MusicalDramaOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Jul 25, 1975
Closing Date
Apr 28, 1990
Performances
6,137
MusicalDramaOriginalBroadway

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Shubert Theatre
(Jul 25, 1975 - Apr 28, 1990)

Setting
An Audition. 1975. Here.

Comments
"The characters portrayed in A CHORUS LINE are, for the most part, based upon the lives of Broadway dancers. This show is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step...anywhere."

The opening night for this production is occasionally erroneously listed as October 19, 1975. When A Chorus Line transferred from the Public to Broadway on July 25, 1975 (the off-Broadway run having only closed on July 13), the production opted not to be re-reviewed until September 28 (a full two months later – which would have been an extraordinarily long preview period for the time). The performances during this time were not counted as previews – its weekly grosses were reported in Variety that summer as performances. Variety noted on July 23, 1975 that A Chorus Line was opening that Friday, and the following week again noted that it had opened when reporting the production’s grosses. However, the September 28 review date was pushed back to October 19 due to the Local 802 strike of 1975; A Chorus Line was dark September 18 – October 12. Variety, in its October 22, 1975 edition, says the production “had its so-called ‘press opening’ last Sunday night (19),” noting it was not recognized as its official opening. Additionally, there is a plaque in the lobby of the Shubert Theatre noting the opening night as July 25.

On September 29, 1983, this production celebrated its 3,389th performance, surpassing Grease as the longest-running show in Broadway history at the time. For this performance, over 300 performers from various companies (Broadway, touring, international) of A Chorus Line performed in the show’s finale “One.” Performers who only appeared in the Broadway production on this date are noted as such on the ‘replacement’ tab.


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Produced by Joseph Papp and The New York Shakespeare Festival (Joseph Papp, Producer); Produced in association with Plum Productions, Inc.; Associate Producer: Bernard Gersten
Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante; Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Edward Kleban; Music orchestrated by Bill Byers, Hershy Kay and Jonathan Tunick; Musical Director: Donald Pippin; Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
Conceived by Michael Bennett; Choreographed by Michael Bennett and Bob Avian; Directed by Michael Bennett; Choreographed by Michael Bennett and Bob Avian
Scenic Design by Robin Wagner; Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge; Lighting Design by Tharon Musser; Sound Design by Abe Jacob; Associate to Miss Aldredge: Bill Kellard; Personal Asst. to Miss Aldredge: Paul Martino; Assistant to Miss Musser: Richard Winkler; Assistant to Mr. Jacob: David Congdon
General Manager for NYSF: Robert Kamlot; Company Manager: Patricia Carney; Assistant to the General Manager: Sally Campbell
Production Manager for NYSF: Andrew Mihok; Production Stage Manager: Jeff Hamlin; Stage Manager: Frank Hartenstein; Assistant Stage Mgr: Scott Allen; Technical Director for the NYSF: Mervyn Haines, Jr.
Musical Coordinator: Robert Thomas; Orchestra Personnel Manager: Herbert Harris; Associate Conductor: Jerry Goldberg; Assistant to Mr. Hamlisch, Rehearsal Pianist: Fran Liebergall; Music Copyist: Larry Abel; Bass Guitar: Roland Wilson; Upright Bass: Jaime Austria; Harp: Bernice Horowitz; Percussion: Benjamin Herman; Reeds: Joseph Maggio, Marvin Roth, Stanley Brauner and Norman Wells; Trumpet: Bob Millikan and Al Mattaliano; Trombone: Vincent Forchetti and Gordon Early Anderson; Keyboards: Fran Liebergall; Guitars: George Davis, Jr.; Bass Trombone: Blaise Turi; Drums: Allen Herman
General Press Representative for NYSF: Merle Debuskey; Casting Director for NYSF: Rosemarie Tichler; Press Representative: Bob Ullman; Asst. to the Choreographers: Baayork Lee; Press Assistant: Norman L. Berman; Dance Captain: Baayork Lee; Consultant to the Producer: Novella Nelson; Graphics Design: Susan Frank; Photographer: George E. Joseph; Advertising: Don Josephson and The Blaine Thompson Company
Scott Allen
Broadway Debut
Roy
Kristine
Carole Bishop
Changed name to Kelly Bishop during run
Sheila
Butch
Clive Clerk
Broadway debut
Larry
Maggie
Richie
Donna Drake
Broadway debut
Tricia
Brandt Edwards
Broadway debut
Tom
Nancy Lane
Broadway debut
Bebe
Connie
Paul
Jul 25, 1975 - Apr 24, 1976
Understudies: Chuck Cissel (Paul, Richie), Clive Clerk (Zach), Donna Drake (Kristine, Connie, Maggie), Brandt Edwards (Don, Mark), Carolyn Kirsch (Cassie, Sheila), John Mineo (Al, Mike), Carole Schweid (Diana, Bebe), Michael Serrecchia (Larry, Greg, Bobby) and Crissy Wilzak (Val, Judy)

