1st Night Photos: Hamlisch’s Chorus Line celebrates West End return

Marvin Hamlisch’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Chorus Line made a long-awaited return to the West End last night as it opened at the London Palladium.

The revival – the first major production of the 1975 show since Hamlisch’s death last year – is directed by Bob Avian, who
also helmed the 2006 Tony-nominated Broadway production. Avian was
original director Michael Bennett’s long-term collaborator and his
co-choreographer on the original production.

Starring John Partridge, Scarlett Strallen, Leigh Zimmerman and
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, it’s booking at the Palladium until January 2014.

A host of stars were out for last night’s gala opening, including Claire Sweeney, Duncan James, David Essex, Graham Norton, Neil Pearson, Trevor Nunn, Preeya Kalidas, Arlene Phillips, Ronnie Corbett, Robyn North, Elaine Paige, Gloria Hunniford, Tracie Bennett, Bruno Tonioli, Summer Strallen, Maria Friedman and Hamlisch’s widow Terre Blair (who on Sunday collected a Whatsonstage.com Award on behalf of her husband).

PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM