| Celebrating over three decades on the stage, | | | | –they were the part they were playing. "It's a |
| Broadway's famed A Chorus Line continues to see | | | | show about a very specific group of people. Most of |
| rave reviews as it visits cities like Kansas City this | | | | the characters are in their late 20s or early 30s. |
| year. A Chorus Line's original character Connie works | | | | They're Broadway gypsies. They do it because |
| as the choreography re-stager for the touring | | | | they're passionate about it and that's something that |
| production, and the play continues its successful reign. | | | | resonates with people," Kit Treece, the current |
| Though the plot is basic, actors have been vying for | | | | Bobby Mills, said to Daily Local. As the seven-time |
| the lead roles for years as the show remained the | | | | Tony Award-winning show started appealing to the |
| first Broadway play to deem actors a triple threat, as | | | | masses, it garnered attention not just from those |
| actress Baayork Lee explained, "We were the first | | | | humbled by the work but by those who had already |
| company that coined the phrase 'triple threat'. We | | | | made it – stars from Diana Ross to Lucille Ball |
| had to do everything." The skills involved in playing | | | | would watch from behind the curtain, while Jackie O |
| actors who were trying out for a role on the chorus | | | | and Groucho Marx congratulated staff. |
| line have kept <a rel="nofollow" | | | | The show returned to the stage in 2006 when it |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater. Running |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" Chorus Line | | | | for 759 regular performances, the feature is now on |
| tickets</a> selling like wildfire on | | | | a national run that picked up two more Tony |
| Currently the touring production, which hits Kansas | | | | Awards, including Best Musical Revival Act. It has |
| City this April, is directed by Bob Avian, a veteran of | | | | seen accolades of all shapes and sizes, winning a |
| the Broadway '70s show who originally worked with | | | | Pulitzer for Drama in 1975, New York Drama Critics |
| Michael Bennett on the feature's choreography. | | | | Award in 1975, Obie Award, Evening Standard Award |
| "Everybody auditions," Lee said to Pennlive. "I think | | | | for Best Musical, a Gold Record from Columbia |
| that's why the show has such an enduring appeal. | | | | Records and five Drama Desk Awards to boot. |
| Whether it's a job, a career, a college…you are | | | | The plot of A Chorus Line follows 17 dancers as they |
| always auditioning in life. Michael [Bennett] dedicated | | | | vie for the role of a lifetime on Broadway. Narrowing |
| this show to anyone who ever had to march in step." | | | | down the auditioning actors to just eight, the director |
| And endurance it had – when it finally left the | | | | asks each actor to tell him a little bit about |
| Shubert Theatre in 1990 it held the title of | | | | themselves in a move that brings the audience closer |
| Broadway's longest-running show with 6,137 | | | | to each character. The stage is set just like so many |
| performances. | | | | auditions before it as the actors come forward and |
| For many actors, what made the show even more | | | | show the audience everything they've got. Powerfully |
| real was that many didn't have to act the part | | | | moving, this show is for everyone. |