Show Synopsis:
Seventeen dancers share their hopes, dreams, and memories of stage business, love, and family as they audition for eight spots in the chorus of a new show directed by Zach. He tries to come to terms with his former love Cassie, whose career went downhill out in Hollywood, and who he does not want to cast because she is more talented than the other auditionees. When one dancer gets injured, the rest of them realize how lucky they are that they can keep doing what they love. At the end, only eight of them can be chosen for Zach's new Broadway show, but they all get to dance a Broadway finale.
Character:
Diana Morales, a headstrong young Puerto Rican woman who wants to prove naysayers wrong.
Song Context:
The dancers are sharing stories of their adolescence, detailing everything from puberty to sibling rivalry. Diana steps forward to share a defining experience she had as a high school student.
Fun Facts:
1. The stories and songs of A Chorus Line were based on the actors' actual memories and stories, and the book and lyrics were developed after conversations between them and the creative team. This song is based on a real experience Priscilla Lopez, who originated the role of Diana, had as a student at the High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
2. The entire cast won a Theatre World Award for Best Ensemble for their performances in this ensemble piece of musical theatre.
3. Lopez was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a musical and won the Obie Award for Best Actress.
"[Spoken]
I'm so excited because I'm gonna go
to the High School of Performing Arts!
I mean, I was dying to be a serious actress.
Anyway, it's the first day acting class-
and we're in the auditorium and the teacher,
Mr. Karp... Oh, Mr. Karp...
Anyway, he puts us up on the stage with
our legs around each other,
one in back of the other and he says:
""Okay... we're going to do improvisations.
Now, you're on a bobsled. It's snowing out.
And it's cold...Okay...GO!""
[Sung]
Ev'ry day for a week we would try to
Feel the motion, feel the motion
Down the hill.
Ev'ry day for a week we would try to
Hear the wind rush, hear the wind rush,
Feel the chill.
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
To see what I had inside.
Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried, I tried.
[Spoken]
And everybody's goin' ""Whooooosh, whooooosh ...
I feel the snow... I feel the cold... I feel the air.""
And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says,
""Okay, Morales. What did you feel?""
[Sung]
And I said...""Nothing,
I'm feeling nothing,""
And he says ""Nothing
Could get a girl transferred.""
They all felt something,
But I felt nothing
Except the feeling
That this bullshit was absurd!
[Spoken]
But I said to myself, ""Hey, it's only the first week.
Maybe it's genetic.
They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!""
[Sung]
Second week, more advanced, and we had to
Be a table, be a sportscar...
Ice-cream cone.
Mister Karp, he would say,""Very good,
except Morales. Try, Morales,
All alone.""
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
To see how an ice cream felt.
Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried to melt.
The kids yelled, ""Nothing!""
They called me ""Nothing""
And Karp allowed it,
Which really makes me burn.
The were so helpful.
They called me ""Hopeless"",
Until I really didn't know
Where else to turn.
[Spoken]
And Karp kept saying,
""Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,
You'll never be an actress, Never!"" Jesus Christ!
[Sung]
Went to church, praying, ""Santa Maria,
Send me guidance, send me guidance,""
On my knees.
Went to church, praying, ""Santa Maria,
Help me feel it, help me feel it.
Pretty please!""
And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul
Came up to the top of my head.
And the voice from down at the bottom of my soul,
Here is what it said:
""This man is nothing!
This course is nothing!
If you want something,
Go find another class.
And when you find one
You'll be an actress.""
And I assure you that's what
Fin'lly came to pass.
Six months later I heard that Karp had died.
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul...
And cried.
'Cause I felt... nothing."