BWW Reviews: TUTS' A CHORUS LINE is Simply Sensational

A CHORUS LINE, inspired by the real stories of several Broadway dancers, first opened on Broadway on July 25, 1975. It ran for an unprecedented 6,137 performances and held the distinction of being the longest running Broadway musical until it was surpassed by Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS. It is currently the sixth longest running Broadway musical. In addition to taking New York by storm, the musical won the celebrated Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976. The musical has truly left an indelible mark in the history of musical theatre. With Theatre Under the Stars free performances of A CHORUS LINE at The Miller Outdoor Theatre this summer, they are giving the Houston community an unparalleled and enjoyable gift.

Set during the audition for a Broadway show, A CHORUS LINE focuses on seventeen dancers all vying for one of the few and coveted spots on the line. Direction by Mitzi Hamilton is brilliant. She gracefully builds an exciting production that explores the hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities of each dancer, making us root for them to succeed. Under her direction, the production is slightly modernized drawing in the relevance of the Here and Now. Mitzi Hamilton's direction perfectly pairs a lingering sense of anticipation with an even greater dose of heart, creating an altogether inspiring production that stays with us long after the last note is played.

Stunning choreography is also a key factor in making A CHORUS LINE a "singular sensation," and for this production, Choreography by Mitzi Hamilton does not disappoint. The movements are grand and highly affective. Mitzi Hamilton's marvelous direction in juxtaposition with her phenomenal choreography ensures that we feel these characters and grow to like them through not just the stories that they tell but through their impeccable dancing as well.

A CHORUS LINE is filled with a mélange of delightfully unique and inspiring characters. As a whole, the company skillfully brings these characters to life filling them with all of the bold and bawdy overtones and unabashedly exposing their vulnerabilities and desires. They make us root for them from the very first number "I Hope I Get It," and have completely captured our hearts by the dazzling finale "One (Reprise)." The cast masterfully creates a panel of seventeen distinctive personalities with all of their personal motives, aspirations, and fears on display, making the piece beautifully relatable to anyone striving for a goal.

Jessica Lee Goldyn is nothing short of amazing as Cassie. She embraces the character fully, presenting us with a character that is vulnerable and steadfast. She brings powerhouse Alto vocals to the stage in her number "The Music and the Mirror," making her number one of the most memorable of the evening. Jessica Lee Goldyn couples her soaring vocal performance with a dance routine that leads the audience into riotous applause.

Selina Verastigui delivers a truly beautiful performance as Diana. She adroitly plays the ever-optimistic Puerto Rican newcomer to Broadway. She performs the role in a way that is wholly authentic, blending notes of hopeful optimism and bittersweet reality to create a memorable character. During her number "Nothing," she positively shines. Her solo vocals in "What I Did For Love" flood the stage with poignant emotions.

Playing Val, Kristen Paulicelli has the perfect amount of charm and sass. As she parades around the stage singing "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three," you can't help but smile because of the confidence that she exudes. Throughout the production her dancing is magnificent and her vocals are spot-on, making her a character that is hard to forget.

Playing Paul, Jordan Fife Hunt deftly gives an intimate performance that tugs at our heart-strings. As he shares his story, he tangibly emanates a full spectrum of emotions, drawing the audience in. His dancing is impeccable as he vies for a spot on the chorus line.

Michael Callahan's portrayal of Mike is confidently winsome. In "I Can Do That," he delivers a charming vocal performance and shows off his impressive dance skills in the high-energy number.

Alissa LaVergne plays Sheila without missing a beat. She seamlessly evokes a character with a broken past and a hardened and fierce exterior. Erica Cenci's portrayal of Bebe is often comical and endearing, but also painfully real. She flawlessly represents a girl who channels all of her passion and insecurities into the art of dance. Karley Willocks is a fabulous Maggie who dazzles us with her vocals and dance moves. In their shared number "At the Ballet," Alissa LaVergne, Erica Cenci, and Karley Willocks harmonize wonderfully and radiate vocal talent. The number is affecting and visceral in the most beautiful of ways.

Julia Krohn excels as the cute and scatter-brained Kristine. Likewise, Mike Cannon delivers a charming performance as her husband Al. Their number "Sing!" is positively endearing, and we can't help but root for them to succeed because they are so darn likeable. Together, Julia Krohn and Mike Cannon successfully produce a compelling couple that brings a smile to our face.

Martin Harvey plays Zach, the elusive director. His portrayal is flawless as he generates a character that is inquisitive, demanding, and compassionate. Martin Harvey's role as Zach is brilliantly executed because while he is consistently unnerving throughout the production, he is also quite likeable. Rob Flebbe highlights his amazing skill set as a dancer in his role as Larry, and subtly presents a character that exudes another sense of humanness through empathy and knowledge of the industry.

Logan Keslar gives a funny and fantastic performance as Bobby. His mannerisms and self-involved, witty humor leaves the audience with a memorable and amusing character. Kevin Curtis produces a high-energy portrayal of Richie. As a vocalist he soars, flawlessly hitting every note, and as a dancer he shines with every high leap. Playing Judy, Caitlin Cannon is remarkably quirky and charismatic. She evokes a pleasant and manic flair that is fully appropriate for her character, making us take notice of her. In their number "And," Logan Keslar, Kevin Curtis, Kristen Paulicelli, and Caitlin Cannon proficiently expose their humanness, as they try to decide what they will reveal to the director.

Jolina Javier sparkles in her role as Connie, as she masterfully portrays the small dancer with a big personality. Capriciously playing Greg, Bryan Langlitz is truly funny as he recalls his first experience with a woman. Michaeljon Slinger is wonderful as Don, creating a bawdy and funny character with heart. Mikey Winslow is outstanding as Mark. He adroitly captures the naiveté and youthful innocence of the character, making the audience laugh at his story and charming them into liking him.

Music Direction by Thom Culcasi is riveting and well-paced. He expertly conducts the band, and captivates the audience until the very last note.

Set Design by Robin Wagner is perfectly stark and intrinsically impersonal, exposing all of the dancer's insecurities. The use of periactoids is highly effective, allowing the stage to alternate between three distinctive looks. It is wonderfully fitting for the nature of the show.

Richard Winkler's Lighting Design is captivating. The shifts in lighting on the stage are brilliant. While the well-lit stage leaves each dancer highly exposed and vulnerable, the use of a single spotlight is extremely impactful as it further humanizes each character by creating a larger sense of intimacy. Altogether, the Lighting Design is beautifully executed.

Sound Design by Dennis Craig is impressive. It is no easy feat to capture seventeen different voices singing various parts and phrases, but quite often Dennis Craig succeeds giving the audience a remarkable blend of voices and music. Although, there are moments when some members of the cast are not heard, the overall Sound Design is enjoyable.

Original Costume Design by Theoni Aldrege, recreated by Jose Rivera, and with additional costumes by Ray Delle Robbins emphasizes the timelessness of this wonderful piece. Costume Design for this production perfectly captures dancewear while giving us spectacular moments with the iconic glitz and glam.

Theatre Under the Stars' Production of A CHORUS LINE is one not to be missed! It is fabulously performed and truly inspirational. It only has two days left at The Miller Outdoor Theatre, so be sure catch it while you still can! Best of all, the tickets are free! For more information on A CHORUS LINE please visit TUTS' website at www.tuts.com, or The Miller Outdoor Theatre's website at http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/.

Photos by ChristIan Brown. Courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars.

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