More stars have been added to the roster of the upcoming 50th anniversary one-night-only benefit concert of landmark musical A Chorus Line, set to return to its original Broadway home at the Shubert Theatre July 27. The evening will raise money for the Entertainment Community Fund.
Newly joining the lineup are ECF Board Chair Annette Bening, Tommy Bracco (Newsies), Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Mandy Gonzalez (Sunset Blvd.), Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth (Cabaret), Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!), and Jennifer Simard (Death Becomes Her).
Also newly added to the company is a dance ensemble boasting Nick Adams, Ruby Calamia, Lauren Celentano, Kevin Curtis, Sara Esty, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Eddie Gutierrez, Fiona Claire Huber, Konnor Kelly, Ian Liberto, Pierre Marais, Drew Minard, Adriana Negron, Bethany Ann Tesarck, Caleb Marshall Villarreal, and Blake Zelesnikar.
They will share the stage with previously announced original cast members Kelly Bishop, Wayne Cilento, Baayork Lee, Priscilla Lopez, and Donna McKechnie; along with Broadway favorites (many of them also A Chorus Line alum from other productions) Charlotte d'Amboise, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Robyn Hurder, 2025 Tony Award winner Francis Jue, Krysta Rodriguez, Jessica Vosk, Anthony Wayne, Tony Yazbeck, and Leigh Zimmerman.
Tickets for the special event are sold out, though a special package including two front-row tickets and an invite to the post-show reception is up for auction at CharityBuzz.com.
Lee is directing the evening, and also re-creating Michael Bennett and Bob Avian's original choreography. Lee has been the primary steward of the production's original staging since creating the role of Connie in the first company.
Featuring music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, A Chorus Line premiered at Off-Broadway's Public Theater in 1975 before transferring to Broadway's Shubert the same year, going on to run for a record-breaking 6,137 performances; the musical was Broadway's longest-running for many years, before being overtaken by Cats. Inspired by a number of group meetings in which original director-choreographer Bennett asked real Broadway dancers to share their life stories, A Chorus Line transports audiences to auditions for the dance ensemble of a Broadway musical. When the director-choreographer gets personal with his questions, the group of stage hopefuls spill everything about their dreams, upbringings, and more.
Hamlisch and Kleban's score introduced such favorites as "One," "What I Did for Love," "Nothing," and "At the Ballet," while the show itself won nine 1975 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a rarity for a musical. A movie adaptation hit theatres in 1985, and the musical has become a mainstay of theatres internationally in the years since it closed on Broadway, in 1990. A Broadway revival was mounted in 2006.
“We are thrilled to celebrate 50 years of A Chorus Line on Broadway with this one-night-only spectacular, supporting our programs and services dedicated to the dance community," says ECF President and CEO Joe Benincasa in a statement. "We’re so grateful to everyone for making this special night possible, and we can’t wait to honor this milestone at the Shubert Theatre."
“It has been an honor to spend the last 50 years of my life bringing A Chorus Line around the world,” adds Lee. “It warms my heart to celebrate this milestone at our original home of 15 years, the Shubert Theatre. I know Michael (Bennett) and Bob (Avian) are smiling down knowing their legacy continues on. Here’s to another 50 years.”
The concert is being presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals, which licenses the musical; and with special permission from John Breglio on behalf of the Michael Bennett Estate. Christopher Ketner and Hunter Regian are producing.
The concert is likely the reasoning behind the abrupt cancellation of a non-union Off-Broadway revival of the title that was announced June 5, and canceled the same day. Concord representatives reported that the production had been misrepresented to the licensing company, leading to the run being initially approved in error.
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Don Percassi and cast of A Chorus Line
Priscilla Lopez and cast of A Chorus Line
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