A Chorus Line: Mario Lopez to make Broadway debut playing 'Zach'


'Extra TV' host and 'Dancing with the Stars' finalist Mario Lopez will make his Broadway debut when he joins the cast of the the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line playing the role of Zach, the demanding director who is casting the chorus roles for a new Broadway musical, from 15 Apr - 7 Sep 2008.

"Mario is an enormously talented actor and dancer and we are thrilled to have him make his Broadway debut in A Chorus Line," said producer John Breglio. "His talents and charm will transfer beautifully to the Broadway stage."

"Every actor dreams about appearing on a Broadway stage. I have as well, and have been searching for the right time and opportunity," said Mario Lopez. "A Chorus Line is a legendary musical and I am so honored to have been chosen to join the amazing cast and be a part of the Broadway family."

Directed by its original Tony Award winning co-choreographer Bob Avian, A Chorus Line opened at Broadway's Schoenfeld Theatre on the 5 Oct 2006, following previews from the 18 Sep and is currently booking to the 30 Mar 2008.

The show opened to mixed reviews "It's still one singular sensation." (New York Theatre Guide); "Its creators neglected to restore its central nervous system and, most important, its throbbing heart." (New York Times); "A good reproduction of a great original." (New York Post); " Faithful and altogether loving re-creation. Welcome back, you beautiful thing." (Star-Ledger); "Brings the faint whiff of mothballs to memory lane." (NewsDay); "A high-spirited, entertaining show that honors its predecessor." (The Record); "It's the sense of duplication -- albeit lovingly executed -- that keeps the revival from soaring." (Variety).

A Chorus Line: Dancers audition for a Broadway musical, during the audition we learn of the dreams and disappointments of the would be auditioners. Eventually eight are choosen and the show closes with a glitzy song and dance routine.

A Chorus Line, features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Baayork Lee re-stages the original choreography. A Chorus Line is produced by Vienna Waits Productions.

A Chorus Line currently features Nick Adams (Larry), Michael Berresse (Zach), Natalie Cortez (Diana), Charlotte d'Amboise (Cassie), Dena Digiacinto (Bebe), Jessica Lee Goldyn (Val), Deidre Goodwin (Sheila), Michael Gruber (Greg), Bryan Knowlton (Paul), James T. Lane (Richie), Melissa Lone (Maggie), J. Elaine Marcos (Connie), Paul McGill (Mark), Heather Parcells (Judy), Jason Patrick Sands (Don), Jeffrey Schecter (Mike), Will Taylor (Bobby), Katherine Tokarz (Kristine) and Kevin Worley (Al).

The new production features settings by Robin Wagner, costumes by Theoni V.Aldredge, lighting by Natasha Katz and Tharon Musser and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

Musical direction and supervision is by Patrick Vaccariello, orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick, Billy Byers and Hershey Kay and vocal arrangements are by Don Pippin.

The original production, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, A Chorus Line opened at the New York Shakespeare Festival�s Newman Theatre on the 21 May 1975 and transferred to Broadway�s Shubert Theatre on 25 Jul, opening there on 19 Oct 1975.

A Chorus Line remains the longest running American musical in Broadway history.

Originally published on

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