A Chorus Line (2009)
Royal City Musical Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Production
Royal City Musical Theatre’s artistic director Lloyd Nicholson is pleased to announce that the company’s 20th anniversary production will be that ultimate tribute to the gifted young dancers whose talent brings musical theatre alive, A Chorus Line.
“How better to celebrate our 20th anniversary than with a show saluting the men and women who make theatre what it is?” said Mr. Nicholson in making the announcement.
The original Broadway production was an unprecedented box office and critical hit, receiving 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine of them, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history up to that time. It remains the longest running Broadway musical originally produced in the United States. The show has enjoyed many successful productions worldwide and was revived on Broadway in 2006.
“For two unforgettable hours, we get to know and care about 18 working dancers as they strive for a job in a chorus line,” said Nicholson. “Sharing their dread of rejection and their desperation to succeed, we want to root for them all. Yet we know as they do that half of them must fail, and even the winners face the absurdity of the dancers’ life: surrendering their uniqueness for the unison of the chorus, the anonymity of the line.”
A Chorus Line will run April 9 through 25, 2009 at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre.
Synopsis
A Chorus Line is a musical about seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line.
The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch.
In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway Musical is almost complete. Director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the gypsies through their paces. Every dancer is desperate for work (I Hope I Get It). After the first cut, 17 dancers remain. Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. He wants to learn more about them, and asks the dancers to introduce themselves. With reluctance, the dancers reveal their pasts. The stories generally progress chronologically from early life experiences through adulthood to the end of a career.
A Chorus Line (2009)
Darren Burkett (Larry)
Darren is thrilled to be back at RCMT this year for his 5th show! He has previously appeared here in West Side Story, 42nd Street, The Music Man and Carousel. Other selected performances in theatre include productions with The Arts Club Theatre Company (Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Gypsy), TUTS, (Annie Get Your Gun, Big: The Musical, Footloose and Anne of Green Gables), URP (High School Musical, Godspell, Cabaret, JCS) and Footlight (Meet Me In St. Louis, Anne of Green Gables). Darren would like to thank his family for supporting him no matter what! Look for Darren this summer as Will Parker in Oklahoma! at the Chemainus Theatre Festival.
Adam Charles (Mike)
Adam, a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, Toronto, is ecstatic to be playing Mike in RCMT’s production of A Chorus Line. Adam was last seen in the Arts Club’s holiday classic, Beauty and the Beast. Some of his other favourite credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (TUTS), West Side Story (RCMT), Grease (York Minstrels) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (RPC). Adam would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support. Enjoy the show!
Jeff Deglow (Bobby)
This will mark Jeff’s fourth production with Royal City: 42nd Street (Andy Lee; Bernie Legge Bursary), West Side Story (Gladhand), and A Chorus Line (Bobby). Despite his other credits that range from film, television and stages across America, Jeff holds RCMT close to his heart. Many of his most significant memories and friendships have come from being involved with this company. He would like to thank Val, Jim and his family and friends for their support and he would like to dedicate his performance to Lloyd Nicholson!
Shira Elias (Diana)
A recent graduate from UBC’s theatre program and the University of California at Irvine’s musical theatre program, Shira is honoured to be playing one of her dream roles with this amazing team. Other credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Uncle Randy Productions), the Western Canadian premiere of Edges: A Song Cycle (Streamlight Productions), West Side Story (RCMT), Sunday in the Park with George, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, How I Learned to Drive (UCI Drama), Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding (Hoarse Raven Theatre) and her first producing endeavor, Waking Up a Generation (Ignite Productions). This one’s for Moti.
| Daren Herbert* | Richie |
| Sara-Jeanne Hosie* | Cassie |
| Anna Kuman | Val |
| Aron L’Oste-Brown | Paul |
| Kaila Maitland | Kristine |
| Laura McNaught | Bebe |
| Keri Minty | Sheila |
| Jennifer Neumann | Maggie |
| Joel North | Greg |
| Joanna Pastorek | Judy |
| Milo Shandel* | Zach |
| Jak Barradel | Al |
| Nicol Spinola | Connie |
