Cast: Ken Alan (Bobby), Brad Anderson (Don), Michelle Aravena (Tricia), Natalie Cortez (Diana), Charlotte D'Amboise (Cassie), Mara Davi (Maggie), Jessica Lee Goldyn (Val), Deidre Goodwin (Sheila), Tyler Hanes (Larry), James T. Lane (Richie), Jeffrey Schecter (Mike), Yuka Takara (Paul)
For complete cast info, see the official A Chorus Line Broadway revival page.
I love A Chorus Line. I actually had the original Broadway cast album on vinyl (passed down from my aunt, I think). Of course, I have the CD of the OBC and DVD of the movie now, but I had never seen A Chorus Line on Broadway and was thrilled about the revival. (The tour we saw when I was in college was so bad it prompted "Kiss This Pitch Goodbye" after the show).
Most of the cast of the revival is amazing, but I have to say I was surprised by Charlotte D'Amboise and Deidre Goodwin (Cassie and Sheila). Charlotte D'Amboise is a great dancer. But as a singer, she couldn't even come close to holding her own. I was especially shocked that when she's dancing with the boys she doesn't sing. Every production I've seen (or heard) has Cassie singing with the guys on that part. When they took out her singing, they really should have added a line for Zack to be upset with her for not singing. I don't know of any director auditioning that would let that slide and Zack clearly has issues with most of what Cassie does anyway.
I saw Mara Davi (Maggie in this production) as Cassie in Cal State Fullerton's production of A Chorus Line a couple years ago and she was amazing. I know sometimes being talented isn't enough for your first Broadway show, though. Hopefully, Mara will get to play Cassie when Charlotte leaves the role.
Deidre Goodwin has a good voice, but doesn't have the energy that Kelly Bishop had as Sheila. I expected her to be more outgoiong and I guess more of a presence on stage, as the others I've seen play the role have.
James Lane (Richie), Mara Davi (Maggie), & Alisan Porter (Bebe) were all really wonderful. The rest of the cast is great and I highly recommend seeing this production. Of course, if you can catch it when Charlotte D'Amboise & Deidre Goodwin have an understudy in, that'd be ideal.
My best friend is friends with James Lane (we met him briefly a couple nights before seeing the show) and if I hadn't met someone in the cast, I wouldn't have bought this album, since some of my favorite songs were sung so poorly by Cassie and Sheila. It would have been a shame, though. The album has some great parts that aren't in the original Broadway cast album. I think at some point, I'll have to create my own A Chorus Line CD with the best of each.
Grade: B (would be much higher with understudies for Cassie & Sheila)
Labels: 2006, Broadway, comedy, dancing, drama, musical, revival
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams