A Chorus Line

Director and choreographer: Tom Carron

- I have had significant experience in production both inside and outside of university. In the last two
years I have choreographed the ‘(im)mature cabaret’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ segment of ‘Showcase 2016’
at Bristol. I have also worked as a choreographer externally on ‘Footloose’, ‘bare: A Pop Opera’, ‘Into
the Woods’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ to name a few.

A Chorus Line
- This iconic 1970s musical has had numerous adaptations, including a 1985 film and countless stage
productions since its initial performance. It is an ensemble-driven show with excellent opportunities
for singers and dancers alike and will be a fulfilling challenge for members of MTB. The show centres
around Broadway call-backs where seventeen dancers are in the final round, where only eight will make
it into the show. Each of the dancers has their own distinct personality and ultimately the audience
learns the harsh reality of the performance world as described by the auditionees. The final selection
of dancers becomes irrelevant and many of the auditonees begin to question whether they belong in
the industry and what alternative choices they have. Boasting sharp dances, intricate harmonies and
particularly funny moments, this is an excellent choice for Showcase. I am looking for a cast size of 12-
18, which features one non-dancing role. The cast gender split can be flexible, but I would prefer to
have a minimum of five boys so that the harmonies can be sufficiently covered.

Vision
- In keeping with the style and tradition of the show I would elect for a dark stage, void of any set or
obstacles with the exception of some mirrors upstage (there are some excellent wheeled mirrors in the
Anson Rooms which would work particularly well). This is to reflect the audition environment and not
to distract attention from the dancers. Costuming is colourful but simple and is the main attraction for
the audience’s eye; actors should wear leotards, dancewear and other typical clothing for an audition
although there is no need to limit the production to the 1970s style.

Extracts from the show:

- ‘I Hope I Get It’
o This is the opening of the show and it is bright and vibrant. The audience is immediately thrown
into the middle of an up-tempo dance audition, followed by a short jazz and ballet sequence.
During this, many auditionees embarrass themselves while trying to impress the director,
Zach, and others carry out his demands perfectly. Traditionally, Zach is a cast member who
remains seated in the audience throughout the majority of the show however I would prefer
him to remain onstage through this number so that he can direct the auditionees. This scene
is particularly funny and also opens opportunities for non-dancers as there are some comical
moments featuring particularly bad auditionees.
- ‘One (Reprise) [Finale]’
o The auditionees move straight from the opening to the finale, although this will be cut to
appear as if they are performing the song in its first instance (rather than the finale reprise) –
this is because the music in the finale is much grander and more of a showstopper. This
transition is aided using edits to the show script and allows the actor playing the
choreographer to hand out the hats and canes (as done in the show) in the place of when they
would normally collect the resumés, allowing for a seamless transition. In this number,
auditionees begin to learn one of the numbers from the show and are matched with fabulous
gold hats and canes. This is an excellent opportunity for MTB members to showcase their
dance skills as this routine will be slick and impressive, but importantly it will be fun for people
to learn without being unnecessarily difficult.