It’s been 50 years since Michael Bennett’s A Chorus Line took Broadway by storm. The musical tale of the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of those who seek a life in the theatre won nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize and held the record for longest running Broadway musical for 14 years.
While simplistic in plot, it’s a difficult show to mount, as it requires a large cast of “triple threats”, performers who can act and sing and dance. Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse has taken on the challenge with a production running through Sept. 28.
Set conveniently enough in a theater, the show opens with Marvin Hamlisch/Edward Kleban’s “I Hope I Get It” as a large group of dancers audition for slots in a new musical’s chorus line. Director Zach (Tajai Jaxon Britten) thins the crowd down to 17 and then begins the interview process. He asks each dancer personal questions, sometimes eliciting joyous responses like Mike’s (Diego Rodriguez) “I Can Do That”, and other times more melancholy responses like “At the Ballet” from Sheila (Sasha Holton*), Bebe (HarriettePearl Fugitt), and Maggie (Lillian Sigrist).
The interviews continue and we get to know more about each performer from Mark’s (Jayce Kaldunski) sexual awakening to Greg’s (Ben Stevens) realization that he’s gay to Val’s (Anna Voperian) decision that cosmetic surgery is one way to get what she wants out of life (“Dance:10, Looks: 3”)…