TBTS’s ‘A Chorus Line’ Kicks Off Summer Season

“A Chorus Line” debuted in 1975. It was based on the real experiences of Broadway dancers. Michael Bennett conceived, directed and choreographed the original production. Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music. Edward Kleban wrote the lyrics. The book is by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante. 

The show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and became one of the most beloved musicals of all time. There was a successful revival in 2006.

It’s a behind the scenes look at show business, with all the pressure and tension which come from trying to make entertainment. The premise is simple: a diverse batch of dancers is trying out for a Broadway show. They all practice highly choreographed moves, before being separated into different groups. Numbers are called. Some dancers are let go. A group of 18 are left on the stage. 

Zach (Christopher DeProphetis), a hot-tempered director, asks the dancers to share personal information. Some are reluctant, while others reveal deep emotional scarring from their childhoods. They share their hopes, their insecurities, and their enthusiasm for performing.

One of the most intriguing characters is Sheila (Kallie Takahashi), brash, somewhat conceited, yet determined to win a role in the show.

Cassie (Cassidy Stoner) is desperate for a comeback after being sidelined in her career. She and Zach have a history together and their passions reignite during the audition process. 

Paul (beautifully played by Luciano Castaldo) has a deeply emotional monologue about his coming out as gay to his parents. His search for acceptance is heartbreaking and poignant.

Josh Walden choreographed and directed the production, which benefits from sparkling performances. The scenic design is by Kyle Dixon and the lighting design is by Weston Wilkerson. Matthew Kilgore designed the costumes.

Stoner delivers a mesmerizing vocal and flawlessly executes a solo dance for “The Music and the Mirror”. 

Takahashi, Amanda LaMotte (as Bebe), and Taryn Smithson (as Maggie) shine on the haunting ballad “At the Ballet.”

One of the best songs in the show is “Nothing,” sung by Diana (Erica Perez-Gotay), a strong-willed Puerto Rican dancer from the Bronx. 

Perez-Gotay also delivers a superb vocal performance on “What I Did for Love”, which is a tribute to the devotion the dancers have for their art and how they could never walk away from it.

“One”, the show’s exuberant closing song, complete with a glittering gold backdrop and high-kicking dance routines, is a sheer knockout.

I will admit that some of the show’s cultural references are a bit dated. I doubt anyone under 50 years of age would know much about Cyd Charisse or Gwen Verdon.

There is quite a bit of frank discussion about sexuality and body parts which was shocking in 1976 but is rather passé in the age of social media. 

The themes of following your dreams and putting endless pressure on oneself to succeed remain potent. Not everyone gets to have their turn in the spotlight and for the ones that do, they soon discover fame can be fleeting. 

If you’re looking for a provocative and high-spirited experience, then “A Chorus Line” is the right show for you. 

A Chorus Line will be presented through June 22. The show is two hours with no intermission. Performances are scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 5 p.m.. The theatre is located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield. Tickets are on sale online 24-hours-a-day at www.theatrebythesea.com and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 782-TKTS (8587).

Author: Joe Siegel

Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.