The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line [Hardcover]

Gary Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

"A grand performance ... a first rate read." -Digby Diehl, Good Morning America "The nostalgia book of the year ... it's hard to see how anything could be so comprehensive." -Cleveland Plain Dealer "The most wonderful gift book for a musical fan!" -Kathie Lee Gifford, Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From its opening in 1975 until the final curtain call in 1990, the musical A Chorus Line stirred audiences with its stories of aspiring Broadway dancers. This oral history combines 300 photographs (eight pages in color), memorabilia and reminiscences by 125 cast and crew members, including costume and lighting designers, musicians, press agents, understudies and stage managers. They discuss seemingly every angle?how the show affected their lives and careers, the changes in interpretation that occurred over the years, heated firings, the casting process, road tours, production problems, even drug use among cast members. Neil Simon tells how he wrote "maybe 25 or so new lines" at director Michael Bennett's request, which Bennett reportedly adapted or inserted into the original script by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante. All serious fans of the show will want this delightful reprise of the longest-running show in Broadway history.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Apart from several tables of production data and over 300 photographs, The Longest Line consists mainly of interview snippets with several dozen of the cast members and production staff of A Chorus Line, Broadway's longest running musical. The book is arranged in chapters on various topics such as casting, designing, selling, and marketing the show. Except for a page of notes and a glossary, there is no context or synthesis provided by the book's compilers, who have seen the show over 100 times between them. There are no direct quotations from the show's conceiver and choreographer Michael Bennett (who died in 1987), its composer (Marvin Hamlisch), or one of its lead performers (Donna McKechnie, Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical); thus the book is weak on the show's creative aspects. Nevertheless, buried inside the trivia and the petty gripes of many of the interviewees are valuable nuggets of information and an enlightening overall impression, which theater scholars may find useful. For that reason, libraries supporting advanced research in American theater, as well as public libraries with fanatic client interest, should purchase. Libraries already holding Ken Mandelbaum's superior A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett (LJ 6/15/89. o.p.) can pass on this one.?Rob Melton, Univ. of Kansas Libs., Lawrence
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 258 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557832218
• ISBN-13: 978-1557832214
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a truly singular sensation, April 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line (Paperback)

This is a really touching tribute to what some feel was the most powerful moment in Broadway history. The shared thoughts from cast members and others involved in this glorious production are really heartfelt and are a joy to read. I enjoyed all the trivia throughout the book and also was pleased with the awesome pictures posted. This is the perfect book for any Chorus Line fan. I would really recommend it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What they did for love..., July 25, 2000

By 

Matthew Murray (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful, moving chronicle of one of Broadway's most famous long-running musicals. With a wealth of information about the show and the people who helped make it so successful, told in their own words, The Longest Line is something everyone who loves A Chorus Line should read.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I gave it two standing ovations and wept, November 15, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line (Hardcover)

Such a beautiful coffee table book, I love it slightly more than the show it's about! The pictures are unbelievable: Ann Reinking as Cassie! When she could still dance! And talk! The only down-side is its immense cost: I actually had to prostitute for a week and sell my roomate , but I guess that's cause I'm an actor. Even if you're not an ACL fan, this is a really great tribute to the men and women of "the Line." (that sounds so military! MMM!)