Curve, Sadler’s Wells and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions have announced the full casting for the UK tour of Curve’s smash-hit production of A CHORUS LINE. A show which deserves to be called a musical masterpiece that revolutionised Broadway, with creator Michael Bennett using real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers.
This is a celebration of the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs to follow your dreams.
Joining the previously announced ADAM COOPER as Zach and CARLY MERCEDES DYER as Cassie will be Jocasta Almgill as Diana Morales, Lydia Bannister as Bebe Benzenheimer, Bradley Delarosbel as Gregory Gardner, Archie Durrant as Mark Anthony, Joshua Lay as Al Deluca, Katie Lee as Kristine Urich, Mireia Mambo as Richie Walters, Kanako Nakano as Judy Turner (and cover Connie Wong), Manuel Pacific as Paul San Marco, Ashley-Jordon Packer as Larry (and cover Paul San Marco), Kate Parr as Maggie Winslow, Rachel Jayne Picar as Connie Wong, Redmand Rance as Mike Costa, Chloe Saunders as Val Clarke, Toby Seddon as Bobby Mills, Amy Thornton as Shelia Bryant and Louie Wood as Don Kerr.
The cast is completed by ensemble members Yuki Abe (cover Kristine Urich and Judy Turner), Fin Adams (cover Mark Anthony and Mike Costa), Katrina Dix (cover Sheila Bryant and Bebe Benzenheimer), Imogen Rose Hart (cover Diana Morales, Maggie Winslow and Richie Walters), Laura Hills (cover Cassie and Val Clarke), Josh Kiernan (cover Bobby Mills and Gregory Gardner) and Joshua Steel (cover Don Kerr and Al Deluca).
Both Adam and Carly have appeared in South Wales recently. Carly was in the superb The Drifters Girl and you may have seen Adam in the revival of Singin’ in the Rain, both of which played at the Wales Millennium Centre.
A CHORUS LINE is at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week and as you can see it’s a big cast for a big show.
Set in New York City in 1975. On an empty Broadway stage, seventeen performers are put through their paces in the final, gruelling audition for a new Broadway musical. Only eight will make the cut.
Directed by Nikolai Foster, with a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line features iconic songs including One, I Hope I Get It, Nothing and the hit ballad What I Did For Love.
This one of those shows which features high on the student list and the team have put together a fantastic resource pack for the tour.
This pack provides educators and students of all stages with useful insights into the making of the production, it’s history, as well as backstage videos and practical activities for students of dance, drama and music.
DOWNLOAD HERE.
This production was originally staged at Curve, Leicester in Christmas 2021 and is directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (The Wizard of Oz, Billy Elliot the Musical, West Side Story) and choreographed by Ellen Kane (Dear England, the National Theatre, Matilda the Musical, Netflix, West Side Story, Curve). A Chorus Line features set design by Grace Smart (Hamlet, The Globe and My Beautiful Laundrette and Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual, both at Curve), orchestration and musical supervision by David Shrubsole (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, UK tour), costume design by Edd Lindley (Billy Elliot the Musical, Curve), lighting design by Howard Hudson (& Juliet, Broadway, West End, Australia), sound design by Tom Marshall (Grease, Dominion Theatre) and musical direction by Matthew Spalding (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, UK tour). Casting is by Kay Magson CDG and Olivia Laydon for Jill Green Casting. The show’s orchestra will be supported by music licensing company, PPL.
A CHORUS LINE gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 21st September. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets start at £20 and go to £54, depending on the day and performance you want to see. For more details go HERE.
There is some guidance along with this show – This performance contains haze, loud music, strobe, theatrical smoke, discussion of bereavement, mention of physical violence and abuse, discussion of mental ill health, discussion of homophobia, discussion of discrimination, strong language, and discussion of sexual abuse. This production contains some references and language that may be unsuitable for younger children.
