A Chorus Line, the most innovative and energizing Broadway hit of the 1970s, was born of despair and disillusionment. Early in 1974 Tony Stevens and Michon Peacock, weary of bad parts, bad shows, and the lack of respect given most dancers, turned to choreographer-director Michael Bennett with the thought of forming a new dance company. The purpose was to write, direct, produce, design, and choreograph new shows that would showcase company members. Bennett was intrigued. He began contacting dancers who might be interested in such a venture and who might have ideas about future material. A meeting was called. It turned out to be a highly unusual meeting, one that would forever change the lives of its participants. For twelve hours, a large group of assembled dancers, at Bennett's urging, poured out their life stories, some comic, some tragic, most a mixture of the...