What They Did for Love: The Untold Story Behind the Making of "A Chorus Line"

by Denny Martin Flinn

The reader is escorted behind the scenes and into the hearts and minds of the original cast members of Michael Bennett's award-winning, record-breaking, and longest-running Broadway show, A Chorus Line. 8 pages of photos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, Biography

213 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

Reviews

[lucky little cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice slice of NYC musical theatre life circa 1975.


Emily Gilmore herself, dancer Kelly Bishop, was an original cast member

Also the book to read if you're ever curious about the workshopping process that generated the script and why the original cast felt snakebitten despite the show's enormous success.

Not sure whether that title's quite 70s-style cheesy enough, though.

[Caleb Hoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a complete musical theater devotee, so I'm undoubtedly this book's primary audience. But I found this book to completely engrossing from beginning to end. It balanced history, artistry, and its "characters" in a perfect way, never feeling like too much of a dry account of facts or a dishy backstage tell-all. It did a great job of illuminating what about A Chorus Line was so special and why it was unique in the field of musical theater. Most of all I think it presented a multifaceted and unvarnished portrait of a terrible genius in Michael Bennett. He comes off as brilliant and as a monster, as utterly cruel and keenly intelligent. And it portrays with great sympathy, but still great honesty, the dancers who contributed so much of themselves to what became a phenomenon, and what it ended up costing them. It was extremely compelling, I would recommend it to anyone who knows A Chorus Line or loves theater or the arts in general.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very engrossing account of the evolution of the Broadway show A Chorus Line, detailing the workshops that drove the plot and helped focus the music. A must for Broadwat show lovers.

[Samantha Daynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the making of the musical. All that glitters on Broadway is not as it seems. One of the most realistic and engaging stories of real-life backstage musical drama I've read.

[Susie McCollum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all lovers of art, theater, community, and what goes into building something larger than yourself. Really detailed account, really well written, thoroughly enjoyed.

[Karen M]

Picked up at the Big Book Sale!