28th July 2014 [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/JDZrzEW_DOQ/U9Zy2w5 smI/AAAAAAAAEMY/RrtqMfPWjk8/s1600/AChorusLine2.jpg] Steven R. Tiderman auditions female dancers in Chagrin Valley's "A Chorus Line" WHO: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre WHAT: A Chorus Line WHEN: Now through August 16 Friday & Saturday nights at 8pm, with matinees Sundays 7/27, 8/3, and 8/10 at 2pm WHERE: CVLT Main Stage, 40 River Street, in Chagrin Falls HOW: Call 4402478955 or visit their website at www.cvlt.org [http://www.cvlt.org/] A Chorus Line opened on Broadway exactly 39 years ago, and it is still CLEVE REVIEW: 'A Chorus Line' Reveals the Personalities Behind the Headshots at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
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3/24/2015 CLEVE REVIEW: 'A Chorus Line' Reveals the Personalities Behind the Headshots at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre | LandOfCleve.net
kicking all these years later. The man behind the musical, MichaelBennett, collaborated with book writers James Kirkwood and NicholasDante, composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Edward Kleban. ButBennett's real collaborators were the dancers he interviewed to bring theproduction to life. They told him tales of triumph and trepidation whiledescribing their life on the "line."
These reallife anecdotes are smartly showcased in the latest revival ofthe show at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Yes, there's plenty of splashysinging and dancing on display, both on the stage and in the upstagemirrors. But director/choreographer Pamela LaForce deftly delves intothe psyches and psychoses of each of the 16 men and women who aredesperate and determined to pass the audition and get cast in the show.
Audiences really get to know these characters during the tense tryout forBroadway showmaker Zach, powerfully portrayed by Steven R.Tiderman. His conversations with the hopeful hoofers offer insights intotheir offstage lives. In the most intimate of the oneonone interviews,the tortured trepidation of Paul is slowly revealed through the naturaland nuanced performance of Devon Turchan.
Each of the faces in the crowd become familiar friends by curtain call.Abby Zerull is a cool and confident Diana, Sara Bogomolny is sweet andsexy as Judy, and Nick Alder and Megan Astman pair up perfectly ascomical couple Al and Kristine. Sarah Durham indelibly impresses asveteran chorus girl Sheila, Jen Justice is a valiant but vulnerableCassie, Cassandra Mears is a curvy cutie as Val, and even KatelynCassidy as the polished and precise Dance Captain makes a lastingimpression.
The talented cast also includes Michael Litherland, Alex Marzullo, JakeWashabaugh, Talia Consentino, Brandon Harmon, Greg Donnellan,Genny Vince, Christian Nichols, Julian Kruyne, Steven Tiderman,Heather Strahl, Belle Puckett, Marissa Gellander, and AlyssaWhiddon. They all provide a reason to believe that "what they did forlove" was 100percent worth it.
The creative crew members help LaForce bring the show to life,
3/24/2015 CLEVE REVIEW: 'A Chorus Line' Reveals the Personalities Behind the Headshots at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre | LandOfCleve.net
particularly musical director Nick Wilders (who conducts the livelyorchestra), set/sound/lighting designer Edmond C. Wolff,costumer/stylist Harold Crawford, and producer & prop mistress JuliaWolff.
