‘A Chorus Line’ kicks off new season at 6th Street Playhouse

LIVE THEATER REVIEW

Singing, acting highlights story of hardworking dancers on Broadway

Lorenzo Alviso, who has appeared as an actor at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, makes his directing debut with the theater’s production of “A Chorus Line.” Carmen Mitchell

“A Chorus Line” at the 6th Street Playhouse features, from left, Reilly Milton, Diego Rodriguez, Lillian Sigrist, Jonathen Blue, Monique Borses, Ella Park, Tajai Britten. photos by Eric Chazankin

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By Jenny Hollingworth

There are several Broadway-themed shows about what goes on behind the scenes, but “A Chorus Line” was one of the first and is arguably still one of the best. The production currently running at 6th Street Playhouse offers audiences a welcome opportunity to see why this 50-year-old, award-winning musical has endured for so long.

The action takes place on a bare stage with backwall mirrors, where a large group of auditioning dancers are being led through their paces by a Broadway director (Tajai Britten) and his dance captain (Bridget Codoni). By the end of the show, through a series of songs and vignettes, we’ll have learned what drives the dancers to subject themselves to the brutal audition process, and eight of them will have been chosen.

The rest will have to live to fight another day.

It’s a fascinating and frequently moving look at the dreams, ambitions and vulnerabilities of performers, their tenacity in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds, and the faceless demands made by the industry in its aggressive pursuit of excellence.

Director Lorenzo Alviso has assembled a strong cast, with some standout vocal performances. Worthy of special mention are Ella Park as Sheila (“At the Ballet”), Reilly Milton as Diana (“What I Did for Love”) and Jonathen Blue for his performance of Paul’s poignant monologue. But everyone in this cast of 30 deserves praise for their singing and acting talents in a show which includes plenty of personalities and some challenging harmonies.

Perhaps ironically, given that this is a show about dancers, the dancing here is the weakest link. Fortunately, it’s helped by choreographer Hannah Wolfenden, who brings her expertise in dance choreography to good effect here in her musical theater debut as a choreographer (as a dancer, she’s been seen in Mountain Play productions, Cinnabar Theater’s “Oklahoma,” and a handful of shows at San Francisco Playhouse and other Bay Are companies).

Ginger Beavers as music director leads the very capable seven-piece band. Even if you’re not familiar with most of the tunes in “A Chorus Line,” you’ll know the iconic “One” that appears towards the end, and almost certainly find yourself toe-tapping along.

The design team, including Tracy Hinman (costumes), Noah Hewitt (lighting) and Laurynn Malilay (scenic and sound), provide an effective backdrop, and stage manager Celina Kegerreis also merits a shout-out — a show with a cast of this size requires a strong hand at the helm backstage to make sure it all comes together.

6th Street’s “A Chorus Line” offers a very good evening’s entertainment, and it was great to see a range of ages among the audience for this production. However, if you’re thinking of attending, note that this show contains adult themes and is not recommended for children. Also note that if it’s not sold out already, tickets are likely to go fast — the show closes on Sept. 28.