Cal State Fullerton’s Theatre and Dance Department brought the audience to their feet to applaud their victoriously spirited rendition of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line” at its opening on Thursday.
The musical, hosted at the Little Theatre, highlights the life stories of 17 dancers auditioning to make it on a chorus line, discussing themes of identity, individuality, humanity and more.
A chorus line is a vehicle that moves a story further, according to Marty Austin Lamar, associate professor in CSUF’s musical theatre program and co-director of the musical. While chorus dancers may be integral to a production, they often go nameless.
“There is no other musical that is centered on the artist experience, particularly the experience of trying to become a member of a chorus,” Lamar said. “It’s a big job to have, and no one had ever taken the time to say, ‘Hey, talk to me about what your experience is.’”
Ultimately, “A Chorus Line” is a love letter to those at the heart of musical theater. However, the combination of diverse character backgrounds and authentic stories of real performers makes its message reach beyond performers themselves.
“It’s iconic, it’s nostalgic,” Lamar said. “But it’s not limited to people like me, who act on stage. It’s for anybody that has had to push themselves beyond their own beliefs in pursuit of something bigger.”
Those who are early by even a few minutes will realize that the show begins even before its scheduled time. The show is more immersive than let on by its marketing — a pleasant surprise.
When showtime does come, the audience is in for a two-hour audition featuring plenty of song, dance and big personalities. This leads to a rewarding finale dance sequence featuring the final line and friends they make along the way.
The company of 17 actors equally have their own moments to shine. Standout performances include those of Micah Nicholson, who plays Robert Charles Joseph Henry III, or “Bobby;” Ethan Davis, who plays Mike Costa, and Emmaleigh Irish, who plays Sheila Bryant.
While Bobby is a kooky character, Nicholson was able to translate a personal journey for the character that ends up reviving his passion for his work despite initially being jaded by both the industry and life.
“Bobby really does rediscover his love for dance and for performing throughout the show,” Nicholson said.
Similarly, Davis and Irish became the narrators of journeys personal to real-life performers. Davis gave an aggressively sincere portrayal of Mike, who is based on the lives of Wayne Cilento and Sammy Williams. Irish’s portrayal of Sheila, a sassy and serious character based on the life of Kelly Bishop, an actress who originated the role of Sheila, proved gut-wrenching during the final line selection.
“It’s people’s real-life stories that are being told by actors,” said Payton Homer, the production’s student assistant director. “It’s kind of a commentary on our own lives.”
The play is humorous. Embedded in its comedy are raunchy anecdotes and jokes, including a hysterical section of “Montage, Part 1: Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love” about Mark Anthony, played by Anthony Huang, having believed he contracted a sexually transmitted disease in adolescence and a saucy rendition of “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” performed by Cossette Ansejo as Valerie Clark.
Due to the sometimes explicit nature and strong language of the show, Lamar said it is PG-13 and suggests that young audiences be accompanied by an adult.
The Little Theatre is a 480-seat dance and musical theater located in the Clayes Performing Arts Center. Parking is free on campus on weekends starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays.
The show’s 11-performance run will conclude on Dec. 2. Tickets to the remaining eight performances are available to purchase online and at the center’s box office. CSUF students may use their complimentary arts tickets to view this musical.