Director Richard Attenborough wanted to cast only unknowns as the aspiring chorus members. Audrey Landers was concerned that she was too well known from Dallas (1978) to make the cut. Fortunately, Attenborough had never seen the show.
Michael Bennett, choreographer and director of the original Broadway production, was involved with the production at an early stage of development. He left because the producers were unwilling to give him the level of creative control he desired. He advised producer Cy Feuer not to center the movie on the relationship between Zack and Cassie.
In the pre-Broadway run, the song "Dance 10, Looks 3" was listed as "Tits and Ass". The name was changed when the production reached Broadway, the logic being if it were a surprise during the show, it would get a better audience reaction.