by Harry Duke

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”). 

Then there’s Cassie (Lila Howell*), a dancer who made it out of the chorus line but finds herself looking for work and a way back in, and Paul (Jonathen Blue), the most reluctant to share his painful, personal story. These two characters are the bedrock upon which this show is built. Howell has the dancing and acting chops required to get an audience to buy into her as a veteran performer (despite her youth), and Blue’s layered delivery of Paul’s monologue is the very heart of the show.

Zach cuts the group down to eight, and the show ends with every festooned in gold and singing and dancing the signature number “One”.

First-time director Lorenzo Alviso, whether by necessity or design, has cast a fairly non-traditional group of performers with a variety of experiences, ages, genders, and body types. While the goal of a chorus line is uniformity, it’s an interesting approach that often works. 

The execution of Hannah Woolfenden’s choreography is better than one might expect given that many, but not all, of the cast lack formal dance training. Ginger Beavers leads an excellent seven-piece band that never over-powered the performers. 

Good vocal work – both solo and group – and some standout performances make A Chorus Line a solid season-opener for 6th Street.

‘A Chorus Line’ runs through September 28 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. Sixth Street, Santa Rosa. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $32–$56. 707.523.4185. 6thstreeetplayhouse.com

*Note: Multiple understudies went on at the performance I attended. Your cast may vary.

Photos by Eric Chazankin

This review originally appeared in an edited version in the North Bay Bohemian.