History Theatre / AChorusLine

* FocusGroupEnding: [[spoiler:Cassie]] was originally not one of the final eight dancers chosen for the chorus line, as [[spoiler:Zach felt she was overqualified]]. A few weeks into the original run, this was changed, and ticket sales increased significantly.

* RomanAClef: All of the characters are based on recorded interviews with real dancers, with most cast as "themselves". Going down the line:

** Val was based largely on her original actress, Pamela Blair, who shared her small town Vermont background and dreams of being a Rockette, while her career-boosting cosmetic surgery was based on Mitzi Hamilton.

** Paul was based not on his original actor, Sammy Williams, but on co-author Nicholas Dante (born Conrado Morales), who also performed in a drag revue and felt a whirlwind of conflicting emotions when his family found out and his father still referred to him as "my son".

* IncrediblyLamePun: From the original production.
-->'''Bobby:''' I was playing jacks... then the car fell on my head.\\
''(The other dancers groan.)''

* [[HideYourLesbians Hide Your Gays]]: Richie [[https://youtu.be/uu6D3Y2O7cs?t=3355 ("She's bitchy!")]] was CampGay (borderline DragQueen) in the original musical and turned into a straight guy in the 1985 film (singing about having sex with a girl in a graveyard in "Surprise, Surprise").

* [[HideYourLesbians Hide Your Gays]]: Richie ("She's bitchy!") was CampGay (borderline DragQueen) in the original musical and turned into a straight guy in the 1985 film (singing about having sex with a girl in a graveyard in "Surprise, Surprise").

** The third group for the tap combination consists of Maggie, Mike, Connie, and Paul. Connie admits that tap is not her strong suit, and her performance of the combination is appropriately - and comically - bad. (Zach snarks if she's going to fake, smile bigger.) Then Paul slips and aggravates an old knee injury that has already required surgery once, bringing the audition (and possibly Paul's career) to a screeching halt.

** The third group for the tap combination consists of Maggie, Mike, Connie, and Paul. Connie admits that tap is not her strong suit, and her performance of the combination is appropriately - and comically - bad. Then Paul slips and aggravates an old knee injury that has already required surgery once, bringing the audition (and possibly Paul's career) to a screeching halt.

** Diana was based on Priscilla Lopez, a High School of Performing Arts alumna who struggled with a tyrannical acting teacher.

** Paul was based not on his original actor, Sammy Williams, but on co-author Nicholas Dante, who also performed in a drag revue and felt a whirlwind of conflicting emotions when his family found out and his father still referred to him as "my son".

* MoodWhiplash: During the montage, the dancers' reminiscences of their early lives can go from light-hearted to tragic and back in a second. For example, at one point Al recalls the tokens of affection he collected from an assortment of romantic and/or sexual conquests in high school, then he moves across to remembering being in a car accident in which his friend Eddie was killed.

** Connie's level of experience and personality were inspired by her original actress, Baayork Lee.[[note]] Lee has played a central role behind the scenes in many productions of ''ACL'' since.[[/note]]

->''"God, I hope I get it.''\\
''I hope I get it.''\\
''How many people does he need?"''

The original was a {{Long Runner|s}} for the 15 years (1975-90) on which it ran on Broadway, while it ran for 3 years in London's West End. It was later given a not-much successful movie in 1985 (marking its 10th year) and was revived in 2006 (Broadway) and 2012 (West End). Two of its songs ("One" and "What I Did for Love") have become fan favorite songs. In 2000 a Tony-nominated semi-autobiographical musical was mounted about Ed Kleban and the creation of ''A Chorus Line'' called ''A Class Act'', deliberately repeating the "A" placed ahead of the name employed to give the original show alphabetical priority in the theater listings.

** A number of the dancers have previously worked with each other and/or with Zach (this is most obvious when he addresses some of them by name during "I Hope I Get It", most notably Diana and Sheila); the relevant information is included in the script to help the performers ad lib interactions with each other, but is not explicitly stated on stage.

* MovieBonusSong: "Surprise, Surprise" (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated) replaced "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" and the montage, while "Let Me Dance for You" replaced "The Music and the Mirror". The latter was well received. The other... not so much, despite the nom. "What I Did For Love" is changed into a solo by Cassie in the film as well.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Paul was forced into doing drag to get any sort of work. Then his parents saw him perform and couldn't look him in the eye afterward.

** Bebe was partly based on her original actress, Nancy Lane, but more on Michon Peacock, who shared her unhappy childhood and insecurities about her appearance and ability.[[note]] Peacock's audition for ''ACL'' went badly, and she understudied Chita Rivera in ''Chicago'' instead.[[/note]]

** Cassie was partly based on her original actress, Donna [=McKechnie=], and partly on Leland Palmer, who had a romantic history with Michael Bennett.[[note]] [=McKechnie=] - who was briefly married to Bennett early in the original run - has claimed in interviews that there is more of her in Maggie than there is in Cassie, whose character was the last to be developed.[[/note]]
** Sheila's unhappy childhood - mother who abandoned her dancing dreams for an unhappy marriage and then pushed dancing on her daughter - came from her original actress, Kelly Bishop.
** Bobby was based on his original actor, Thommie Walsh, whose stand-up routines provided such gags as the redundancy of committing suicide in Buffalo or his "crime spree" of breaking into people's houses and re-arranging their furniture instead of stealing things.

