A Class Act is a quasi-autobiographical musical loosely based on the life of composer-lyricist Edward Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987. Featuring a book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price along with music and lyrics by Kleban himself, the musical uses flashbacks and the device of time running backwards to retrace the high and low points of the composer's personal and professional life. The original production concept was haphazardly thrown together by Kleban's close friend and author of the book by using a trunkful of songs that Kleban had written for a number of unproduced musicals, and writing new scenes or reworking original scenes around them, with Price polishing up the results. In addition to serving as a tribute to one of the award-winning collaborators of A Chorus Line, A Class Act provides yet another behind-the-scenes glimpse at how a musical is created and brought to the stage. In contrast to A Chorus Line however, the piece offers a considerably more severe warning as well about how an artist’s personal life—including struggles with mental illness and cancer—can interfere with, obstruct, and eventually doom his professional as well as his personal pursuits.
A Class Act had its Canadian premiere presented by the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company as the company's 30th anniversary production in May 2009. The show starred Joe Cascone, Caroline Moro-Dalicandro, David Haines, Joanne Kennedy, Eric Botosan, Julie Lennick, Stephanie Douglas and Larry Gibbs. Like the original New York productions, the Toronto production was directed by its leading man, Joe Cascone with choreography by Lesley Ansell and musical direction by Paul Christman. This production dropped the song "Don't Do It Again."
Plot
In 1988, a memorial service to Ed Kleban is being held at the Shubert Theatre. Ed appears at his own memorial. His friends and colleagues remember him and think back over the past. As the time shifts backwards, the friends reminisce about the songwriting workshop held by Lehman Engel. As Ed interacts with the people in his life, he deals with ambitions, success, failures, and loves.
A recording by the Off-Broadway cast was released by RCA Victor Broadway on February 20, 2001.
Critical reception
The New York Times reviewer wrote of the Broadway production that it "... seems smaller in almost every respect, and perhaps more curiously it is a better and more satisfying show, one that has found its rightful dimensions....The choreography could be more lively and original.... overall the show's alteration in spirit carries the day." The CurtainUp.com reviewer of the Manhattan Theatre Club production wrote: "It also left me filled with admiration for the eight talented performers who deserve a standing ovation for turning this small musical into a big treat for the eye, the ear and the heart....The entire song cycle has the flavor of the traditional musical esthetic. The music is tuneful and bouncy. The lyrics full of clever lines."
