A Chorus Line to Return to Broadway in 2006 with Bob Avian as Director

A Chorus Line, the legendary musical about a line-up of Broadway gypsies baring their souls for a grueling audition, is headed back to the New York stage. According to The New York Times, a Broadway revival of the show will open on September 21, 2006, with Bob Avian—who co-choreographed the original staging with Michael Bennett—taking the reins as director. Also on board for the new production are original creative team members composer Marvin Hamlisch and set designer Robin Wagner.

A Chorus Line was originally conceived by director/
choreographer Bennett out of a series of interviews with Broadway dancers. It premiered at the Public Theater under the watchful eye of producer Joseph Papp in early 1975 and quickly became the must-see show of the season. A Chorus Line opened at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975 and remained at the theater for a record-breaking run that didn't end until April 28, 1990, running a total of 6,137 performances. It won nine 1976 Tony Awards including Best Musical as well as the Pulitizer Prize for Drama. Richard Attenborough's poorly received film adaptation of the show premiered in 1985.

The creative team of the revival are expected to recreate the look and feel of Bennett's legendary bare bones staging for A Chorus Line, which focused on the talents of its dancers by offering little in the way of razzle-dazzle. Producing the effort is John Breglio, the entertainment lawyer who oversees the estate of Bennett, who died of AIDS in 1987.

A Chorus Line features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Hamlisch who will orchestrate the revival and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Members of its original Broadway company included Donna McKechnie a Tony winner for creating the role of Cassie, Priscilla Lopez, Kelly Bishop, Wicked and Sweet Charity choreographer Wayne Cilento, Donna Drake, MCC Theater head Robert LuPone and director Thommie Walsh.