A Chorus Line starts with audition for a Broadway production. The director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry are looking at those who came for the audition. After a series of dance routines, 17 dancers are chosen to move to the next level of auditions. Zach announces that he will only be needing four boys and four girls for the production. He then starts interviewing the dancers about their lives to learn more about their past and their experiences.
The first candidate that gets interviewed is Mike. He tells Zach that his passion for dancing started when he substituted for his sister in a dance class when he was just a preschooler.
Stella tells about her unhappy life with her parents and the relief that ballet has given her. The dancers continue relating their stories one by one which include Bebe, Maggie, Katie and her husband Al, Mark, Connie, Diana, Don, Greg, Richie, Paul, and Val.
For the next level of auditions, the dancers are asked to memorize a song. While they proceed downstairs to rehearse, Cassie stays behind and talks with Zach. It turns out that she had a relationship with him in the past. Though Zach tells her that she’s too good for the role she’s auditioning for, Cassie insists because she has been out of work for quite a while. Zach has no choice but to let her continue with the audition.
As the audition proceeds, Cassie and Zach get into an argument about their past. Zach insults Cassie and asks her if she really just wants to be a chorus line dancer. Cassie tells him that nothing else can make her happy but being part of the chorus line.
After Paul suffers from an injury, the audition proceeds the movie ends with the selection of Mike, Cassie, Bobby, Judy, Richie, Val, Mark, and Diana as the chorus line dancers.