A CHORUS LINE – music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante.
by Shirle Gottlieb – Gazette Newspapers
In 1974, dancer/choreographer Michael Bennett asked 18 dancers why they auditioned for the chorus when the demand for musicals was in decline, there was little work in large productions, and everyone was struggling to make ends meet. Their honest answers led to the 1975 premiere of “A Chorus Line,” produced Off-Broadway by the inimitable Joe Papp. Audience reaction was ecstatic, so the sold-out musical moved to Broadway. There, it walked off with nine Tony Awards including Best Musical ‑ plus a Pulitzer.