** Don's personality came from his original actor, Ron Kulhman; Andy Bew was a model for his "type" of performer, while the stripper anecdote came from Michael Bennett.

* RomanAClef: All of the characters are based on recorded interviews with real dancers.
** Some of the dancers were cast as "themselves". Ron Kuhlman partially inspired Don (as did Andy Bew and Michael Bennett), Wayne Cilento partially inspired Mike (as did Sammy Williams, the original Paul), Baayork Lee was the inspiration for Connie, Michael Stuart partially inspired Greg,[[note]] His passion for clothes was based on Chris Chadman, who was offered a part in ''ACL'' but chose instead to appear in ''Chicago''.[[/note]] Donna [=McKechnie=] was the inspiration for Cassie, Kelly Bishop was the inspiration for Sheila, Thommie Walsh was the inspiration for Bobby,[[note]] Some of Bobby's lines, such as the redundancy of committing suicide in Buffalo or his "crime spree" of breaking into people's houses and re-arranging their furniture instead of stealing things, are lifted from Walsh's standup comedy routines.[[/note]] Patricia Garland partially inspired Judy (as did her sister Jacki), Ron Denis was the partial inspiration for Richie,[[note]] The aborted plans to become a kindergarten teacher were based on Candy Brown.[[/note]] Don Percassi was the partial inspiration for Al, Renee Baughman was the partial inspiration for Kristine,[[note]] Al and Kristine were also based on choreographer Steven Boockvor and his wife Denise Pence.[[/note]] Pamela Blair partially inspired Val,[[note]] Her career-boosting cosmetic surgery was based on dancer Mitzi Hamilton.[[/note]] and Priscilla Lopez was the inspiration for Diana. This extends to the dancers who are cut in the opening scene; the original Frank, Michael Serrecchia, had polio as a child, hence Frank constantly looking at his feet while he dances.
** In other cases, the characters' biographies were inspired by other cast members or the creators. For example, Maggie's story borrows some details from Donna [=McKechnie=]'s life,[[note]] [=McKechnie=] has pointed out in interviews that Cassie was the last character whose story was developed, and that there is more of her own life in Maggie than in Cassie.[[/note]] Bebe's story is partly based on Kelly Bishop, Mark's story is based on director Michael Bennett (also the inspiration for Zach and the real subject of Don's stripper story), and Paul's story was originally co-author Nicholas Dante's.

* AllThereInTheScript: Cassie doesn't give her family name during the introductions, but it is frequently identified in reviews and articles as Ferguson.

** Some of the dancers were cast as "themselves". For example, Donna [=McKechnie=] was the inspiration for Cassie, Don Percassi was the partial inspiration for Al, Renee Baughman was the partial inspiration for Kristine,[[note]] Al and Kristine were also based on choreographer Steven Boockvor and his wife Denise Pence.[[/note]] Priscilla Lopez was the inspiration for Diana, Wayne Cilento partially inspired Mike (as did Sammy Williams, the original Paul), Thommie Walsh was the inspiration for Bobby,[[note]] Some of Bobby's lines, such as the redundancy of committing suicide in Buffalo or his "crime spree" of breaking into people's houses and re-arranging their furniture instead of stealing things, are lifted from Walsh's standup comedy routines.[[/note]] Baayork Lee was the inspiration for Connie, Pamela Blair partially inspired Val,[[note]] Her career-boosting cosmetic surgery was based on dancer Mitzi Hamilton.[[/note]] and Kelly Bishop was the inspiration for Sheila. This extends to the dancers who are cut in the opening scene; the original Frank, Michael Serrecchia, had polio as a child, hence Frank constantly looking at his feet while he dances.
** In other cases, the characters' biographies were inspired by other cast members or the creators. For example, Maggie's story borrows some details from Donna [=McKechnie=]'s life,[[note]] [=McKechnie=] has pointed out in interviews that Cassie was the last character whose story was developed, and that there is more of her own life in Maggie than in Cassie.[[/note]] Bebe's story is partly based on Kelly Bishop, Mark's story is based on director Michael Bennett (also the inspiration for Zach), and Paul's story was originally co-author Nicholas Dante's.

* TheElevenOClockNumber: "What I Did For Love" is set between Paul injuring a knee on which he has recently had surgery, possibly putting a definitive end to his dance career, and the selection of the final eight dancers, as they dodge the question of what they will do when their dance careers end (as one day they will) and instead insist that they will remember that everything they did during their careers, they did for love of dancing.