Shubert Theatre (Jul 25, 1975 - Apr 28, 1990)

Musical Director: Jerry Goldberg and Robert Rogers
Sound Supervisor: Otts Munderloh
Associate General Manager for NYSF: Susan Sampliner; General Manager for NYSF: Bob MacDonald; Company Manager: Bob MacDonald, Robert Reilly, Susan Sampliner and Mitchell Weiss (Oct 07, 1985 - ?); Executive Producer of NYSF: Jason Steven Cohen
Production Supervisor for the NYSF: Jason Steven Cohen; Production Stage Manager: Tom Porter; Stage Manager: Ronald Stafford, Wendy Mansfield and Christopher Gregory; Assistant Stage Mgr: Fraser Ellis, Jon Michael Richardson and James Beaumont
Associate Conductor: Vincent Fanuele; Keyboards: Nicholas Archer and Robert Rogers; Guitar: Joe Ravo; Drums: Dorian McGee and Earl Williams; Reeds: Andrew Sterman, Ken Dybisz and Buzz Brauner; Trumpet: John Frosk; Bass Trombone: Brad McDougall; Rehearsal Pianist: Nick Archer; Trumpets: James Morreale
Dance Captain: T. Michael Reed, Troy Garza, Patti D'Beck and Michael Ricardo; Press Associate: Richard Kornberg; Sound Supervisor: Otts Munderloh; Press Representative: William Schelble and Bruce Campbell; Press Assistant: Bruce Cohen; Photographer: Martha Swope; Vocal Coach: Antony Geralis and Fran L. Forchetti; Advertising: Serino Coyne, Inc.

Cast

Richie Abanes
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Melanie Adam
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
John Addis
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Brian Andrews
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Michael Austin
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Scott Austin
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Mike
 
Gino
 
Richie
 
Al
Kristine
James Beaumont
Broadway debut
Sam
Steve Belin
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Zach
Apr 1976 - Sep 1976
Maggie
Apr 1976 - ?
Judy
Apr 1976 - ?
Andy Bew
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Diana
Dennis Birchall
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Sheila
Marianne Black
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Larry Blum
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jane Bodle
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
James Bontempo
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mike
 
Al
Melinda Buckley
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Richie
Judy Burns
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
David Cahn
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Frank
 
Bobby
 
Don
 
Greg
René Ceballos
Broadway debut
Lois
 
Bebe
1977 - ?
Pam Cecil
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Mike
 
Larry
Kevin Chinn
Broadway debut
Butch
 
Richie
Karis Christensen
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Douglas
Cassie
 
Paul
Randy Clements
For the 3,389th performance only
Don
Rise Clemmer
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Diana
Lillian Colón
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Patti Columbo
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Rick Conant
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Stephanie Conlow
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Annette Coppola
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Ralph
Mary Lou Crivello
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Val
Nancy Dafgek
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Nikki D'Amico
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Linda Dangcil
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Barbara
 
Lois
Stephan de Ghelder
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Richie
Daniel Dee
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Alberto Denis
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Sam
Lisa Donaldson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Butch
Mark Dovey
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Maggie
Pamm Drake
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mike
Linda
Stephanie Eley
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Herman
 
Frank
Lisa Embs
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Rick Emery
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jenny
Scott Faris
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Tricia
Glenn Ferrugiari
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Hilary Fields
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Peter Fitzgerald
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Kristine
 
Vicki
Denny Martin Flinn
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Raymond Flowers
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mark Fotopoulos
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Helen Frank
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jean Fraser
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Tricia
 
Linda
Lois
Apr 1976 - ?
 
Cassie
 
Ed
Frank
 
Ed
 
Lois
Jarad
 
Frank
Kristine
Scott Geralds
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Alison Gertner
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Ganine Giorgione
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Larry
Christopher Gregory
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mike
1989 - 1990
Steven Hack
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Marshall Hagins
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Deborah Hahn
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Linda
 
Mike
Mary Hedahl
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Richie
Apr 1976 - ?
 
