A Chorus Line, winner of nine Tony Awards, the Pulitzer, and, for some time, the longest-running show in Broadway history, is playing at High School South on Thursday, March 3 to 5.##M:[more]## The story about Broadway dancers known as gypsies include songs “At The Ballet,” “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three.” “I Hope I Get It,” “The Music And The Mirror,” “One,” and “What I Did For Love.”
When Michael Bennett wanted to do a show that put the spotlight on the unknown dancers, he invited 24 dancers to audition and then asked that they talk about their personal and professional lives. The notes formed the libretto by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante. Marvin Hamlisch composed the music and Edward Kleban wrote the lyrics. Neil Simon, who was never credited, wrote some of the one-liners in the play. Joseph Papp, the producer, provided the funding, as well as rehearsal and workshop space, at the Public Theater.
“A Chorus Line” not only veered away from traditional musicals, it was the first show on Broadway to use computers in the control booth. It opened at the Public Theater on April 15, 1975, ran 101 performances, and moved to the Broadway’s Shubert Theater, where it remained for close to 15 years. It broke box office records and received nine Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the London Evening Standard Award, a special citation Obie Award, and even a Gold Record Award from Columbia Records. The show closed in April, 1990, after 6,”137 performances.
The faculty and staff involved in the production includes Demi Ashton, director; Marilyn Mangone Stoddard, choreographer; Janice Chapin, vocal director; Charles Ashton, conductor and technical coordinator; and Kimberly L. Hudak, producer.
Actors and their parts include Zach, Zachary Zimbler; Leigh, Alyssa Gentile; Cassie, Allison Taaffe; Mike, Mitchell Akselrad; Sheila, Julie Moorman; Richie, Alex Sasson; Val, Caroline Seghers; Don, John Presutto; Diana, Melanie Fernandez; and Paul, Chris Reil.
Also, Judy, Caitlyn Stuart; Mark, Chad Prima; Christine, Annie Sandford; Greg, Jonathan Amira; Maggie, Rose Dzugan; Bobby, Zac Howes; Bebe, Bonnie White; Al, Ryan Lupo; Connie, Sarah Esmi; and Wendy, Meggie Schmidt.
Cast members of the chorus and back-up singers include Elise Bautista, Tara McGuinness, Emily Bostrom, Andy Meltzer, Christina Buttner, Christina Mendez, Evan Carlstrom, Crawford Miller, Blake Eisenberg, Alex Pollack, Kristen Fallon, Emily Rudofsky, Ethan Fishbane, Phoebe Sandford, David Fippenger, and Drew Silverman.
Also, Amanda Fox, Eric Spiegel, Jessica Fox, Nichole Stoddard, Kevin Fuller, Annie Stuart, Stacey Greenberger, Josh Suslak, Brooke Hardy, Josh Troger, Matt Hasling, Gary Verma, Esther Holland, Allison Lee, Villanueva Alexa Hoyne, Laura Whitby, Miki Leong, Katy White, Jesse Madera, Irina Zamyatin, and Dan McElwee.
Stagecraft workers include Elise Bautista, Rob Cave, Jenn Chin, Jason Chuang, Gabby Dall’ Asta, Clayton DeSouza, Alex Eng, Jeff Hanlon, Susie Hughes, Kasia Hozer, Mary Jackson, Stephanie Kuhn, Ren-An Lo, Stephanie Loh, Melissa Menchaca, Rebecca Sgouros, Avi Shaha, Allison Stroczynski, Amanda Troger, and Tracy Wang.
Lighting crew members are Beky Altman, Michael Hasling, Bethany Hoffman, Steven Karasik, and Michal Perl.
Student conductor, rehearsal accompanist, and piano player is Eric Kang. Pit orchestra members include bassoon: Amanda Sorensen; violin: Angela Xiong, Alex Dicker, Kevin Luan, and Carey Li; alto saxophone, Eric Kwong and Mintae Kim; viola: David Ryoo, Brett Frankel, and Andrew Hwang; tenor saxophone: Greg Steiner; cello, Chris Calingo; and baritone saxophone: Joe Grossman.
Also, flute: Jenny Lim, Christina Park, and Preethi Jothi; trumpet: Dan Blum, Ally Trevorrow, and Joseph Guan; clarinet: James Park and Derek Sherron; trombone: Matt Steiner, Jen Principe, Peter Yang, Zena Hirsch, Nick Ferrante, Norma A. Lopez, Karen Menezes, and Tomohiko Ohtsuki; oboe and English Horn: Kat Harter; drums: Harrison Ditzion; guitar: Anton Woronczyk; percussion: Ben Rose; and double bass and bass guitar: Eugene Kang.
The production staff includes Alex Zuckerman, stage manager; Amita Maram, assistant stage manager; Sam Field, assistant producer; Pat Riley, costumes; Michael Hasling and Steven Karasik, lighting; and Melissa Menchaca, house manager.
In the Playbill listings, the show was dedicated “to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step . . . anywhere.”
“A Chorus Line” will be performed on Thursday, March 3, 8 p.m., $5 donation for the preview show; Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, 8 p.m. Tickets are $10
— Lynn Miller
A Chorus Line, High School South, Clarksville Road, 609-716-5000, ext. 5050. Musical. Thursday to Saturday, March 3 to March 6. 8 p.m.
