A Class Act

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A musical in 2 acts, 13 scenes. Book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price; music and lyrics by Edward Kleban.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Stage II) - 3 October - 10 December, 2000 (38 perfs, 42 previews)
Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 11 March - 10 June, 2001 (105 perfs, 30 previews)
Landor Theatre, London -  2004 (Season)

Synopsis

The musical is based on the life of composer-lyricist Ed Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987.  The musical uses flashbacks and the device of time running backwards to retrace the high and low points of Kleban's personal and professional life.

The production was compiled by Kleban's friend Kline and by Price using a trunkful of songs that Kleban wrote for a number of musicals that never were produced. In addition to serving as a tribute to one of the award-winning collaborators of A Chorus Line, A Class Act provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how a musical is created and brought to the stage and offers a warning about how an artist’s personal life—including struggles with mental illness and cancer—can interfere with, obstruct, and doom his professional pursuits

Story

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 (B.M.I. Workshop). As Ed interacts with the people in his life, he deals with ambitions, success, failures, and loves.
Characters

Musical Numbers

Act I

  1. Light on My Feet – Ed and Company
  2. The Fountain in the Garden – Company
  3. One More Beautiful Song – Ed and Sophie
  4. Fridays at Four – Company
  5. Bobby's Song – Bobby
  6. Charm Song – Lehman and Company
  7. Paris Through The Window – Ed, Bobby and Charley
  8. Mona – Mona
  9. Under Separate Cover – Sophie, Lucy and Ed
  10. Don't Do It Again – Felicia and Ed
  11. Gauguin's Shoes – Ed and Company
  12. Don't Do It Again (Reprise) – Lehman
  13. Follow Your Star – Sophie and Ed

Act II

  1. Better – Ed and Company
  2. Scintillating Sophie – Ed
  3. The Next Best Thing To Love – Sophie
  4. Broadway Boogie Woogie – Lucy
  5. Better (Reprise) – Ed and Company
  6. I Choose You – Ed and Lucy
  7. The Nightmare – Ed
  8. Say Something Funny – Company
  9. When the Dawn Breaks – Ed
  10. Self Portrait – Ed

Cast

Scenes and settings

Discography

A Class Act - Original Cast Recording