Oak Park Newspaper

A Chorus Line
book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante
lyrics by Edward Kleban
music by Marvin Hamlisch
review by Ed Vincent

A play with perhaps more awards than George Washington and music by Marvin Hamlisch, that should sell tickets by itself. The writing is top notch and topical because it deals with issues that are as real today as they were many years ago. Several decades ago the topics and language of the script would have some leaving the theater or at least shocked, not today.

The play is performed with a minimal of staging, yet I was pleased with the apparent vastness of the otherwise small set. The mirrors were a bit small, but still reflected the action of dance and movement. I have always found the play to be more of moral drama with art at the center of the dilemma, with art on the scales of life. It is also a kinetic psychodrama with gay men being thrust into spotlight revealing a many a sordid past, some chosen, some forced.

There are also dancers who leapt into their roles to escape their pedestrian lives where feet can take you into new realities and dreams. The dancing is good, but the drama steals the show.
The actor Bobby, played by Bobby Johnson had some great footwork and made dance an art. Mike, played by Alex McCrary shown bright with his own dance. There were others too who leapt in time with flares of talent but had little spoken words to help identify them.

Diana Morales, played by Erin Elle East took the stage and made it hers during her vocal selection. Based upon a motley group of young performers trying to find a job, in our own time where jobs are few and far between, rings even louder when you're hoofing to make a buck. This a Broadway show in an Off-Off-Off Broadway format with no more than 50 seats sold a night, so the theater would not have to pay another $10,000 for the rights to perform this work, that means each show will be intimate for the audience.

The theatrics shown in the dialogues and skill in oration sold me on this production, some of the short comings are often present in shows other than true Broadway productions. This presentation though earns a strong recommendation for its efforts and delivery.

--Ed Vincent

Directed and Choreographed by Shawn Quinlan, the cast includes Fiore J. Barbini, Christopher Lynn Carter, Marie Clawson, Loren J. Connell, Danielle Coody, Erin Elle East, Stephanie Foster, Taylor Hopkins, Reneisha Jenkins, Bobby Johnson, Kim Kass, Samuel Ladd, Alex McCray, Will Nifong, Shynell Owen, Michael Patterson, Dewayne Perkins, Casiena Raether, Janell Rinne, Jennifer Shine, Kristen Smiley, Garrett Stibb and Tiffany Trainer. Designers include John List (sound), Ricky Lurie (co-costumes), Annalee Johnson (props), Noah Record (lighting), Annette Vargas (scenic), and Emma Weber (co-costumes). The production is stage managed by Patrick Murphy.

Musical numbers
"I Hope I Get It" – Zach, Paul and Company
"I Can Do That" – Mike
"And..." – Bobby, Richie, Val and Judy
"At the Ballet" – Sheila, Bebe and Maggie
"Sing!" – Kristine, Al and Company
"Montage Part 1: Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" –
Mark, Connie and Company
"Montage Part 2: Nothing" – Diana
"Montage Part 3: Mother" – Don, Judy, Maggie and Company
"Montage Part 4: Gimme The Ball" – Greg, Richie and
Company
"Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" – Val
"The Music and the Mirrors" – Cassie
"One" – Company
"The Tap Combination" – Company
"What I Did for Love" – Diana and Company
"One" (Reprise) – Company

Characters
Zach, the imperious, successful director running the audition
Larry, his assistant

The Auditioners:

Don Kerr, a married man who once worked in a strip club

Maggie Winslow, a sweet woman who had an absent father

Mike Costa, an aggressive dancer who learned to tap at an
early age

Connie Wong, a petite Chinese-American who seems ageless

Greg Gardner, a stylish Jewish gay man

Cassie Ferguson, a once successful solo dancer down on her luck, a former lover of Zach's

Sheila Bryant, a sexy aging dancer

Bobby Mills, her friend who jokes about his upbringing in Buffalo, New York

Bebe Benzenheimer, who feels she is not pretty and hides it with humor

Judy Turner, a tall, gawky, but funny dancer

Richie Walters, an enthusiastic black man who once planned to be a kindergarten teacher

Al DeLuca, an Italian-American who takes care of his wife
Kristine Urich (DeLuca), his scatter-brained wife who can't sing

Val Clark, a foul-mouthed but sexy dancer who has a secret

Mark Anthony, a fresh faced dancer who relates tales of his Catholic upbringing

Paul San Marco, a Puerto Rican who first worked in a drag show

Diana Morales, his friend, another Puerto Rican who had trouble in acting class

Cut dancers:

Tricia, who has a brief vocal solo
Vicki, who never studied ballet
Lois, who dances like a ballerina
Roy, who can't get the arms right ("Wrong arms Roy")
Butch, who gives attitude in the audition
Tom, an all-American jock
Frank, who looks at his feet when he dances ("headband")

Tony Awards

A Chorus Line was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 1976 and won 9.

