A Chorus Line bound for Tel Aviv



I was one of the very lucky people to get invited to an open rehearsal of Baayork Lee's revival production of A CHORUS LINE, before it went off to Tel-Aviv to appear at The Israeli Opera - Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre from 19th to 26th October.

David James knows Baayork, and so was able to invite members of BML along to this.

The rehearsal was held at 3 Mills Studios - a wonderful film studios in Bromley-By-Bow.

3 mills studios
It was very exciting to watch this show again and I really hope it does well and eventually comes to London.  This new cast is mainly English and Australian.

A Chorus Line was originally conceived, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennet, with book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian.  In this production the original direction and choreography is re-staged by Baayork Lee with associate director/choreographer Michael Gorman.

Baayork Lee participated in the original workshops from which A Chorus Line was developed in 1975 and the role of Connie Wong, was created by her.  She performed in the original award winning musical production which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning nine, plus a Pullizer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play of the Season.  The UK Production, which I saw in 1976, won a Laurence Olivier Award as the best musical of the year, and I am sure it had a huge influence on me.

Baayork Lee has directed and choreographed more than thirty five international productions of the show since it was first performed.

I spoke to Sean Mulligan (who plays Zach), after the rehearsal and he told me that the whole cast feels such a thrill to be performing in a show that so many of them have dreamed of performing in since they began their dance training.

The question is - why isn't this show on in London?  I just pray that producers go and see the Tel Aviv production and it gets the chance to come to London, where, I am certain, it would have a fantastic reception.


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