The event lasted twelve hours, but there was still more to tell and another evening was scheduled and recorded. As the evening continued, the stories grew and encompassed everything from childhood traumas, insecurities, sexuality and more. The interviews began in a circle with each dancer stating their name, where they were born and why they started dancing. On a snowy Saturday evening in January 1974, they did just that. They decided to get together a group of dancers to share their stories and experiences. Coincidentally, Bennett had been thinking along the same lines – although his idea was for a show, not a troupe. They knew they needed a name and Bennett was a well-known Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer who got his start as a chorus dancer.
Peacock and Stevens thought of an idea to create a theater troupe of just Broadway dancers and approached their friend Michael Bennett with their idea. As musicals became more expensive to produce (and flops were abundant), Broadway began to struggle in the early 1970s which caused many dancers to be out of work. The idea behind A Chorus Line began with two Broadway dancers, Michon Peacock and Tony Stevens. How did this musical, called “the first reality show” by original cast member Baayork Lee, capture such an iconic role in American culture? But then, the show won the Pulitzer Prize, nine Tony Awards®, and a host of other accolades. For an era that relied on showy elements, this was the anti-musical musical. It’s a completely ensemble show with no large scenery, no costumes (except the final number), no intermission and no star. There is a huge potential for error here, but this group tackles the challenge beautifully, staying on beat and on key.A Chorus Line changed musical theater forever when it premiered in 1975. The song style in the first act is complex, with the conversation and the lyrics layered over each other much of the time.
It's a high-energy production, bouncing from intricate choreographed numbers to quiet, relatable moments as the dancers reflect on their insecurities as they await judgment. Will they get the part? They talk about body issues and share personal stories about their background and their dreams. This is high stakes: All of them really need the job. In this case, there are no stars, just a diverse group of dancers auditioning for a role in the chorus line of a new Broadway show. It's a show about the people the audience never thinks about - the chorus, the ensemble members who support the stars. The concept musical, which opened in 1975, held the record for the longest-running Broadway production until "Cats" surpassed it in 1997. Broadway musicals usually have one or two heroes the audience roots for.
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