Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents A Chorus Line, running tonight, July 16 - 21 at Miller Outdoor Theatre. A Chorus Line is "one singular sensation" that garnered virtually every award imaginable, including the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize. The groundbreaking musical, set during an audition for an upcoming Broadway show, shines a light on the hopes, fears and dreams of performers vying for a chance to do what they all know they were born to do.
In true A Chorus Line fashion, the cast will feature an ensemble of unique experience and talent, including Broadway and TUTS veterans:
Michael Callahan (Mike),
Caitlin Cannon (Judy),
Mike Cannon (Al),
Erica Cenci (Bebe),
Kevin Curtis(Richie),
Rob Flebbe (Larry),
Jessica Lee Goldyn (Cassie),
Martin Harvey (Zach),
Jordan Fife Hunt (Paul), Jolina Javier (Connie),
Logan Keslar (Bobby),
Julia Krohn (Kristine),
Bryan Langlitz (Greg),
Alissa LaVergne (Sheila),
Kristen Paulicelli (Val),
Michaeljon Slinger (Don),
Selina Verastigui (Diana),
Karley Willocks (Maggie) and
Mikey Winslow (Mark). Rounding out the cast are
Bobby Johnson Beck,
Rachel Broussard, Mark Donaldson,
George Garcia, Courtney Jones,
Megan McGuff and Donald Shorter.
In a special connection to the show,
Mitzi Hamilton, who served as the inspiration for Val in the original
Michael Bennett production of A Chorus Line, will both direct and choreograph the TUTS production. Beyond her influence in the Bennett version of A Chorus Line, Hamilton's legacy with the show includes performing as Val in both the original London company and later on in the Broadway version. Joining her will be Thom Culcasi as the conductor and musical director. He last worked at TUTS forMan of La Mancha and Miss Saigon. Other creative team members include sound designer Dennis Craig and lighting designer
Richard Winkler.
This production of A Chorus Line will undergo a slight update from its original production in order to speak to today's audience. To modernize the storyline, the dialogue has been refreshed to remove the pop culture references to the 70s, and the costumes have been moderately reconfigured.
Meet the line:Michael Callahan has built his career performing among the regional theatre scene including the Ogunquit Playhouse, the Hangar Theatre, and the Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Mike Cannon lists A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Ghost, The Addams Family and All Shook Up among his Broadway credits.
Caitlin Cannon appeared in Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City. A familiar face to the TUTS family, she has appeared in Spamalot, Annie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and White Christmas.
Erica Cenci worked in the national tours of A Chorus Line and Cats.
Kevin Curtis was featured in the national tour of A Chorus Line.
Rob Flebbe toured nationally with West Side Story and Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He was recently seen on the TUTS stage in Camelot, Miss Saigon, Anything Goes, Singing in the Rain and Damn Yankees.
Jessica Lee Goldyn played on Broadway in A Chorus Line and toured both nationally and internationally with Fosse.
Martin Harvey played Johnny Castle in the West End production of Dirty Dancing and won the UK Critics' Circle Spotlight Award. He has appeared in principal roles opposite Sir
Anthony Hopkins and
Jean Simmons in Disney's Great Expectations.
Jordan Fife Hunt was a cast member in the national tour of A Chorus Line.
Jolina Javier performed in New York City's famed Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Logan Keslar, a graduate of TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, was last seen at TUTS inSpamalot, Urban Cowboy, and Dreamgirls. He has played on Broadway and in the national tour for La Cage Aux Folles as well as in the West End production of West Side Story.
Julia Krohn has appeared in several TUTS shows including Spamalot, Man of La Mancha, Camelot andThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She played in the original Vegas company of Jersey Boys, and she lists Joy and ABBA's Kristina in her New York City experience.
Bryan Langlitz toured nationally with A Chorus Line and appeared on Broadway in Memphis.
Alissa LaVergne was most recently seen at TUTS in Spamalot, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,White Christmas, Guys & Dolls and Hello, Dolly! She also appeared in New York City in Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Kristen Paulicelli played in the national tours of West Side Story and A Chorus Line.
Michaeljon Slinger appeared on Broadway in Evita, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,
Billy Elliot and West Side Story. TUTS audiences will also recognize him from Spamalot.
Selina Verastigui played in the Broadway run and national tour of A Chorus Line. She last played at TUTS in White Christmas.
Karley Willocks was features as Maggie in the national tour of A Chorus Line and West Side Story.
Mikey Winslow appeared on Broadway in West Side Story and American Idiot. He also played in the national tour of Wicked.
A Chorus Line features music by
Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by
Edward Kleban and a book by
James Kirkwood, Jr. and
Nicholas Dante.
Following the engagement in Houston, TUTS' production of A Chorus Line will travel to Austin, Texas for a stay at the Long Center July 24 - 28.
Free tickets for the covered seats are available on the day of performance between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Free tickets are limited to four per person age 16 or over. Any tickets remaining will be given out one hour before curtain.
Don't want to wait in line? For each $50 tax-deductible donation to TUTS, the organization will set aside two reserved tickets under the covered pavilion so you may enjoy the show and experience how your generosity makes the music happen. To reserve tickets, visit
TUTS.com/DonateNow or call 713.558.2651. Ticketholders are asked to arrive early as any unfilled seats will be released to the general public at 8 p.m.
No tickets? No problem! Bring a cozy blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show from the Miller Theatre lawn, the perfect place for a picnic and a show!
Theatre Under The Stars' presentation of A Chorus Line is sponsored in part by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, The Wortham Foundation, Inc., Wells Fargo and by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Patrons are encouraged to utilize public transportation to Miller Outdoor Theatre. Visit
www.RideMetro.org for a complete list of bus schedules and routes.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed nonprofit musical theatre company whose mission is to enrich life through the experience of quality musical theatre and to positively impact lives beyond the stage through innovative education & community engagement programs. Currently TUTS engages more than 200,000 people annually through productions at Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center and at Miller Outdoor Theatre. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public when it was founded in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the theatre opened. Founded by
Frank M. Young and currently under the direction of President and CEO
John C. Breckenridge and Artistic Director
Bruce Lumpkin, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston's Phantom, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and
Irving Berlin's White Christmas as well as critically acclaimed re-inventions of classics Cabaret and Les Miserables. Through its membership in the
Independent Presenters Network, TUTS has helped bring Bombay Dreams, 9 to 5, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde,Ragtime, Curtains and The Color Purple to Broadway and ultimately back to Houston audiences.
In support of TUTS' mission, TUTS' Education & Community Engagement programs provide instruction and stage experience for more than 48,000 Houstonians annually. The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) offers technique-driven classes for all ability levels and ages, ranging from four to adult. Through The River Performing and Visual Arts Center (The River), TUTS provides an accessible and inclusive arts education for individuals of all abilities that will enhance their development into confident, balanced individuals. TUTS Education & Community Engagement provides extended on-site programming as well as off-site programming for children in schools, hospitals and other community-based sites. TUTS' community partnerships include collaborations with the Houston Independent School District and Region IV school districts, the YMCA of Greater Houston, M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital and Shriner's Hospital - Houston, among several other Houston-area organizations. TUTS also annually presents the
Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.
For more information on A Chorus Line, visit Theatre Under The Stars at
tuts.com or Miller Outdoor Theatre at
milleroutdoortheatre.com.
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