Concord Theatricals is celebrating the 50th anniversary of A Chorus Line
and the 80th anniversary of its late composer Marvin Hamlisch's birth
with a competition. One Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line Licensing Competition is awarding free licenses of the
musical's Teen Edition to 10 schools in low-income communities.
As previously reported, One
Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line Licensing Competition was open
to all U.S. high schools, with Title 1 and other under-resourced
schools especially encouraged to enter. Schools entering were asked to complete a written application that
included an essay on the prompt: "What makes your students singular
sensations?" Video entries could be included as well.
The winning schools follow:
- Barack Obama School for Social Justice in Yonkers, New York
- Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook, New Jersey
- Edward H. White Leadership Academy in Jacksonville, Florida
- Lincoln Park High School in Lincoln Park, Michigan
- McCollum High School in San Antonio, Texas
- Oscar Smith High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Ramona High School in Riverside, California
- Rome High School in Rome, Georgia
- Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas
- Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Alabama
“When I finished reading the submissions, I felt a sense of joy that these schools pursue theatre—giving their students moments to shine and feel seen—with the smallest of budgets, but so much energy and enthusiasm,” said Bill Gaden, president of Concord Theatricals, in a statement. “The dedication and resourcefulness of the students, parents, teachers and volunteers is truly inspiring. I am so pleased that Concord can help these dedicated theatre makers to bring the arts to their communities.”
Winners were chosen based on a variety of factors, including financial need
and answer creativity, with selected schools receiving a
three-performance licensing package and all rental materials free of
charge. Applications were accepted through February 12, with
winning performances required to be scheduled between June 2024 and
December 2025.
A Chorus Line transports audiences to a high-stakes audition for a Broadway ensemble, with dancers on the line and asked to bare all explaining who they are to the show's director. The show was originally conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bennett, who developed the idea via a series of discussion groups with real dancers, many of whom went on to appear in the musical's original production. The work features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban. The song list includes such favorites as "At the Ballet," "Nothing," "What I Did for Love," and "One."
Bob Avian co-choreographed the original production, which premiered at The Public Theater in 1975 before transferring to Broadway the same year and becoming one of the Main Stem's long runners. Along with winning Best Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards, the musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Concord's Teen Edition of the musical adapts the full-length musical for teenage performers, removing references to smoking and suicide, explicit sexual content, and profanity, and includes character changes to allow for casting flexibility. Concord is also the licensing home for the Broadway version of A Chorus Line.
Visit ConcordTheatricals.com for more.
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