On the Line - The Creation of A Chorus Line - Softcover

Viagas, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0879103361 ISBN 13: 9780879103361

Publisher: Limelight, 2006

Synopsis

A Chorus Line, the biggest Broadway hit of its generation, is returning to Times Square in a major fall 2006 revival. The show is based on a remarkable series of taped discussions made in the mid 1970s with some of the top “gypsies” (veteran Broadway dancers), many of whom went on to play characters based on themselves in the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical.

In many ways, On the Line: The Creation of “A Chorus Line” is a continuation of the show itself. In this collective oral history, the 19 original cast members tell how they got involved with the project, how they labored through the months of workshops that shaped it, and what its success has meant for their lives and careers. They paint intimate and frank portraits of co-creators Michael Bennett, Joseph Papp, Ed Kleban – and each other.

Originally published in 1990, the book has been updated to continue telling their stories over the past 16 years. Wayne Cilento (“I Can Do That”) has become a Tony-winning choreographer of shows like Wicked and Aida; Kelly Bishop (“Can the adults smoke?”) has become a TV star; Trish Garland has become a California fitness guru, and so forth.

About this title

About the Author:

ROBERT VIAGAS is founder of the news service for Playbill On-Line, program director and host of Radio Playbill, and editor of Playbill Books. He is author of numerous books on Broadway.

BAAYORK LEE created the role of Connie in the original production of A Chorus Line. She has directed more than 35 productions of A Chorus Line around the world and served as choreographer for the 2006 Broadway revival.

THOMMIE WALSH created the role of Bobby in the original company of A Chorus Line. Since then he has directed and choreographed shows on Broadway, nationally, and internationally, winning two Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards in the process.

From Library Journal:

Based primarily on interviews with the original 19 dancers whose stories provided the plot of A Chorus Line, Viagas, with cast members Thommie Walsh and Baayork Lee, recounts the history of the show. The book's narrow focus works both for and against it; while the dancers were an integral part of the creative process and therefore reliable and inexhaustible sources, the minutiae of relationships and the somewhat similar background stories become monotonous. One also misses input from producers, writers, and other creative members of the team. This is the fourth book in recent months to deal with the show; for the complete story, read it along with Denny Flinn's What They Did for Love and Ken Mandelbaum's A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett (both LJ 6/15/89). For exhaustive theater collections and diehard Chorus Line fans.
- Eric W. Johnson, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Limelight
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0879103361
• ISBN 13: 9780879103361
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 392