Zach is inspired by the life of Michael Bennett, although it is less biographical than the other
characters.
In ACL, except for his fight with Cassie, Zach's personality is pretty much kept in the background. His function is more to act as an interviewer, an impetus for the audience to hear the stories, rather than a sympathetic character. However, he does break down the wall at points, for example, the Cassie scene, end
of Paul's monologue, Sheila's monologue. He allows himself to get to involved rather than just listen.
But since you can't play concept, some typical characteristics are that Zach is pretty authoritarian (in real life, the casts were *afraid* of Michael Bennett), very business-like, a perfectionist, but does have a sense of humor. (That is probably best reflected in his reaction to certain characters.)
Zach dances part of the Opening as well as demonstrating the beginning of Rehearsal One. He also dances the Finale. He wears tan slacks, a collared shirt, and a sweater with a geometric design on it. As you know from previous posts, he knows many of the auditioners.
He lived with Cassie, and their affair is fairly well defined by the show. He has worked with Don, Mike, Greg, Sheila, Bobby, Al, and Diana before. He knows/has seen Maggie, Judy, Richie, Val, and Paul. Connie has been his assitant on several shows, and he
knows her intimitly. Larry has also worked with him many times. As for the understudies, he knows Vicki, Lois, Butch, and Frank.
A brief bio on Bennett: He grew up in Buffalo, New York. He started out in tap, and eventually worked in clubs and burlesques, much like Bob Fosse. He moved to New York City where he started to appear in Broadway shows. Although he was only in three, he was recognized almost immediately for his great
technique as well as his acting/directing abilities. He started assisting and eventually did many shows both in town and summer/winter stock.
He was nominated for his first Tony for choreography with his first show, and was nominated for every show on Broadway thereafter. His credits include A Joyful Noise, Henry, Sweet Henry, Promises, Promises, Hullabaloo (tv show), Coco, Company, Follies, Seesaw, ACL, Dreamgirls, Ballroom, Twigs (straight
play), Pinnochio (tv special), and more. He eventually won for Follies (also director), ACL (jsut about every award), and Dreamgirls.
Michael was bisexual, although this is not used in the play. The Cassie/Zach relationship is a composite of several affairs in his life, including his real life relationship with Donna McKechnie, as well as his affair with LeLand Palmer, and other women.
Although Michael did not put his "current" life much into the show, episodes from his past are included. For example, the gonnorhea story is his, the affair with the stripper, the hometown of Buffalo, and smaller lines. His credits include A Joyful Noise, Henry, Sweet Henry, Promises, Promises, Hullabaloo
(tv example, the gonnorhea story is his, the affair with the stripper, the hometown of Buffalo, and smaller lines.
Bennett went on to direct Ballroom, Dreamgirls, and worked on Chess, and an abandoned musical called Scandal. He eventually died of AIDS in 1987.
His crowning acheivement was the famous 3389th performance of ACL, which was when it became the longest running show on Broadway. He reunited almost every cast member ever to be in the show, and restaged and rethought the performance. For example, there were 3 Vals performing together, 7 Cassies, 11 Pauls, and numerous "ghosts" of each character during
the alternatives/What I did for Love sequance. The casts alternated from the current Broadway company in one sequence, to the original cast in the next, and onto others including the National company, the internatinal company, bus and truck companies, as well as even having the show done in foreign languages! Most of the original cast returned (This was after 12 years), and the Finale featured over 300 dancers singing "One." From what I can tell, it was
amazing!
