‘A Chorus Line’ opens Aug. 8

Contributed story

IVORYTON — “A Chorus Line,” Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical opens Aug. 8 at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

Casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete, and for 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime and what they’ve worked their whole lives for. “A Chorus Line” brilliantly evokes both the glamour and grind of showbiz, and is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line.

The iconic score features memorable songs including “What I Did for Love,” “One” and “I Hope I Get It.” With its celebration and true-to-life depiction of performers and their struggle to achieve greatness on the Broadway stage, the musical has earned unanimous praise as one of the true masterpieces of live theater.

Penned by legendary composer, Marvin Hamlisch, “A Chorus Line” opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway July 25, 1975, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. An unprecedented box office and critical hit, the musical received 12 Tony Award nominations and won nine, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history until surpassed by Cats in 1997, and the longestrunning Broadway musical originally produced in the U.S., until surpassed in 2011 by Chicago.

Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, “A Chorus Line” is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest, and even today remains one of the best loved Broadway shows ever.

This production showcases many performers who have made the Playhouse their home over the past few years: Schuyler Beeman*, Ronnie Bowman Jr., Andee Buccheri, Cory Candelet, Stephanie Genito*, Sam Given*, Joey Lucherini, Amanda Lupacchino, Natalie Madlon, Alexa Racioppi, Jared Starkey and Max Weinstein. Performers making their Playhouse debut are Kayla Starr Bryan, Matthew Carp, Dakota Hoar, Liv Kurtz, Lina Lee*, Jennifer Roberts, Edward Stanley*, Cassidy Terracciano, Lili Thomas* and Sarah Warrick.

The production is directed and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood and musical directed by Michael Morris, with set design by Martin Scott Marchitto, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Kate Bunce.

“A Chorus Line” opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse Aug. 8, with peformances continuing through Sept. 2. Showtimes are Wednesdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Additional 2 p.m. performances will be held Saturdays, Aug. 18, and Sept. 1.

Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or go to www.ivorytonplayhouse.org

Group rates are available by calling the box office for information. The Playhouse is located at 103 Main St., Ivoryton.