A sold-out crowd filled Reynolds Performance Hall Jan. 25 for “A Chorus Line,” winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Broadway’s “singular sensation” is on a nationwide tour across more than 30 states. Conway was the 35th stop on the tour, which began Oct. 26 and ends March 23.
“A Chorus Line” chronicles the process of 17 Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The production featured 13 musical numbers ranging from up-tempo to deeply emotional performances.
UCA Public Appearances Director Jerry Biebesheimer said he was impressed by the large turnout for the event and support from the community.
The cast arrived a day early to prepare for its musical performance at Reynolds.
Biebesheimer said the cast’s concern for ensuring the event was successful showed professionalism.
Each character presented their struggles in getting a job on Broadway by vividly describing their stories to the casting director, Zach, played by Jeremiah Ginn. Zach and his assistant choreographer, Larry, seek to know the quirks and personalities of those auditioning. Larry was played by Matthew Couvillon.
Stories of the 17 dancers progress chronologically from childhood to experiences as adults, with the help of music and dance. Topics included surgery to improve body image, homosexuality and discovery of the female anatomy.
At times, laughter filled the performance hall as the audience heard accounts from such dancers as Val, who recounted improvements to her body. Val was played by Aisling Halpin.
Freshman Tyler Walsh said hearing the life story of Paul San Marco, played by Alexander Cruz, was a powerful and gut-wrenching moment.
Cruz’s character, a gay Puerto Rican who endured a troublesome upbringing, described coming to terms with his sexuality and his early career in a drag act. Cruz previously played Mark, the youngest dancer at the audition, in a regional production of “A Chorus Line.”
“[Cruz] made you feel how he felt,” Walsh said. “It was truly a real performance.”
The audience clapped for the eight dancers as they were selected following several rounds of questioning and rehearsals.
All 19 characters returned to the stage wearing bright gold costumes that replaced rehearsal clothing. A reprise of the famous song, “One,” received applause as cast members said farewell at the end of the musical.
The original production of “A Chorus Line” in 1975 was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. After 6,137 performances, it became the longest-running production in Broadway history until “Cats” in 1997. Currently, the show is set for a revival in the West End and a United States nationwide tour is underway.
Aldo Scrofani is the executive producer of the Broadway classic revival on tour. Scrofani has worked in the live entertainment industry for 35 years and has been associated with more than 100 productions on Broadway, including “Gone With The Wind,” “STOMP,” “Gypsy” and “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.”
Junior Haley Murphy said she learned about “A Chorus Line” coming to UCA from her parents who encouraged her to get a ticket.
“I love music of any kind,” she said.
After seeing the musical numbers, Murphy said she was in awe at the amount of coordination the dancers exhibited throughout the musical.
The 2012-2013 Reynolds Broadway Series concludes at 7:30 Feb. 2 with “Drumline LIVE,” a production based on the hit movie, “Drumline.”
