“A Chorus Line” is set in a serious, limited space. A monumental Broadway masterpiece that overturned the conventional wisdom of musicals.



A musical genius whose life was short-lived

Musical audiences do not only want a glamorous world that allows them to escape from their daily lives. They can also feel an overwhelming emotion by identifying with the struggles and true feelings of the characters on stage. In that sense, "A Chorus Line" succeeded in drawing the audience in by giving the dancers auditioning a variety of backgrounds, including past trauma and diverse sexual orientations, and by providing lines, songs, and dances that make use of their individuality.

"A Chorus Line" was conceived, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. In the stage version of "A Chorus Line," only dancers and choreography assistants appear, but the "voice" of the director, who is auditioning, resonates throughout the show. Naturally, Michael Bennett himself is projected onto this director, Zach, and Donna McKechnie, who was briefly married to Bennett, was cast in the role of Cathy, one of the dancers and Zach's past lover, at the time of the premiere.

After "A Chorus Line," Michael Bennett directed another backstage masterpiece musical, "Hidden Figures." He died of AIDS at the young age of 44 in 1987. His bisexual side is also reflected in the multiple gay characters that appear in "A Chorus Line."

Following the craze on Broadway, the Shiki Theatre Company quickly brought "A Chorus Line" to Japan in 1979. The original cast included Ichimura Masachika, Maeda Minami, and Hamabata Kenkichi, and the play has been performed many times since then.

After "A Chorus Line," other serious musicals from London's West End, such as "The Phantom of the Opera," "Les Misérables," and "Miss Saigon," also became big hits on Broadway. It may be fair to say that "A Chorus Line" created the foundation for audiences to accept such works. It dramatically changed the world of musicals, which was dominated by fun and glamor, and this trend has been carried on by "Hamilton," a hit show set against the backdrop of the founding of the United States and addressing immigration issues, which is still running in 2017.

It is ironic that the film did not create a star.