Photo/Video Exclusive: Original A CHORUS LINE Stars Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary At City Springs Theatre Company Gala

All right, let's do the whole combination facing away from the mirror from the top

Five, six, seven, eight. If you are sitting here right now, if you are sitting here right now, there is no way you haven't been

impacted by a chorus line. The show opened, as we know, 50 years ago at the Schubert Theater

back in 1975. It was a sensation like Broadway had never seen before. And it didn't just change

Broadway. It changed New York City. And consequently, it changed our country. The stories you're

hearing tonight are real stories. They are the stories of the men and women that originated the

company back in 1975. And guess what? We have a lot. We have a lot

have three of those people here with us tonight. She's only four foot 10, ladies and gentlemen

the great Biorke League. Biorke, you made it, we made it

Tonight is here. I've been waiting for this night for 50 years

and think I have been. I got to class and had it made

And so I stayed. The rest of my life Oh thanks to sis

Now married and fat Said I can do this That I can do

That I can do I can do that Ladies and gentlemen

Tony Award winner Kelly Bishop You had always wanted to be a ballet dancer And of course there a song and a chorus line called At the Ballet Does anyone know that song at the ballet You sang that song on Broadway How did that song come about

Well, initially it was a monologue that Sheila did that went on quite a while

And then when Marvin Hamlish, Ed Kleben came in, they decided, of course, I think they

realized they were starting to create a musical here. So they cut down the monologue to dialogue between Sheila and

and Zach. And then Michael pulled me over one day and said

and we're going to have a song called At the Ballet, and that's what you'll do for the rest of it

And of course, I blanched because I'm not a singer. And I just, oh, no, no, no, no

But then he said it's going to be a trio. And I love singing harmony

And of course, I had two really wonderful women with me. And I think for my money, it's the most beautiful song

in the show. Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet

I was pretty. I was happy. I would love to. At the ballet

You want to talk about Broadway history, people? Biorke Lee made her Broadway debut alongside Yule

Brenner in The King and I. Incredible. So how did that happen

My father had a restaurant in Chinatown in New York, and the casting agents came down looking

for children for the show at our school and at the restaurants. We went uptown, and I got the job

Four foot ten, four foot ten. That's the story of my life

remember when everybody was my size. Boy, it was that great. But then everybody started moving up

and there I was stuck at 4'10, 4 foot 10. But I kept hoping and praying

Oh I used to hang from a parallel bar by the hour hoping I stretch just an inch more The woman that originated probably my favorite song in a chorus line Ladies and gentlemen Tony Award winner Priscilla Lopez

You were one of the dancers there during that tape session, correct

Yes, yes, I was. What do you remember about that night? Let me ask you this, because I have heard rumors there was maybe a little wine consumed that night

A little wine. maybe a little lot of wine. So what happened was I got a call from Tony Stevens

trying to find a venue for performers to start a company. And so he said

and you know, you're part of the dance world and I want you to come. And by the way, Michael will be there

I said, Michael Bennett, I'll be there. So we went and we met and we were dancing

and all of a sudden he, and after we had been, exercising and dancing, he walked in with Donna McHekney, and then it picked out very strange

We didn't know what is, what's happening here? Is this like in an audition? What we're doing here

you know? So we danced and danced, and then we went into a separate room, and we sat in a circle

He said that he thought dancers had a story to tell, and he was going to ask us some questions

and we didn't have to answer anything we didn't want, but whatever we did answer, to be honest

And so he would ask the first question, and then he would answer it, and we'd go around the room. and I was actually at the end of the circle

I don't know if you think there's an end of the circle, but there is because it started with Donna McKekly, Michael Bennett

and then it went around, and I was the end of the circle, and I wound up at the end of the line

And I said nothing, I'm feeling nothing, and he said nothing, but get a girl transferred

They all felt something, But I felt nothing Except the feeling that this bullshit was absurd

But I said to myself, hey, it's only the first week Maybe it's genetics

They don't have bobsleds in San Juan. Dance 10 looks 3 and I still on unemployment Dancing for my own enjoyment That ain it kid that ain it kid Dance and looks three is like to die

Left the theater and called the doctor for my appointment to buy

Tits and ass. Bought myself a fancy pair, tightened up the derrier

Did the nose with it, all that goes with it. to do

all forgets, can't regret what I did for love, what I did for love, what I did for love, what I did for love

One singular sensation, every little step she takes

One, thrilling combination, every move that she makes. One smile and suddenly nobody else will do

You know you'll never be lonely with you know who. And ladies and gentlemen, three Broadway legends by Ork Lee, Kelly Bishop and Priscilla Lopez