A Chorus Line welcomes nine new cast members

The Broadway revival of A Chorus Line welcomes nine new cast members this evening (24 Jul 2007).

Joining the cast are Nick Adams (Larry), Michael Gruber (Greg), Bryan Knowlton (Paul), Melissa Lone (Maggie), J. Elaine Marcos (Connie), Krysta Rodriguez (Bebe), Jason Patrick Sands (Don), Will Taylor (Bobby) and Katherine Tokarz (Kristine).

Leaving the show are Ken Alan (Bobby), Brad Anderson (Don), Mara Davi (Maggie), Tyler Hanes (Larry), Michael Paternostro (Greg), Alisan Porter (Bebe), Yuka Takara (Connie), Jason Tam (Paul) and Chryssie Whitehead (Kristine).

Kevin Worley assumed the role of Al from Tony Yazbeck on 3 Jul 2007.

The new cast members join Michael Berresse (Zach), Natalie Cortez (Diana), Charlotte d'Amboise (Cassie), Jessica Lee Goldyn (Val), Deidre Goodwin(Sheila), James T. Lane (Richie), Paul McGill (Mark), Heather Parcells (Judy) and Jeffrey Schecter (Mike) in a cast of 30 that includes Michelle Aravena, David Baum, Mike Cannon, E. Clayton Cornelious, Dena Digiacinto, Joey Dudding, Lyndy Franklin, Nadine Isenegger, Pamela Jordan, Jessica Lea Patty and Grant Turner.

Directed by its original Tony Award winning co-choreographer Bob Avian, the show opened at Broadway's Schoenfeld Theatre on the 5 Oct 2006, following previews from the 18 Sep and is currently booking to the 13 Jan 2008.

The show opened to mixed, but mosly good, reviews "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); "It's still one singular sensation." (New York Theatre Guide).

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.

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 of 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.

The original production won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. It ran for nearly 15 years, closing on the 28 Apr 1990 after 6,137 performances.

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

Biographies:

Nick Adams (Larry). Broadway: Chicago, The Pirate Queen.

Michael Gruber (Greg). Broadway debut in original production of Chorus Line. Other Broadway credits include: Cats, Miss Saigon, My Favorite Year, 'Kiss Me, Kate', Swing.

Bryan Knowlton (Paul). Broadway Debut! National tours: Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver!, A Chorus Line.

Melissa Lone (Maggie). Broadway: Mary Poppins. National tours: Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, 42nd Street.

J. Elaine Marcos (Connie). Broadway: The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Flower Drum Song, Miss Saigon.

Krysta Rodriguez (Bebe). Broadway: Spring Awakening, Good Vibrations.

Jason Patrick Sands (Don). Broadway: Legally Blonde, The Producers. National tour: Casper.

Will Taylor (Bobby). Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles, The Producers, 42nd Street.

Katherine Tokarz (Kristine). Broadway Debut! National tour: Chicago.

Kevin Worley (Al). Broadway: 42nd Street; Tours: Spamalot.