[[caption-width-right:350:I really need this job. Please, God, I need this job. I've got to get this job.[[note]]L-R: Don, Maggie, Mike, Connie, Greg, Cassie, Sheila, Bobby, Bebe, Judy, Richie, Al, Kristine, Val, Mark, Paul, Diana.[[/note]]]]

* ACupAngst: Val, before she had a breast augmentation.
** From "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen":

* BigBraToFill: Val's dialogue may include frequent boasting about her breast augmentation, but even allowing for Sheila snarking that "They're not very big" (which Val counters by saying she wanted them in proportion to the rest of her), the actresses who play her are not necessarily the most buxom members of the cast. Audrey Landers in the film, however, had no problem [[{{Pun}} filling the role.]]

** Some of the dancers were cast as "themselves". For example, Donna [=McKechnie=] was the inspiration for Cassie, Don Percassi was the partial inspiration for Al, Renee Baughman was the partial inspiration for Kristine,[[note]] Al and Kristine were also based on choreographer Steven Boockvor and his wife Denise Pence.[[/note]] Priscilla Lopez was the inspiration for Diana, Wayne Cilento partially inspired Mike (as did Sammy Williams, the original Paul), Baayork Lee was the inspiration for Connie, Pamela Blair partially inspired Val,[[note]] Her career-boosting cosmetic surgery was based on dancer Mitzi Hamilton.[[/note]] and Kelly Bishop was the inspiration for Sheila. This even extends to the dancers who are cut in the opening scene; the original Frank, Michael Serrecchia, had polio as a child, hence Frank constantly looking at his feet while he dances.

* RagingStiffie: Greg's contributions to "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" include his embarrassment at getting these at the worst possible times throughout high school, including seemingly every time he so much as looked at a school bus.

** Some of the dancers were cast as "themselves". For example, Donna [=McKechnie=] was the inspiration for Cassie, Don Percassi was the partial inspiration for Al, Renee Baughman was the partial inspiration for Kristine,[[note]] Al and Kristine were also based on choreographer Steven Boockvor and his wife Denise Pence.[[/note]] Priscilla Lopez was the inspiration for Diana, Wayne Cilento partially inspired Mike (as did Sammy Williams, the original Paul), Baayork Lee was the inspiration for Connie, and Kelly Bishop was the inspiration for Sheila. This even extends to the dancers who are cut in the opening scene; the original Frank, Michael Serrecchia, had polio as a child, hence Frank constantly looking at his feet while he dances.

* StageNames: In-universe, several of the dancers have changed their names for professional reasons. Mike Costafalone has trimmed his name down to Mike Costa, Sara Rosemary Bryant now goes by Sheila Bryant, Sidney Kenneth Beckenstein AKA Rochmel Lev ben Yokov Meyer Beckenstein uses the more marquee-friendly Gregory Gardner, Margaret Mary Houlihan has chosen the name Valerie Clarke, Mark Philip Lawrence Tabori goes by Mark Anthony, and Ephrain Ramirez is professionally known as Paul San Marco. Bebe Benzenheimer acknowledges that she'll need to adopt a stage name at some point, and Judy Turner snarks that she was born Creator/LanaTurner before admitting that she's always been Judy Turner.

* WideEyedIdealist: At 20, Mark is the youngest of the seventeen dancers to make the final audition, and he is very eager to please, telling Zach that "if I get this job, I'll work really hard!", prompting groans of disgust from several of the older and more world-weary dancers, who have heard (and possibly, in their own younger days, given) similar speeches dozens of times. In the film, they grin and chuckle knowingly, not the least of which is the 30 year old Sheila. When he asks about how many people are being hired in the film:

** The dancers who are cut in the opening scene are nearly always played by understudies for the seventeen main cast members, so they need to be able to dance at their level, but they also have to make it believable that they wouldn't make the later rounds. In some productions, it can be very obvious that they are deliberately dancing badly instead of simply lacking in technical chops or experience, particularly in the cases of Vicki (the dancer who admits to having no ballet training, prompting Zach to order her out of the lineup), Roy (the dancer who keeps getting his arms in the wrong position), and Frank (the dancer with the headband who keeps looking at his feet). They all return for the finale, and they dance as well as the regulars.

* WhatMeasureIsAMook: The musical theatre variety. The chorus line of a musical are anonymous, less-skilled dancers who are generally there for the money. ''A Chorus Line'' examines the lives of these people; explored further later on when Cassie, a genuinely talented dancer, auditions - Zach is aghast that she would stoop that low (Cassie doesn't care, she needs the money). The point is hammered home in the "One" finale, when the original dancers are joined by dozens of identical versions of themselves.

-->'''Larry:''' Four and four.[[note]]Four men, four women[[/note]]\\
'''Mark:''' ''(incredulous)'' Forty-four?!

* MovieBonusSong: "Surprise, Surprise" (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated) replaced "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" and the montage, while "Let Me Dance for You" replaced "The Music and the Mirror". The latter was well received. The other... [[{{Understatement}} not so much]], despite the nom. "What I Did For Love" is changed into a solo by Cassie in the film as well.

-->'''Cassie:''' Zach, I'm a gypsy.I never had an apartment in my life that wasn't a sublet! All I know how to do is to point my toes and leap!

* DirectorsGirlfriend: Inverted, Cassie, legitimately auditioning for a part as a dancer in the show is Zach's ''ex-''girlfriend.