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THEATER Randall Theatre presents 'A Chorus Line' MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 28, 2016 @ 9:00 am Updated Jul 29, 2016 at 10:10 AM Posted Jul. 28, 2016 @ 9:00 am Updated Jul 29, 2016 at 10:10 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The hopes, fears and frustrations of a group of dancers auditioning for a spots in a Broadway production's chorus line comes to the forefront in "A Chorus Line," with dancers' personal stories ranging from funny to wrenching. The musical won nine Tony Awards in 1975, along with a Pulitzer Prize for drama. The stage itself serves as the set for this riveting musical, conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett for the New York Shakespeare Festival. Based on a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, the production features music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. " “A Chorus Line' broke the mysterious barrier between the audience and the performer," says Robin Downward, artistic director of Randall Theatre, in a press release. "Few people consider how difficult a life of singing, acting and dancing can be. Professional performers are sometimes unemployed for long periods of time. Dancers have a lot of competition for work, and the pay for dancers is usually less that for actors. Dancing is physical demanding. The length of dancer's career depends on his or her strengths and whether or not injury is avoided. It's passion and desire that drives professional performers, especially professional dancers.” Randall Theatre's production of "A Chorus Line" will open with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the community theater, 10 Third St., Medford. Tickets are $22 and include reserved seating, dinner and drinks. Other shows will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 30, Thursdays through Saturdays, Aug. 4-6, Aug. 11-13 and Aug. 18-20. Matinees are set for 1 p.m. Sundays, July 31, Aug. 7, 14 and 21. Reserved seating is $18. Tickets and information are available at www.randalltheatre.com or by calling 541-632-3258. Pay-what-you-want tickets are available 30 minutes before shows, subject to availability. In Randall's production, Roy Von Rains Jr. plays Zach, the director leading the auditions, and Jeff Mercer plays Larry, the assistant choreographer who puts the dancers — each desperate for work — through their paces. Kathy Wing directs. "On the day of our first read-through, I asked the actors to talk about why they wanted to be in this show," Wing adds to the press release. "Roy, who plays Zach, put it best. He said he saw 'A Chorus Line' as a chance for us, as performers, to tell our story. 'A Chorus Line' really is a show about dancers as they go through the grueling process of auditioning for a Broadway show. Along the way, the dancers tell their stories. What makes the show stand out is that these stories, with all of the hope and the heartbreak, are real. They come from recordings made in 1974 at a workshop for Broadway dancers." Wing noted that eight of the dancers involved in that workshop went on to appear in the original cast of the 1975 Broadway production of 'A Chorus Line.' " The biggest challenge, Wing says, is putting together the musical numbers that let the stories of the dancers unfold. "We're talking about fast-paced dance steps punctuated by shifts between reality and the inner thoughts of the characters. Working out the timing for all of the moving parts has been a huge piece of our rehearsal process. We also have a great number of sound and light cues. But for all the challenges, or maybe because of them, we are excited for our audiences to see what we've been able to do with this show," Wing says. Choreography for the Randall show is by Deborah Downward, musical direction by Michael Wing, set design by Toni Holly and Nico Hewitt, costume design by Toni Holley and Celetta Katski, lighting is by Kelly Latham and sound by John Wing. The cast includes Courtney Crawford, Payne Smith, Jon Oles, Deborah Downward, Iris Goldie, Jon Shaffer, Ali Hough, Beth Boulay, Austin Kelly, Carrie Ann Eve, Meagin Kirby, Jacob V. Uhlman, Brianna Gowland, Andrea M. Koell, Megan Loveland and Nathan Case. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 28, 2016 @ 9:00 am Updated Jul 29, 2016 at 10:10 AM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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