Cassie
Linda Hess
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Darla Hill
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Frank Hooper
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Eric Horenstein
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Jenny
Michaela Hughes
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Michael Ian-Lerner
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Cassie
 
Judy
Marlene Inden
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Matthew Inge
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
David Inloes
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Chikae Ishikawa
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Lidell Jackson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Meridith Johnson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Tim Johnson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Herman
 
Ralph
Mark
Reed Jones
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Tricia
Jack Kartcher
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Eric Kaufman
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Connie
Apr 1976 - ?
Keith Keen
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Andy Keyser
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Laura Klein
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Douglas
 
Tom
Maggie
Frank Kosik
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Stanley Kramer
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Bobby
Barbara Lavorato
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Cherylene Lee
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jennifer Ann Lee
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Vicki
Clifford Lipson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mike
Richie
Rudy Lowe
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mike
1981 - ?
Diana
Apr 1976 - ?
Zach
Mar 19, 1986 - ?
Agnes
Tricia
Reggie Mack
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Alex MacKay
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Kristine
Vicki
 
Judy
 
Sheila
Tamara Mark
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Diana
Jaymi Marshall
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Al
 
Larry
John McGee
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Bobby
Kristine
Calvin McRae
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Frank
Karen Meister
Broadway debut
Bebe
Paul
circa. 1987 - ?
Terrin Miles
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Zach
Jarad
 
Al
Jerry Mitchell
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Philip Mollet
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Val
Apr 1976 - ?
Sheila
 
Vicki
 
Linda
Stephen Moore
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Brad Moranz
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Edd Latta Morgan
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Butch
Suzen Murakoshi
Vacation Replacement
Connie
circa. 1987 - circa. 1989
Al
Apr 1976 - ?
Kenji Nakao
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Sheila
Ed Nolfi
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Susanne Nordin
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mark
Feb 21, 1990 - Apr 28, 1990
 
Tricia
circa. 1978 - ?
Tricia
1984 - 1985
 
Vicki
 
Tricia
Vicki
Oct 27, 1975 - ?
Richie
Ilona Papp
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Judith Papp
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
 
Douglas
Tony Parise
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Lois
Vicki
Jamie Patterson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Mayme Paul
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Pamela Peadon
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Diane Perell
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Paul
Apr 1976 - May 1978
 
Larry
Deborah Phelan
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Debra Pigliavento
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Andrea Pike
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Laureen Valuch Piper
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Douglas
Karen Maris Pisani
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Michael-Day Pitts
Broadway debut
Larry
Larry
Vicki
Melissa Randel
Broadway debut
Judy
 
 
Shanna Reed
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Rita Rehn
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Michael Reid
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Cassie
Apr 1976 - Jan 01, 1977
Nolan Rice
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Joseph Rich
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Cassie
 
Val
Eric Riley
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jeffory Robinson
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Butch
Melody Rogers
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Greg
Apr 1976 - ?
Danny Rounds
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Jim T. Ruttman
For the 3,389th performance only
 
 
Maggie
Diana
Bebe
Apr 1976 - ?
Diana
May 07, 1976 - ?
 
Barbara
 
Bebe
 
Vicki
Connie
Larry
Cassie
 
Lois
Tricia
 
Don
Don
Apr 1976 - ?
Connie
Cassie
 
Jenny
Butch
Kristine
 
Paul
Bobby
Paul
Oct 19, 1983 - Dec 1985
Mike
Connie
Connie
Diana
Joanna Zercher
Broadway debut
Vicki
 