Won

Tony Award for Best Musical (Joseph Papp)

Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Michael Bennett)

Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (James Kirkwood,
   Nicholas Dante)

Tony Award for Best Original Score (Marvin Hamlisch,
   Edward Kleban)

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a
   Musical (Donna McKechnie)

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a
   Musical (Sammy Williams)

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a
   Musical (Kelly Bishop)

Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Tharon
   Musser)

Tony Award for Best Choreography (Michael Bennett, Bob
   Avian)

Other nominations

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Robert LuPone)

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Priscilla Lopez)

Tony Award for Best Costume Design (Theoni V. Aldredge)

Revival Nominations

A Chorus Line's revival in 2007 was nominated for 2 Tony Awards, winning none.

Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (Vienna Waits Productions)

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Charlotte d'Amboise)

Other Awards

All other awards A Chorus Line was nomniated for, were won.
1975 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

1975 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical

1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical

1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Choerography

1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Lighting Design

1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Book of a Musical

1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Direction

1976 Special Theatre World Award (Given to every member of the creative staff and original cast)

1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical/Book (Joseph Papp, James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante)

1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Music and Lyrics (Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban)

1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Kelly Bishop, Donna McKetchie)

1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography (Michael Bennett, Bob Avian)

1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical (Michael Bennett)

1976 Olivier Award for Best Musical

1976 Special Obie Award (Given to the creators and selected cast members)

1976 Obie Award for Best Actress

1976 Obie Award for Best Actor

1977 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical

1978 Gold Record Award from Columbia Records

1984 Special Tony Award (In honor of becoming Broadway's longest-running musical)

A CHORUS LINE TO DAZZLE AUDIENCES AT VILLAGE PLAYERS THEATER
OPENING THIS WEEKEND: MARCH 13, 2010

(Oak Park, IL)--Village Players Theater is excited to bring the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical "A Chorus Line" on its Mainstage as part of its New American Classics. "A Chorus Line" opens March 13th, 2010.

" A Chorus Line" revolutionized the standards of Broadway musicals with its unique story amd structure. Zach and Larry are ready to cast for their next upcoming Broadway production, but Zach decides to change up things at the audition. He asks the dancers to introduce themselves. As each one hopes to become part of a singular group, they all tell their individual life stories that make them all very different. This musical shows how unity is made more beautiful by the individuality we cherish.

Directed and Choreographed by Shawn Quinlan, the cast includes Fiore J. Barbini, Christopher Lynn Carter, Marie Clawson, Loren J. Connell, Danielle Coody, Erin Elle East, Stephanie Foster, Taylor Hopkins, Reneisha Jenkins, Bobby Johnson, Kim Kass, Samuel Ladd, Alex McCray, Will Nifong, Shynell Owen, Michael Patterson, Dewayne Perkins, Casiena Raether, Janell Rinne, Jennifer Shine, Kristen Smiley, Garrett Stibb and Tiffany Trainer. Designers include John List (sound), Ricky Lurie (co-costumes), Annalee Johnson (props), Noah Record (lighting), Annette Vargas (scenic), and Emma Weber (co-costumes). The production is stage managed by Patrick Murphy.

"A Chorus Line" continues Village Players Theater's mission of New American Classics presented exclusively on its Mainstage. Currently playing is Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers" directed by Brian Rabinowitz (Jan 15--Feb 28, 2010), where two brothers learn to live with their seemingly uncaring and strict grandmother. The season will end with Christopher Durang's comedy "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" directed by Village Players' Artistic Director Dan Taube (May 7--June 27, 2010). The only son of a divorced couple looks back to see what went wrong between his parents during their marriage, and what finally went right.

"A Chorus Line" will preview on Thursday, March 11th and Friday, March 12th 2010, at 8pm with $15 tickets. It will open on Saturday, March 13th at 8pm and will run until April 18th, 2010. Performances will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. All performances will be found at the Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. The theater is near the Harlem exit of I-290 and is also accessible by the CTA Green and Blue lines. Plenty of parking is available on the street. The theatre is handicapped accessible but please do call ahead to arrange for special seating. To make a reservation, please call the box office at 866-764-1010, view our website at www.village-players.org, or visit the theater (the box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 6:00pm).