Who is Mr Karp? in ACL ---A Chorus LIne Question

Posted: 7/29/06 at 7:05pm

I have listened to the A Chorus Line CD for years and the LP before that . In "I felt nothing" , Diana Morales sings about her teacher Mr. Karp. Does anyone know anything about who he is ?? I know there was an off broadway show about the Ed Kleban who wrote the lyrics. Does anyone know how he chose Mr. Karp as the name of the teacher and who Mr Karp was.?

I hope that MargoChanning or Michael Bennett might have some good responses to this question Its something that has interested me for many years

[Cyndy]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:30pm

According to this story:
http://www.bmi.com/musicaltheatre/newsletter/newsletter0401.pdf
Mr. Karp was based on Larry Olvin, a teacher at the performing arts high school in New York. http://www.laguardiahs.org/about/welcome.html

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:40pm

That's my high school =)

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:42pm

Good to know! I just performed "Nothing" last night in front of 200 ballet dancers! My favorite song in the show... and now there's a supposed backstory to add to it!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:48pm

I would imagine there is a backstory to just about every song in ACL.

That is what makes it all so interesting and compelling - you believe that someone has actually gone through what is being presented on stage before you.

But, just my opinion.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:49pm

I heard that Karp had died.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:51pm

It was nothing.

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:54pm

and now there's a supposed backstory to add to it!

There's nothing "supposed" about the backstory. That's true of the vast majority of the show.

[defygravity2]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 12:08am

...I dug right down to the bottom of my soul and cried.....
Updated On: 7/30/06 at 12:08 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:12am

'Cause I felt nothing...

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 3:35am

Such a great song!

[tophertilson]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 6:15am

There was a fantastic song in (I think) UPSTAIRS AT O'NEILL'S called "Something" in which Mr. Karp is in heaven, giving his side of the story. Truly hilarious.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 9:30am

Very great info and discussion Thank you for sharing

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 9:35am

Here is some more info (from the NY Times archives) on the 1982 show hertilson mentions; people still sing this song around town:

"In the Broadway hit 'A Chorus Line,' a young woman named Morales denounces her drama teacher at the High School of Performing Arts, Mr. Karp, for making her feel like 'Nothing!' because she wouldn't do the assigned improvisation and pretend she was a bobsled.

In a cabaret at 147 West 43d Street these nights, a young man named Douglas Bernstein is bringing down the house with 'Something: the World According to Karp,' the drama teacher's point of view on his former pupil.

Having succumbed to a combination of ill health and aggravation from the likes of Miss Morales, Mr. Karp looks down from heaven with dyspeptic rage as Morales defames his memory with her complaints.

'Every kid was alert and involved - except Morales,' he recalls, fuming. She just sat there like a lump I said, do something! Please, just do something! If you would try it, you'd really do it well You're probably nervous Do you speak English? You've got lots of real potential, I can tell.*

When Morales protests, 'They don't have bobsleds in San Juan,' Mr. Karp snaps, 'Don't give me this ethnic guilt trip - Gonzalez was a great bobsled!'




Updated On: 7/30/06 at 09:35 AM