Hilary
Understudies: Dean Badolato (Mike, Al), James Beaumont (Paul, Mark, Larry), Sandahl Bergman (Cassie), Kevin Chinn (Richie), Catherine Cooper (Cassie, Sheila, Val), Jim Corti (Paul), Noel Craig (Zach), Michael Danek (Zach), Dennis Daniels (Al, Mike, Mark), Patti D'Beck (Bebe, Diana, Cassie, Judy, Kristine), John Dolf (Mike), Pi Douglass (Richie), Diane Duncan (Sheila, Judy, Kristine), Dennis Edenfield (Mike), Fraser Ellis (Mark, Bobby, Don), Susie Fenner (Maggie, Connie, Bebe, Diana), Gail Mae Ferguson (Cassie, Sheila), Cynthia Fleming (Sheila, Cassie, Kristine), Diane Fratantoni (Diana, Val, Connie, Maggie, Bebe), David Fredericks (Mark, Larry), Morris Freed (Mark), Laurie Gamache (Kristine, Bebe, Judy, Cassie), Troy Garza (Mike, Greg, Paul, Larry, Al, Mark), Roscoe Gilliam (Richie), Niki Harris (Val, Sheila, Judy), J. Richard Hart (Mike), Deborah Henry (Cassie), Jannet Horsley (Sheila, Kristine, Judy), Angelique Ilo (Cassie), Anthony Inneo (Zach), Bradley Jones (Bobby, Greg), Kiel Junius (Maggie, Connie, Val), Diana Kavilis (Cassie, Diana), Frank Kliegel (Don, Zach, Bobby), Tom Kosis (Mark, Larry), Joe Langworth (Mark, Larry), Paula Leggett (Sheila, Judy, Kristine), Carlos Lopez (Paul, Mark, Mike, Al), Betty Lynd (Val, Kristine, Maggie, Connie), Robin Lyon (Bebe, Diana, Val, Maggie), Carol Marik (Judy, Kristine, Sheila, Val), Kevin Neil McCready (Zach), William Mead (Al, Greg, Mike), Tim Millett (Zach, Don, Larry), Dana Moore (Cassie, Judy, Sheila), Kevyn Morrow (Richie), Bebe Neuwirth (Cassie), Cynthia Onrubia (Connie), Mary Ann O'Reilly (Judy, Val), Evan Pappas (Al, Paul, Larry), Dennis Parlato (Zach, Al, Don), Julie Pars (Val, Kristine, Judy), Matthew Pedersen (Larry, Don, Al, Mike), George Pesaturo (Paul), Reggie Phoenix (Richie), Sam Piperato (Bobby, Larry, Mike), Michael-Day Pitts (Greg), Donna M. Pompei (Diana, Connie, Bebe, Maggie, Val), Michael Ricardo (Mike, Larry), Jon Michael Richardson (Bobby, Greg), Steve Riley (Al), Ken Rogers (Richie), Danny Ruvolo (Paul, Mike, Larry, Greg, Al), Chesley Santoro (Cassie, Diana, Maggie, Bebe), Ann Louise Schaut (Cassie, Sheila, Kristine, Judy), Tracy Shayne (Bebe, Diana, Maggie), Dale Stotts (Al, Mike, Larry, Don), Claude Tessier (Bobby, Greg, Don, Al), David Thomé (Zach), Candace Tovar (Sheila), Glenn Turner (Richie), Julie Tussey (Val, Kristine), Timothy Wahrer (Paul), James Warren (Zach), Marcia Lynn Watkins (Sheila), Pamela Ann Wilson (Val, Judy), Joanna Zercher (Judy, Kristine, Sheila, Val) and Karen Ziemba (Cassie, Maggie, Diana, Bebe)
music by Marvin Hamlisch; lyrics by Edward Kleban
I Hope I Get It
Company
I Can Do That
Mike
"And..."
Bobby, Richie, Val and Judy
At the Ballet
Sheila, Bebe and Maggie
Sing!
Kristine and Al
Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love
Company
Nothing
Diana
Dance: Ten; Looks: Three
Val
The Music and the Mirror
Cassie
One
Company
The Tap Combination
Company
What I Did For Love
Diana and Company
One (Reprise)
Company

Tony Award®

Best Musical

Best Book of a Musical

1976 Winner
Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante

Best Original Score

1976 Winner
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Best Actress in a Musical

1976 Winner
Donna McKechnie

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

1976 Winner
Sammy Williams
 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

1976 Nominee
Robert LuPone

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1976 Winner
Carole Bishop
 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1976 Nominee
Priscilla Lopez
 

Best Costume Design

1976 Nominee
Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge

Best Lighting Design

1976 Winner
Lighting Design by Tharon Musser

Best Choreography

1976 Winner
Choreographed by Michael Bennett and Bob Avian

Best Direction of a Musical

1976 Winner
Directed by Michael Bennett

Pulitzer Prize

for Drama

1976 Winner
Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante
Directed by Michael Bennett
Choreographed by Michael Bennett
Conceived by Michael Bennett
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Musical/Book

1976 Winner
Produced by Joseph Papp
Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante

Outstanding Music and Lyrics

1976 Winner
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Outstanding Choreography

1976 Winner
Choreographed by Michael Bennett and Bob Avian

Outstanding Director of a Musical

1976 Winner
Directed by Michael Bennett

Theatre World

Special Award

1976 Recipient
Scott Allen (for Ensemble Performance), Renee Baughman (for Ensemble Performance), Carole Bishop (for Ensemble Performance), Pamela Blair (for Ensemble Performance), Wayne Cilento (for Ensemble Performance), Chuck Cissel (for Ensemble Performance), Clive Clerk (for Ensemble Performance), Kay Cole (for Ensemble Performance), Ronald Dennis (for Ensemble Performance), Donna Drake (for Ensemble Performance), Brandt Edwards (for Ensemble Performance), Patricia Garland (for Ensemble Performance), Carolyn Kirsch (for Ensemble Performance), Ron Kuhlman (for Ensemble Performance), Nancy Lane (for Ensemble Performance), Baayork Lee (for Ensemble Performance), Priscilla Lopez (for Ensemble Performance), Robert LuPone (for Ensemble Performance), Cameron Mason (for Ensemble Performance), Donna McKechnie (for Ensemble Performance), Don Percassi (for Ensemble Performance), Michael Serrecchia (for Ensemble Performance), Michel Stuart (for Ensemble Performance), Thomas J. Walsh (for Ensemble Performance), Sammy Williams (for Ensemble Performance) and Crissy Wilzak (for Ensemble Performance)
Season:
Week Ending Gross % Gross Pot. Attendance % Capacity # Previews # Perf.
Statistics supplied are courtesy of The Broadway League.
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