A Chorus Line Question

[Roxie]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:06pm

The Theatre School I am a part of is doing A Chorus Line and I auditioned for Cassie as long with a few other roles. I was wondering what her role is like in the Broadway show? I've only seen the movie and haven't had a chance to read the script. What would you consider "the lead" Thanks!

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:10pm

Cassie is a stand-out role but A Chorus Line is definitely considered an ensemble piece. Break a leg, hope you get the role you want.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:12pm

Cassie is probably the closest thing the show has to a lead role, though it's frankly not that much larger that Diana or Sheila (Diana actually might be larger -- she has two solo songs). It's mostly due to the length of the "Music and the Mirror" scene (and that she's alone on stage for that number) that Donna McKechnie was put in the lead rather than supporting category for the Tonys (and won). Great part -- "The Music and The Mirror" has the potential to stop the show.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:15pm

I love that song. One of my all-time favorites. Definitely powerful if done right (although the last time I saw it, the woman who played Cassie was a wonderful dancer and a sucky singer, but oh well...)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 10:16pm

Cassie is a great role. She also has a moving scene with Zack during the "one" rehersal number. "Music and the Mirror" is a great song! If done remotely well it could stop the show. Break a leg! Other good roles to get are Maggie, Diana, Sheila, and Val.

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 12:55am

"God I'm a dancer, a dancer dances"-that line sung with so much passion made me fall in love with theatre

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 12:58am

Funny, mine was "kiss today goodbye the sweetness and the sorrow"!

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:15am

mines was: just a dash of silicone..shake your new maracas and you're fine!
--- just kidding, i couldn't resist! Updated On: 9/27/04 at 02:15 AM

[Jess1483]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 12:21pm

"God I'm a dancer, a dancer dances"-that line sung with so much passion made me fall in love with theatre

Me too, that line has so much passion in it...if it's done well, that line can steal the show!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:13pm

if there is a "lead" in A CHORUS LINE, it is the part of Cassie.

Donna McKechnie won a Tony for Best Actress for the part.

Cassie is a great part to play, but indeed a difficult one. Remember,

alot of folks that haven't seen ACL think it is about "young people" who want to be dancers....

In Fact, ACL is more about dancers who are 30ish than 18 (there is of course the 18 yr old "wet dream boy"--but most of the focus is on the "older dancers")

Cassie is a tricky part to play. She is supposed to be primarily a dancer, but a Broadway dancing performer who "has stopped two shows cold." Therefore she has tried for employment in California and met with little success except for having played a "dancing bandaid" in a commercial.

Cassie is conceived as being really "too good for the chorus, but not good enough to be a star." There can be nuanced acting involved here.

Of course, when Cassie gets to "strut her stuff alone" she gets to do it in one of the most brilliantly constructed pieces of theater Michael Bennett ever did, THE MUSIC AND THE MIRROR.

Donna was simply breathtaking when she performed that number and Ann Reinking was absolutely bewitching doing THE MUSIC AND THE MIRROR after she took over the role from Donna.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:18pm

Incidentally, Bennett actually readjusted the choreography of the number for Reinking in order to better emphasize Reinking's incredible line and extension (she was a ballet dancer before she came to Broadway). Both she and McKechnie were incredible in the role.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:24pm

Wow, I feel so, I'm not sure how to put it... Taught of theater I guess is the most accurate. There's been a lot of learning here today. And this student is certainly the better for it.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:39pm

MargoChanning, I remember the adjustments well and I totally agree with you that both women we mentioned were incredible as Cassie. When either of them did MUSIC AND THE MIRROR, it truly was time to "fasten your seatbelts."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:43pm

I don't actually remember the Shubert having seatbelts any of the times I saw A Chorus Line. Perhaps I just relied on the airbags and let the chips fall where they did.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 3:37pm

teacheroftheatre - who is that in your icon?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 3:39pm

That's T.O.T. and that rhymes with H.O.T., don't you A.G.R.E.E.?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 3:59pm

namo - well - if you're asking ME - he IS an attractive man.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 4:02pm

I couldn't agree with you more. Unless it's the guy who was Dawson Creek's father or The Flash. In any case, H.O.T.