by Macey Levin
A number of Broaway musicals have been writen about Broadway musicals… 42nd Street, Gypsy, Kiss Me, Kate and many others The most realistic and accurate show about the creation of a Broadway musical is Michael Bennett’s A Chorus Line. Barrington Stage Company currently enjoying a brilliant revival at the Boyd-Quinson Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
In 1974 Bennett gathered several gypsies (A Broadway gypsy is a chorus member who goes from one show to another to another, ad infinitum) for a workshop where they told the stories of their experiences. Bennett recorded thirty hours worth. He molded their stories into A Chorus Line which premiered at Joseph Papp’s Public Theater and then enjoyed a long stay on Broadway beginning in 1975 winning Bennett Tonys for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography and then the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It’s impact on thatre was palpable and its themes timeless.
A bare stage with a mirror is the simple set where twenty-four gypsys are auditioning for an upcoming show. The choreographer Zack (Danny Binstock) gives them an initial routine to test their dancing abilities so that he can cast four men and four women. After he rejects eight of the performers the rest are told to make a line across the stage. He then asks each to talk about themselves. They tell stories in different ways… some comic, some factual, some fervent. This is where Bennett’s early workshop becomes the structure of the show. Some of their stories are simply told others are in the songs. Though their talents and experiences are often similar, their lives are disparate. They speak and sing of fear, desperation and humanity.
Haley Bjorn as Kristine, Deanna Cudjoe as Cassie, Scarlett Walker as Sheila, and Bailey Reese Greemon as Judy in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Deanna Cudjoe as Cassie in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
The cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
The cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
(Front) Deanna Cudjoe as Cassie and Danny Binstock as Zach in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Jonah Nash as Richie (center) and the cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
(L-R) Deanna Cudjoe as Cassie, Scarlett Walker as Sheila, Dalton Bertolone as Bobby, (front) Haley Bjorn as Kristine, Bailey Reese Greemon as Judy, Jonah Nash as Richie, and (front) Ashton Lambert as Al in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Jonah Nash as Richie (center) and the cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
(L-R) Scarlett Walker as Sheila, Dalton Bertolone as Bobby, Alexandra Frohlinger as Bebe, Bailey Reese Greemon as Judy, Jonah Nash as Richie, Ashton Lambert as Al, and Haley Bjorn as Kristine in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Gaby Alby as Diana in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
The cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
(L-R front) Travante S. Baker as Larry, Kristin Greve as Tricia, Jess DiForte as Val, and Haley Bjorn as Kristine in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
L-R The Cast of a Chorus Line featuring (L-R front), Eli Schulman as Tom, Jonah Nash as Richie, Rafa Pepén as Paul, and Juan Romero Muñoz as Frank in Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
The cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Dalton Bertolone as Bobby, and the cast of Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line”, directed by Alan Paul, at Barrington Stage Company. Photo: Daniel Rader. 
Many of the numbers are integral to the composition of the show and cannot stand alone. Sheila (Scarlett Walker) sings “At The Ballet” about how her mother inspired her to become a dancer. She is joined by Bebe (Alexandra Frohlinger) and Maggie (Lauren Barkman) who tell of their beginnings as dancers. “Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love” involves the entire cast as they look back at their teen years and the cachophony of voices swells into the shared phenomenon of that universal angst. Cassie (Deanna Cudjoe) sings and dances “The Music and The Mirror,” one of the many highlights in the show. Perhaps the most melancholy, and probably the best known, song is “What I Did For Love” sung by Diana (Gaby Albo) and the Company.
Every cast member has an outstanding voice and an intelligent and emotional approach to each song. But it is the dancing that is the heart of the production. Parker Esse has restaged Bennett’s original choreography. Though all the dance numbers are beautifully performed, the most memorable is “One” which is first performed by the company in their rehearsal clothes. As a reprise they are dressed in glittering costumes including a top hat. The number ends the show and serves as the curtain call. It is a breathtaking finale.
This is a glorious production that reverberates with profound human emotion and it is as relevant and movng today as it was over fifty years ago.
A Chorus Line conceived by Michael Bennett, Book James Kirkwood; Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Edward Kleban; Originally Co-choreographer Bob Avian; Directed by Alan Paul. CAST: (In alphabetical order) Gaby Albo (Diane) Travante S. Baker (Larry) Lauren Barkman (Maggie) Dalton Bertolone (Bobby) Danny Binstock (Zack) Haley Bjorn (Kristine) Alli Bossart (Lois) Deanna Cudjoe (Cassie) Anthony DaSilva (Mike) Jess DiForte (Val) Alexandra Frohlinger (Bebe) Bailey Reese Greemon (Judy) Kristin Greve (Tricia) Patrick Higgins (Mark) Jolina Javier (Connie) Ashton Lambert (Al) Wilson Livingston (Roy) Adam Mandala (Don) Ryan Mulvaney (Greg) Juan Romero Munoz (Frank) Jonah Nash (Richie) Nina Pagan (Nina) Rafa Pepen (Paul) Ellie Racunas (Vicki) Eli Schulman (Tom) Scarlett Walker (Sheila). CREATIVE TEAM: Scenic Design: Riw Rakkulchon; Costume design: Sarah Bush and Andrew Mark Wilhelm; Lighting Design: Cory Pattak; Musical Director: Helen Gregory; Production Stage Manager: Jason Brouillard; Choreography restaged by Parker Esse.
Running time: two hours, no intermission; July 15-August 8, 2026; Barrington Stage Company Boyd Quinson Stage, 35 Union Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201; For tickets and information go to 413- 242-6411 or barringtonstageco.org