A Chorus Line Revival Documentary in the Works

Variety reports that a new documentary will go behind the scenes of the hit Broadway revival of A Chorus Line.

The $2 million dollar film, produced by John Breglio (who is also a producer of the A Chorus Line revival) with Endgame Entertainment and directed by Adam Del Deo and Endgame's James D. Stern, will be entitled Every Little Step.  A national release is planned to coincide with the beginning of A Chorus Line's national tour in May 2008.  The film will most likely first play film festivals in early 2008.

According to the article, "Like the musical itself, the film will focus mainly on the audition period. Cameras filmed more than 1,700 performers trying out for the show -- a public glimpse behind the scenes never before allowed by Actors' Equity. To secure permission from the thesp union, Breglio met with Equity committees before auditions even began."

Breglio remembered telling Equity officials, "If we ever are going to do something like this, A Chorus Line is the show to do it with.  My intent is not to demean or ridicule people. It's not Chorus Line gone reality TV. It's just the opposite -- celebrating what it is to be a professional dancer and showing the journey and drama that goes into it."

The revival of A Chorus Line opened at the Schoenfeld Theatre on October 5th, 2006.  "In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete.  For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. The one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed of," production notes state.  A Chorus Line, conceived and originally choreographed and directed by Michael Bennett, features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Baayork Lee re-stages the original choreography.

The company features Ken Alan (Bobby), Brad Anderson (Don), Michael Berresse (Zach), Natalie Cortez (Diana), Charlotte d'Amboise (Cassie), Mara Davi (Maggie), Jessica Lee Goldyn (Val), Deidre Goodwin (Sheila), Tyler Hanes (Larry), James T. Lane (Richie), Paul McGill (Mark), Heather Parcells (Judy), Michael Paternostro (Greg), Alisan Porter (Bebe), Jeffrey Schecter (Mike), Yuka Takara (Connie), Jason Tam (Paul), Chryssie Whitehead (Kristine) and Tony Yazbeck (Al) in a cast of 29.

The new production features scenery by Robin Wagner, costumes by Theoni V. Aldredge, lighting by Tharon Musser adapted by Natasha Katz and sound by ACME Sound Partners.  Musical direction and supervision is by Patrick Vaccariello, orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick, Billy Byers and Hershey Kay and vocal arrangements are by Don Pippin.

The original production of A Chorus Line opened at The Public Theater's Newman Theatre on May 21, 1975 and transferred to Broadway's Shubert Theatre on July 25th, opening there on October 19th of that year.  It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.  It ran for nearly 15 years, closing on April 28, 1990 after 6,137 performances.

The show remains the longest running American musical in Broadway history.

The 2006 Broadway cast recording of A Chorus Line was released by Masterworks Broadway and is available in stores nationwide.   For tickets for A Chorus Line and more information, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200. 

Photo of Charlotte d'Amboise by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.