Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987
2. Hamlisch, Marvin
3. Hamlisch, Marvin
4. Kirkwood, James, 1924-1989
5. Papp, Joseph
6. McKechnie, Donna
7. Blair, Pamela
8. O'Reilly, Mary Ann
9. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater
10. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, donor

Description

1. 2 videocassettes (VHS) (150 min.) : sound, color; 1/2 in.

Summary

1. Compilation of television coverage related to the record-breaking 3,389th Broadway performance of A chorus line. The gala performance, given at the Shubert Theater on September 29, 1983, was directed by Michael Bennett. It incorporated over 300 dancers from the show's current B'way and touring casts and alumni from its eight companies. Included in this video compilation are fifty segments from New York and other major U.S. cities, aired between September 25 to 30, 1983, featuring interviews with Bennett, composer Marvin Hamlisch, writer James Kirkwood and producer Joseph Papp, and performers Donna McKechnie, Pamela Blair, and Mary Ann O'Reilly and others, as well as performance and rehearsal footage.

Alternative title

1. 'A Chorus Line' Longest run in Broadway history
2. Chorus Line: A Celebration (news clips)

Subject

1. Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Interviews
2. Hamlisch, Marvin
3. Hamlisch, Marvin > Interviews
4. Kirkwood, James, 1924-1989 > Interviews
5. Papp, Joseph
6. Papp, Joseph > Interviews
7. McKechnie, Donna > Interviews
8. Blair, Pamela > Interviews
9. O'Reilly, Mary Ann > Interviews
10. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater
11. Theatrical producers and directors
12. Theatrical producers and directors > New York (State) > New York
13. Musical theater > New York (State) > New York
14. Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1981-1990

Genre/Form

1. Television.
2. Interviews.

Contents

1. Videocassette 1: (98 minutes) WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, September 25, 1983, 11:30 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Newsbreaker report, September 28, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, Today, September 29, 1983, 8:00 a.m. -- WABC-TV, The morning show, September 29, 1983, 9:00 a.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, September 29, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, September 29, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, September 29, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, September 29, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, Live at five, September 29, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, News 4 New York, September 29, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Network news, September 29, 1983, 7:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, Nightly news, September 29, 1983, 7:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Entertainment tonight, September 29, 1983, 7:30 p.m. -- WNEW-TV, Ten o'clock news, 10:00 p.m. -- WPIX-TV, Independent network news, September 29, 1983 -- WNBC-TV, Live and in person, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, News 4 New York, September 29, 1983, 11:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, September 29, 1983, 11:00 p.m. -- WPIX-TV, Late news final, September 30, 1983, 1:30 a.m. -- WCBS-TV, Nightwatch, September 30, 1983, 2:00 a.m. -- WNBC-TV, News overnight, September 30, 1983, 2:00 a.m.
2. Videocassette 2: (52 minutes) ESPN-TV, Business times, September 30, 1983, 6:00 a.m. -- WABC-TV, News, September 30, 1983, 6:25 a.m. -- WABC-TV, News, September 30, 1983, 7:25 a.m. -- WABC-TV, News, September 30, 1983, 8:25 a.m. -- WOR-TV, News, September 30, 1983, 12:00 noon -- WCBS-TV, Newsbreaker, September 30, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, September 30, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Entertainment tonight, September 30, 1983, 7:30 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Morning news, September 29, 1983, 7:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Good morning America, September 29, 1983, 8:00 a.m. -- WNBC-TV, Sunrise, September 30, 1983, 6:30 a.m. -- WPIX-TV, Independent network news, September 30, 1983, 12:30 p.m. -- WXYZ-TV, Detroit, Action news, September 29, 1983, 5:00 p.m. -- WJBK-TV, Detroit, Eyewitness news, September 30, 1983, 12:00 noon -- WDIV-TV, Detroit, News 4, September 30, 1983, 12:00 noon -- KNXT-TV, Los Angeles, Channel 2 news, September 29, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WBBM-TV, Chicago, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WMAQ-TV, Chicago, Newscenter 5, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WLS-TV, Chicago, Eyewitness news, September 29, 1983, 4:30 p.m. -- WLS-TV, Chicago, Eyewitness news, September 29, 1983, 6:00 p.m. -- GN-TV, Chicago, News 9, September 29, 1983, 9:00 p.m. -- WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., News, September 29, 1983, 5:30 p.m. -- WTTG-TV, Washington D.C., Metromedia news, September 29, 1983, 10:00 p.m. -- WJLA-TV, Washington D.C., News, September 29, 1983, 11:00 p.m.

Call number

1. NCOX 250

Note

1. No credits on tape. Title supplied by cataloger.
2. These news segments can also be found on NCOX 5251, which includes two additional segments not found here.
3. A videorecording of the complete 3,389th performance of A chorus line, taped at the Shubert Theatre on Sep. 29, 1983, is available on NCOV 286.

Access (note)

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Event (note)

1. Originally broadcast in September 1983.

Biography (note)

1. Created by director-choreographer Michael Bennett, A chorus line opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975 and closed there on April 28, 1990 after 6,137 performances. For a time it held the record as the longest-running musical in history. A chorus line began as a workshop "share" session. A group of dancers met after rehearsals for other shows to talk about their personal and professional lives. The sessions were tape recorded, transcribed, and a musical libretto was pieced together. Playwright/novelist James Kirkwood and former dancer Nicholas Dante assembled the book. Marvin Hamlisch composed the music and Edward Kleban wrote the lyrics. Joseph Papp, through his New York Shakespeare Festival, became the show's producer. He provided the essential funding, rehearsal/workshop space, and time for the show to take shape. As producer, Joseph Papp received more that $38 million of the profits of A chorus line.

Title

1. A chorus line becomes the longest running show on Broadway: related television coverage from across the United States, September 25 to 30, 1983. [videorecording]

Imprint

1. New York, 1983.

Access

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Event

1. Originally broadcast in September 1983.

Biography

1. Created by director-choreographer Michael Bennett, A chorus line opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on July 25, 1975 and closed there on April 28, 1990 after 6,137 performances. For a time it held the record as the longest-running musical in history. A chorus line began as a workshop "share" session. A group of dancers met after rehearsals for other shows to talk about their personal and professional lives. The sessions were tape recorded, transcribed, and a musical libretto was pieced together. Playwright/novelist James Kirkwood and former dancer Nicholas Dante assembled the book. Marvin Hamlisch composed the music and Edward Kleban wrote the lyrics. Joseph Papp, through his New York Shakespeare Festival, became the show's producer. He provided the essential funding, rehearsal/workshop space, and time for the show to take shape. As producer, Joseph Papp received more that $38 million of the profits of A chorus line.

Local note

1. Gift of the Public Theater.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Theatre on Film and Tape Archive Special Collections material

Added author

1. Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987, interviewee.
2. Hamlisch, Marvin. Chorus line.
3. Hamlisch, Marvin, interviewee.
4. Kirkwood, James, 1924-1989, interviewee.
5. Papp, Joseph, interviewee.
6. McKechnie, Donna, interviewee.
7. Blair, Pamela, interviewee.
8. O'Reilly, Mary Ann, interviewee.
9. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.
10. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, donor.

Research call number

1. NCOX 250