Product Description

It is hard to believe that over 25 years have passed since A Chorus Line first electrified a New York audience. The memories of the show's birth in 1975, not to mention those of its 15-year-life and poignant death, remain incandescent - and not just because nothing so exciting has happened to the American musical since. For a generation of theater people and theatergoers, A Chorus Line was and is the touchstone that defines the glittering promise, more often realized in lengend than in reality, of the Broadway way. This impressive book contains the complete book and lyrics of one of the longest running shows in Broadway history with a preface by Samuel Freedman, an introduction by Frank Rich and lots of photos from the stage production.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239169 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 172 pages

Customer Reviews

Fascinating (If Implausable) Musical
A Chorus Line is what many people (with the exception of this reviewer) considers the best musical ever written. I feel that the best musical ever written wa Chorus Line's original Tony award competitior, Chicago (which alas, won no awards that year.) That isn't to say that I don't like the show. I think it has one of the best musical books ever written and some nice songs.
The show tells the personal stories of dancers auditioning for an unknown musical in 1975. The stories range from hysterical to sad to disturbing. I'm sure that the actor\dancers that told these tales were exceptional. Some of them, like Kelly Bishop and Donna McKechnie, have gone on to great success.
The show's score is nice, but nowhere near the calibur of Chicago's excellent music and lyrics. Marvin Hamlisch supplies nice tunes with a soft rock beat. The most memorable is "One" which is sort of like a Jerry Herman showtune. "Dance: Ten;Looks: Three" is also charming. The montage, which includes two good songs "Hello 12, Hello 13, Hello Love" and "Nothing" also has nice music.
Ed Kleban's lyrics are conversational and blend well with the dialouge. They are sometimes funny and sometimes touching. However, they are sometimes rather predicitable and nowhere near the brillance of Fred Ebb's ironic, cynical lyrics for Chicago.
However, the book is so superb, it makes the okay score nearly perfect for the show.
I do think that A Chorus Line is an important piece. It's extremely well written. However, I doubt if any busy director would take the time to personally talk to eac auditioner about their life. The story is slightly implausable.
However, the great director- Michael Bennet, the great writers and cast made this show a singular sensation that brought tourism and prosperity back to New York.

Good but not worth the price!
C'mon! A chorus Line is THE best musical ever written! Now you can have the chance to own a wonderfully published script to this amazing music. I also suggest buying the cd to the musical to go with the script. It's just a pity that this script can not encapsulate the performances of the original cast as well. But I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. But you can buy this script... and for a severely discounted price!...Congratulations. Jump at this deal immediately.