Celebrate 50 years of A Chorus Line with Annette Bening, Ariana DeBose and more
The Fund's Board Chair Annette Bening, season highlights Jennifer Simard (Death Becomes Her) and Mandy Gonzalez (Sunset Boulevard), and Gilmore Girls ' Lauren Graham are among the latest names to have just joined the lineup, along with triple-threat talents Ariana DeBose and Bebe Neuwirth. Whether those last two will get the chance to show off their award-winning dancing chops remains to be seen, as their involvement—and most details surrounding the concert—has not been specified.
The glitzy event will be directed by Baayork Lee, an original cast member from the Pulitzer winner's off-Broadway debut at the Public Theater a few months before its instant success skyrocketed it uptown. Lee has overseen virtually every major production since, preserving Michael Bennett's original vision, and his and Bob Avian's choreography. She'll replicate their work here as well.
Its storied history has allowed several major talents to share its story, many of whom will also participate in the concert, including Donna McKechnie and Kelly Bishop—who won acting Tonys for their work in the original production—and their former castmates Priscilla Lopez, Wayne Cilento and Lee. They'll share the stage with alumni from other productions, an embarrassment of riches that includes Tony Yazbeck, Charlotte d'Amboise, Krysta Rodriguez, Jessica Vosk and 2025 Tony winner Francis Jue (Yellow Face).Tickets to this special evening at the Shubert (which is currently occupied by Hell's Kitchen) are available here; front-row tickets and an invite to the after-party are up for auction at CharityBuzz.com.
A Chorus Line shattered the boundaries of what musicals could be, and how they could feel. Inspired by hours' worth of interviews with Broadway dancers, it presents soul-baring glimpses into the hardships and glories of these undervalued dreamers. With music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, it won nine of its twelve Tony nominations, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. When its 15-year run ended in 1990, it held the title of the longest-running Broadway production until Cats surpassed it in 1997; it is still the seventh longest running in history.
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