theater on Broadway - the one and only A CHORUS LINE. Fiercely and fabulously idiosyncratic, A CHORUS LINE came about as the direct result of a game-changing developmental creative process shepherded by director, choreographer, producer and all-around mastermind Michael Bennett in the first of what is now considered the standard workshop rehearsal process of creating a new musical from the ground-up - in this case, from scratch. Never before had a musical been crafted in quite the same way as what Bennett and his team of collaborators conjured up. Working alongside composer Marvin Hamlisch, lyricist Ed Kleban, bookwriters Nicholas Dante and James Kirkwood and producer Joe Papp, Bennett utilized the stories candidly told by a group of his closest friends and associates - dancers, all - in an informal group therapy session held one fateful night over copious amounts of wine, cigarettes, illicit substances and general merriment - along with a plethora of vivid, sometimes painful and often joyous memories of what it means to be a dancer and why they all did that they did and continued to do it, no matter what. More to the point, in the end, A CHORUS LINE is really about the cost of that love and what it takes to make it on the line - in life, in love, in employment, and in general. After all, "What I Did For Love" is not only one of the most cherished and treasured gems from the splendidly dynamic score for the show, but the true meaning of the show itself.

As sensational a basis for an evening's entertainment as the musical as it stands undoubtedly is and was, an elemental ingredient that invaluably added to make the original production of A CHORUS LINE so iconic was the original cast. Showcasing Bennett's own muse and principal dancer of many of his most famed productions in a showy featured role - considered Best Actress by the Tony Awards administration that season, nevertheless; a prize which she claimed when that year's annual ceremony rolled around - Donna McKechnie soared as Cassie, the onetime paramour of the director of the musical-within-the-musical, Zach, with more than a fair share of shading provided by their real-life offstage romance and relationship informing much of the onstage goings-on. So, too, did featured star Kelly Bishop make a huge impact with her turn as sassy, seen-it-all gypsy Sheila - going on to win a Best Featured Actress Tony Award for her efforts that season, as well. Additionally, Priscilla Lopez represented the heart of the show with her charismatic turn as Diana, singing some of the score's biggest standouts, including "Nothing" and "What I Did For Love". Then, there were the men - Robert LuPone as Zach, Thommie Walsh as Bobby and eventual Tony-winner Sammy Williams as Paul, delivering one of the most memorable and moving monologues in Broadway history. It was a decadently stacked deck to be sure and the ideal complement to the masterful staging created by Bennett that effortlessly utilized a blank, spare space and made it into magic before our very eyes.

Musicals as groundbreaking as A CHORUS LINE only come along once or twice a generation and without any doubt whatsoever, A CHORUS LINE was the prime musical entertainment of 1975 - and, 40 years later, it remains a brilliant and inspiring gem.

So, now, relive a few of the reasons why A CHORUS LINE is, was and forever will remain the one.

Peruse the grand finale of the record-breaking 3,389th performance.

Also, check out the 2007 revival cast reprising the iconography on that year's Tony Awards.

What is your absolute favorite memory of A CHORUS LINE? Furthermore, what song from the fantastic score do you love most of all? With a show this powerful, a score this strong, a story this rich and original staging this unforgettable, it is clear to see why A CHORUS LINE is still buzzed about more than 40 years after its big debut on the Great White Way.

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