Updating A Chorus Line

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:12am

If you were given full power to do so, what would your ideas be if you could update or change the revival of A Chorus Line?

NOTE: I don't want anyone saying, "You shouldn't update it." I want to know if people have any interesting ideas.

The only thing I could really think of would be to update it to a more current time period by re-orchestrating the show, changing the costumes and the few 70's allusions in the script. Other than that, I can't really think of much.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:16am

Thats what I was thinking. I think the whole show could be just as powerful, if not more, if it was redone to be set now, becuase at the time, to me it seemed to be set "here, now". Everywere I've seen it done to date, its still been the same 70s clothes and script, etc, but I think I revival needs to be updated or else they should just bring back the old one. It is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced, and I think today's dancers have the same story to tell and it could be all the more compelling.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:17am

I fully agree.

And have i ever told you that I love your avatar? Because I do.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:17am

Thanks!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:22am

I don't have any ideas because I dont think it should be updated....but maybethistime i ADORE your icon.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 2:43am

I dunno. This was the first Broadway type show I'd ever seen. I saw the national tour in the mid 90s with my mom. i was just disappointed by the set. I'm really into sets, I know this show isn't about sets but i just wish it had a little some more to it on stage.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 7:44am

The show has been updated in the past, for one of the national companies in the '80s, so it isn't a new idea. References to Gwen Verdon were changed to Ann Reinking, Troy Donohue to George Hamilton, etc. I don't see any problem with updating the script, especially as members of the original production team are going to be on board to oversee the revival. As for the set and costumes...well, an empty stage is an empty stage and dancewear is dancewear!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 8:42am

Wildcat, actually, George Hamilton is mentioned in the original. During the tap combination, Bobby sings, "If George Hamiliton can be a movie star, than I can be a movie star." During the montage he sings "if Troy Donahue..." I did this show a couple of years ago, and we kept it the way it was written in the '70s. I agree with what's being said, dancers today have just as much heart and their stories could be just as compelling. However, I was thrilled when I read they were keeping it as is. I love the '70's feel of the music and the situations. Paul's monologue, I think, wouldn't have as much heart if it was set today. It could still be powerful, it would probably have to be rewritten, but because it was the '70's, homosexuality was still TABOO BIG TIME (it is today, to a degree, but not the same degree) and just stuff like that. I don't know...just my two cents. Yes, Maybethistime AND WildCat, I love your icons!

-Vincent

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 8:52am

Goody!

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 10:58am

you could have cell phones go off several times in the dance bags scattered around the floor, and Zaks assisstants fuss about it.

Whoa, that's not really an improvement is it?

for those of you not realizing my sarcasm, several shows have been "updated" merely by adding a cell phone scene.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:04am

I would DEFINITELY change the references to Gwen Verdon. (Who?) Make it somebody who everybody will recognize for the rest of all time, like Kristin or Indiana.

"Robert Goulet, Robert Goulet, My God, Robert Goulet," would obviously become "Justin Timberlake, Justin Timberlake, Yo Dawg, Justin Timberlake."

"I was going to be a Radio City Music Hall Rockette," would become "I was going to be a pole dancer at Scores."

I would change the location of Paul's molestation story from the no-longer-existent 42nd Street grind house to the back shelves of the Disney Store with the chipped and broken Snow White figurines.

Change the reference to the movie The Red Shoes to "an old DVD of Flashdance."

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:07am

I found the cell phone scene in "Man of La Mancha" to be an enormous improvement.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:17am

But don't you think the Blackberry in Fiddler went too far?

Projecting the text message: trditn trditn

was pretty unclear.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:19am

In a new dinner theatre production of Camelot, Arthur seeks Knights of the Round Table by sending out a spam email.

Updated On: 2/26/05 at 11:19 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:25am

Ha! Good one.

I saw an updated Grease that took place in a bathhouse in 1978.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:28am

I loved the fiddler version I saw. It was very progressive.

The girls sang matchmaker.com, Matchmaker.com...

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:29am

Did that make the song "Greased Lightening Bolt"?

[Craig]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:30am

Well you're lucky. The dinner theater I saw Camelot was so small, they had knights of the round stool

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:33am

Their next show is ONE FOR THE SEESAW

[Phantom2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:33am

You said BOLT! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:34am

well, of course, the roundtable is virtual. Isn't a roundtable a kind of chat room?

[Craig]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:36am

I guess they could update "love letters" and just change it to people reading emails...

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:46am

Instead of a Playbill you get spam.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:47am

I saw a Carousel that they updated to Superman: The Ride. It wasn't half-bad, except for the puking after the clam bake.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:49am

Wait Namo. I think I saw that version too. Was that the one featuring Ice-T as Billy Biggelow?