Theater News

A Chorus Line Amends Original Artists’ Agreement

A scene from A Chorus Line
(© Paul Kolnik)
A scene from A Chorus Line
(© Paul Kolnik)

The beneficiaries of the Estate of Michael Bennett and the artists from the original interviews and workshops of the musical A Chorus Line jointly announced today that they have amended the terms of their agreement signed in 1976.

The artists will now have a financial interest in the current Broadway production, now in its second year at the Schoenfeld Theatre, as well as all future “First Class “productions. The financial arrangement applies to the original interviewees of the taped sessions that Bennett held in the spring of 1974 and the actors who participated in the workshops prior to the original Off-Broadway production.

According to a statement, the beneficiaries of the Bennett estate — including Bob Avian, Frank DiFilia, the Estate of Gene Pruit, Robin Wagner, and John Breglio — became aware in the spring of 2006 that the artists were surprised that they were not receiving a financial participation in the current production.

The artists who were in the forefront of these discussions include Tony Award-winning actresses Kelly Bishop and Donna McKechnie (who was once married to Bennett), as well as Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Tony Stevens, and Michon Peacock. In honor of Bennett’s wishes, the parties have agreed that AmFar (a Bennett beneficiary) will not be affected by this new arrangement.

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A Chorus Line

Closed: August 17, 2008