A Chorus Line
Essay Preview: A Chorus Line
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A Chorus Line opened on Broadway on July 25, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, the musical received 12 Tony Award nominations and won 9 of them. The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest ever running production in Broadway history until the record was passed by Cats in 1997 and the longest running Broadway musical originally produced in the America, until over taken in 2011 by Chicago. A Chorus Line tells the story of a group of performers auditioning for a Broadway show. All the performers come from different backgrounds and have varying abilities. In between learning audition moves, they each reveal their most personal stories in interviews with the director, Zach. A Chorus Line has several themes including hope, sex, insecurity, ethnicity, and dreaming. In the end, only eight people are chosen for the show and get to put on splendid costumes and live out their dream. Dancing in the show requires heavy jazz, ballet, and some tap. The musical that I am going to compare A Chorus Line to is, Sweet Charity. Charity Valentine is the eternal optimist. While working at the seedy Fan-Dango ballroom, she is often taken advantage of and continually experiences bad relationships. Finally, she seems to have met a decent fellow in Oscar. Trying to hide her true profession, she lies to him and tells her that she works in a bank. Soon, Oscar asks Charity to marry him. Unfortunately, Oscar discovers Charitys real profession and backs out of the marriage. Nevertheless, Charity continues to remain hopeful that good things will happen in her life. A Chorus Line is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante and Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon.
Songs from A Chorus Line:
I Hope I Get It” – Zach, Tricia, Paul and Company
“I Can Do That” – Mike
“And” – Bobby, Richie, Val, and Judy
“At the Ballet” – Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie
“Sing!” – Kristine, Al, and Company
“Montage Part 1: Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love” – Mark, Connie, and Company
“Montage Part 2: Nothing” – Diana
“Montage Part 3: Mother” – Don, Judy, Maggie, and Company
“Montage Part 4: Gimme the Ball” – Greg, Richie, and Company
“Dance: Ten; Looks: Three” – Val
“The Music and the Mirror” – Cassie
“One” – Company
“The Tap Combination” – Company
“What I Did for Love” – Diana and Company
“One” (Reprise) – Company
Songs from Sweet Charity:
“Overture”
“Charitys Theme”
“You Should See Yourself” – Charity
“Big Spender” – Nickie, Helene and Fandango Girls
“Charitys Soliloquy” – Charity
“Rich Mans Frug” – The Company
“If My Friends Could See Me Now” – Charity
“Too Many Tomorrows” – Vittorio Vidal
“Theres