This morning in the shower while washing my hair (please do not visualize this) I was singing along to A Chorus Line original Broadway cast recording. Specifically, Sing!
I just sang Al's part that goes "... Dance...Pants...Wing...Chirp...Twerp...Ping!" and "Ding-a-ling..." which, yes, was performed brilliantly in the "Duets" episode of Glee (which is re-running next week, I think.)
I love this show. I've never seen it on Broadway. Several of the songs make me maudlin. At The Ballet gives me goosebumps. The lyrics are tremendous. I'm not going to sing them for you here. I sing them in the shower or the car.
I'm a horrible singer and was only a slightly better dancer.
In my high school glee club spring concerts I was usually placed as a BACKGROUND DANCER. We didn't perform full musicals, just a number here and there. Never from A Chorus Line. I think Dance: 10, Looks: 3 would have sent us to endless detention. So to be considered a good enough singer to simply spin around upstage, well, that was special.
My mother took a bus trip to New York City when I was 9, and she went to see the original cast of A Chorus Line. She came back with the LP (that's a long-playing vinyl record) and I played it endlessly. And "I used to dance around the living room." doo doo doo doo
If you dig it, this movie is a good story from a few years ago, of remounting A Chorus Line, how the new cast relates to the original cast, on whose stories the musical was really shaped.
The song that's the most beautiful and resonating and bittersweet is What I Did for Love. Recently I watched this video of Idina Menzel just killing it (although sounding a little rushed by Marvin and it's not as good as her Defying Gravity performance at this same presidential event.) Go ahead and geek out to the show tune:
I had my Mom's 'Chorus Line' LP, as well. Used to listen to it endlessly in my room. I was so happy when Glee did one of the songs!
Posted by: Robin | 07 January 2011 at 02:34 PM
That's so cool!
Posted by: blaugra | 07 January 2011 at 02:38 PM
I think I saw A Chorus Line in high school with Mrs. Haber formerly Ms. what's-her name Meryl Norman cosmetic sales person who owned a harp (gift from Mr. Haber.)
Posted by: Kristin | 07 January 2011 at 07:35 PM
Even as a background dancer, you were probably one singular sensation.
Posted by: Beth! | 08 January 2011 at 08:36 AM
Ha!
Our chorus teacher Ms. whatshername was always a little risque. She made us sing "Suicide is Painless" (theme to M*A*S*H) in 7th grade. NICE.
Posted by: blaugra | 10 January 2011 at 09:05 AM