BRUNSWICK — Maine State Music Theatre opens its 54th season with the Tony Award-winning musical “A Chorus Line.” Starting the season off with a high kick, “A Chorus Line” opens at the Pickard Theater on Wednesday and runs through June 23.
Tickets are available online at www.msmt.org, over the phone at 725-8769, or by visiting the box office located in the Pickard Theater lobby at 1 Bath Road. Ticket prices range from $36 to $59.
Maine State Music Theatre continues its tradition of Pay-What- You-Can pricing for both the matinee and evening performances of “A Chorus Line” on June 8. On that day, patrons who walk up in person to MSMT’s box office at the Pickard Theater can pay whatever their budgets will allow for any remaining, unsold seats. The box office opens at 10 a.m. It is important to note that this offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets or with any other discount offers and is subject to availability.
A news release describes the performance as follows:
“A Chorus Line” is an inspirational story of the road to stardom, including all the chassés, jetés, and pas de bourrées of life. The musical takes its audience behind the scenes and into the lives of the 19 hopeful dancers auditioning for a spot in a chorus line. The auditions take on a personal component when the director, Zach, asks them to introduce themselves and tell their histories. All of the characters have overcome obstacles and gone through rough patches in their lives. Although their stories are all different, they have followed their dreams to stand together for a chance at Broadway.
The inspiration for the musical came from recorded workshop sessions with real Broadway dancers in the mid-1970s. Realizing the potential of the honesty that was uncovered, Michael Bennett conceived an idea and directed and choreographed what became known as “A Chorus Line.” With help from music by Marvin Hamlisch, a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, lyrics by Edward Kleban and co-choreography by Bob Avian, Bennett created a sensation. Since its 1975 Broadway debut, the musical has traveled around the world from Sydney, to Buenos Aries, came back for a Broadway revival in 2006, U.S. tours in 2008 and 2010.
The musical has won nine Tony Awards, five Drama Desk awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Original Broadway cast members Donna Drake and Michael Gorman pilot this highly anticipated MSMT production. Drake, who recently directed MSMT’s award-winning production of “The Wiz,” uses her experiences and memories of Michael Bennett’s vision as she directs the MSMT production. Gorman’s responsibility is to teach a new set of talented young dancers the legendary choreography.
Among the talent to grace the stage at the Pickard Theater in this production, and hot off the recent U.S. and/or international tours of “A Chorus Line,” are Suzanna Dupree, Rebecca Riker, Nicki Venditti, Selina Verastigui, Taylor Collins and Netanel Bellaishe (winner of Israeli TV’s version of So You Think You Can Dance). The six join the MSMT production as the characters Sheila, Cassie, Paul, Diana, Don and Mike respectively.
MSMT veterans Curt Dale Clark and Buddy Reeder are also on the cast list. Clark, known for his MSMT roles as the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” and as Franz in “The Producers,” plays the director role of Zach. Reeder, a stand out for his amazing tap solo in 2011’s “Xanadu,” returns as Larry. Additionally, local performers and MSMT alums Matthew Begin, Blair Best and Michaela Boissonneault join the production.
Broadway and/or National tour veterans Kelly D. Felthous, Timothy Hughes and Michael Warrell are making their MSMT debuts as Val, Greg and Al. Barrymore Award nominee Courtney Romano and Kennedy Center performer Joshua Keith also make their MSMT debuts as Kristine and Richie along with Tiffany Chalothorn who reincarnates her recent regional portrayal of Connie for Brunswick audiences.
Two former MSMT internsturned professionals with a number of national tour and Off-Broadway credits between them, Sean Bell and Morgan Rose, are back in Maine to play Bobby and Bebe. Bell and Rose can serve as mentors to this season’s eight performance interns who fill out the rest of “the line’” Taylor Anderson, Jeff Heimbrock, Andrew Metzgar, Allie Pizzo, Jonalyn Saxer, Jordan Weagraff, Zachariah F. Williams and Emmeline Wood.
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