ABSTRACT
One of the striking and often underutilized features of the musical theatre is the presence of a chorus. While not every musical (particularly many newer chamber works) has a chorus, so many do that it is safe to assume you’ll be working with one eventually. This band of brothers and sisters who sing and dance, and occasionally speak, but may never be specifically identified by name, occupy a special place of power and potential in a musical. Whether the chorus is integrally woven into the writing as individual characters, clumsily attached as a lumbering appendage, or something in between, the director of a musical must decide how to incorporate, engage and take full advantage of this group. Although you certainly share responsibility for their rehearsal with a musical director and choreographer, how you conceive of this group in your show is a key decision in defining the theatrical world you wish to create and in the ultimate effectiveness of your production. This book advocates that you consider these questions as you begin imagining the world of your musical.
