A Chorus Line, “I Hope I Get It”

The Tony producers awarded Michael Bennett's backstage musical A Chorus Line both the first and last slots on the 1976 telecast because of the excitement it had sparked and the fact that it was generally anticipated to win Best Musical. The first was a parody of A Chorus Line's own famous opening number, “I Hope I Get It”, which depicts hopeful Broadway dancers being put through grueling exercises before going forward and vanishing behind headshots. This is one of Best Tony Awards Performances Of All Time.

The sequence is notable for the way it was photographed (apparently under Bennett's supervision), as it has a noticeably more cinematic sensibility than other performances from the time. The concept is sharp, and the deconstructed dance is quick and thrilling, but the sequence is also notable for the way it was photographed.

Year: 1976