[Master Thespian]

Okay, so last night my alma mater did Chorus Line, and I was curious seeing what they were going to do with the show, if they were going to edit out any of the curse words. I did hear the sh*t word used, but I wasn't shocked about that because they used it in Footloose and Les Mis. My biggest concern was during the "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three" number. And during the montage st first, the Val character sang "Boobs, when am I going to grow boobs?" and I nearly breathed a sigh of relief, but at the end she did say the T word, and then sure enough her song was presented in all its uncensored glory. Plus, the other thing I was a bit uncomfortable about was the excessiveness of sh*t throughtout the play. At the end, Morales must say 6 sh*ts in a row. Somebody give her a thesarus.

So, here's my question, should Chorus Line be done in a high school? Plus, would it really change the impact of the play if alternative, more PC words were used instead? It almost seems like with this play the story takes a backseat to the vulgar lsnguage.

[Nicely-Nicely]

This show is not only crude or rude for Highschool... but it's just boring.

[All_For_Laura]

I was a part of my high school's production of A Chorus Line last year, which was a great success and was really well done. I was only in the ensemble but we had a lot of fun. We edited some things and changed it in the first montage to "Kissed, when am I gonna get Kissed" and then unfortunately Dance Ten Looks Three was This and That instead of the other. Despite the changes, it was still great!

[belleaurora]

I think Chorus Line can be a great show for high schoolers. I did it unedited at a summer program, where the majority of us were high schoolers (and a couple college students), and it was amazing. The story is about growing up and doing what you really love in life, even if you can't be the star. How does that not sound like a good show for teens?


And yes, there are a lot of "crude" words, but walk around most high schools for the majority of a day and you'll probably hear the same stuff. Sometimes worse. So personally, as long as parents consent to letting their kid be in the show and there's a warning sign on the door, I don't think it should be a problem...

[mystic aura1899]

My school just did A Chorus Line in November. We didn't cut anything. The show was left completely untouched, save for changing the birthdates the principals announce when they're talking to Zach, to make the show more modern, and because, frankly, a high school freshman doesn't look like a 25 year old woman.

The lines about Connie being Asian and Morales saying something about San Juan were changes, due to the ethnicities of the actresses, but those were changes given in the back of the script, in case of an occurance like ours.

Dance Ten: Looks Three was kept with the alleged 'crude' lyrics. We never heard a complaint about innappropriateness for DTLT, or for the various times a character said a "bad word."

[OneSongGlory]

[what_the_heck013]

I saw a production once which used the lyrics "This and that". I would have been rolling on the floor if there had been enough room.

[Sammy_beck]

I honestly think that it really depends on the high school that you do it at because it is a great growing up piece but some high school students are just to immature to handle some of the topics that are mentioned.
I don't necessarily agree with it being performed in a high school but I could definetly see it being performed in a college level theater or at a community theater. I don't think that the language is as big of an issue as people make it out to be it's just the way in which it was handled by the student who were performing it and the audience who is watching the show.

[Sammy_beck]

I personally love the number Dance Ten, Looks Three, and I would be very disappointed if they changed the lyrics to the song. If there going to do that then they might as well not perform it at all.

[Kaylan]

I think that the show could be done in a highschool setting, and I would understand if they took out the 'f words', because Val's the only one who says it and they can easily be changed to 's**t' or 'screw' or something slightly less offensive. But if anything else is going to need changing, then I don't think it should be done at all.

This show won a Pulitzer Prize (not to mention 9 Tony's) and musicals don't win the Pulitzer on a regular basis (I think there have only ever been five), so I think that changing any of the so called 'crude' content would be detrimental to the show, and I would hate to see it any other way than in it's original format. There are MANY other shows that would be more suitable for a highschool to put on.

[rock_musicals]

I saw it in Germany.... it was amazingly boring.
i doubt high schoolers would pay any attention to that aren't familiar with the show

[Ep-Griz-Reno]

[audreydarling]

I think it would be a good show for highschools with some really good dancers, The local highschools in my area and the one that I go to can't do it because they don't have that much talent, ! I think if most of the audience would be adults and highschoolers it would be alright, but if younger children are part of the audience, like younger siblings as kids from the middle or elementary schools, it might not work just because it wouldn't suit the audience. It alse should be what the actors feel comfortable with, Diana and Val and the others have a lot of crude language, the s--ts and the "I looked like an f--n nurse" in the monologue before T&A. I personally wouldn't have a problem, but I have some friends who are very religious and wouldn't feel comfortable cursing. Also there's a matter of some of the characters being gay, which some highschool guys wouldn't feel comfortable playing. So I think it really depends on the school. You could also say "rated PG- 13 for language so the audience would know that it wasn't really a show to take young children to.

[broadwaybaby124]

I have mixed feelings. If the school where it is wanted to be done has previously done shows which were attended by little kids, it would probably be nice if they lyrics were toned down or the show was not done at all. But if it is uncommon for little kids to come to see the show, then go for it.

[theonetowatch]

Sh*t in a high school play is nothing to get freaked out over, in my opinion. And references to boobs, etc aren't either. Our middle school has done shows that have words like sh*t and damn in them and it's not the end of the world. Also, high schools do Pippin all of the time, and there's a whole dance number about sex. When we did it, they just put a little warning on the posters. High schoolers can handle it- they see worse things on TV.

[sunrae]

I personally feel that this show is NOT appropriate for high schools. And I don't say that b/c I think that the kids are too young for the show (although, it really is an adult show!)...I did this show at a youth theatre, and we had kids as young as 14 in the show up to 19. Our Val was only 15!! BUT I don't think that SCHOOLS should be backing a show like this. Yeah, kids see and hear way worse, but a high school is not the forum in which this show should be done. Let a community teen theatre do the show! That's fine. But is there any reason why the highschool has to go there? There are plenty other fantastic shows that are appropriate for schools. I know that if I was a parent and my kid was doing ACL at his/her school I wouldn't be so thrilled.

And as for changing the lyrics and/or dialogue! No way! That is the way it was written! If you're going to do the show, then do the show!

[OneSongGlory]

[james_aconley]

I Think High Schools should be able to do A Chorus Line, unedited. This is because it is all part of learning about different types of shows and things you come across in scripts. If needed, maybe the school could advertise that bad language etc is used in the performance.

[duringtheafter]

No one has brought this up, but changing any part of the show (even a word here or a line there) is against the rules--not to mention the law--and could result in the show closing down.

I know that theaters and high schools change things every day, but I also know of a few unfortunate cases where MTI employees or others were present and forced them to change it back or close down.

I know there are those who would argue, "Why shouldn't we just change that one curse word to that one milder one so we can do this wonderful show?"
Respecting the author's intent IS a big deal and gets stomped on all too often (hence the laws about not changing anything).

Besides, as far as "conservative parents" or whoever complaining, they'd probably be more horrified by Paul's confessional monologue than the mention of "tits and ass" (which can be heard on shows like Will & Grace or Friends).
15-year-olds know ALL the curses. The ones involved in theater are often the least likely to throw them around just for fun. (Once they're given permission to swear in acting class, it can lose its thrill for them.)

If you're trying to protect your student population or parent population or community or what-have-you, then put a disclaimer on the poster ("not suitable for children under 13") or DON'T DO THE SHOW. Simple.

Otherwise we'll have "Les Miz: The Happy Edition" where no one dies because it's too traumatizing for the students, or "Cabaret" (which high schools do often in quite racy ways) being changed so that the Nazis are just "really grumpy guys" and the saucy dance numbers are replaced by good ol' wholesome square dancing.