A Chorus Line - High School Edition
at George Mason High School

Reviewed on November 22, 2019

Isa Paley
Wakefield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"God, I hope I get it, I hope I get it" is the anxious, jittery mantra that aspiring performers are all too familiar with. Well, for George Mason High School, there's no need to worry. They got it! Last night's dynamic performance of "A Chorus Line: High School Edition" was lively, bright, and above all, a "singular sensation."

An intimate portrait into the lives of Broadway's unsung heroes, "A Chorus Line" is a story about ordinary people, told in an extraordinary fashion. We follow the Broadway chorus audition process and learn the dancers' backstories and empathize with what has led them to this moment. Recipient of nine Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, "A Chorus Line" has resonated with legions of performers since it's debut in 1975. With a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante and music by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban, the show has inspired several revivals, a film, and millions of aspiring stars hoping for their big break.

The show starts with a "step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch" from the iconic opener, "I Hope I Get It." The ensemble performers light up the stage with their clean choreography and do a superb job of capturing the commotion of a busy audition without anyone getting lost in the buzz.

After the first round of cuts, the director is left with 17 hopefuls fighting to get a chance to dance on the great white way. From these 17, the backbone of "A Chorus Line" is formed. Not all are the clichéd divas you might expect from show biz. Instead, the disparate group of hopefuls is made up of characters who feel truly authentic. There is an incredible dynamic among the actors, each supporting the others while they share their stories.

"A Chorus Line" is an ensemble piece above all else yet there are several stand out performances. As Bobby, Matthew Bloss-Baum performs the monologue about his upbringing with perfect timing and hilarious delivery. Also, Judy's (played by Ciara Curtin) tale of childhood woe had the audience in stitches. Husband and wife duo, Al and Kristine (Jasper Litton and Amalia Alexander) shined with their duet, "Sing!," which recounted Kristine's struggle with her singing voice and Al's oh-so-gracious help.

While comedy is a huge part of "A Chorus Line," the show also delivered poignant and raw emotional moments. In perhaps the most moving moment of the show, Paul (Drew Miller) tells the story of his parents' discovery of his career as a drag queen, leaving him (and the entire audience) in tears. Also notable was Catherine Sanchez Crowe as Diana Morales, a friend of Paul, who sings "What I Did For Love" as an ode to the devotion an actor feels to her craft.

In an unbelievable case of real-life imitating art, Krissy Hornbuckle, originally cast as Lori, learned at 10 am on performance day that she would instead portray the role of Cassie. Hornbuckle was electric, performing as if she had originated this role. Her solo "The Music and the Mirror" was spectacular and Hornbuckle's dancing was a major standout.

"A Chorus Line" calls for a bare-bones set to represent a typical audition room. Dan Kramer, Callie Russell, Nina Rifkin, and Ana Karin Iturralde captured this with a beautifully executed dance mirror that aided every number and framed the set while the costumes (Elizabeth Hoofnagle, Savvy Smith, Gayle Lobaton) were authentic audition attire.

Giving us a glimpse into the perfectly imperfect world of show business, George Mason's remarkable production of "A Chorus Line" was powerful, poignant, and teaches us that behind every head shot is a story with impact!

Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Paul's into drag. Don has a family to provide for. Kristine can't sing. Greg's gay. Val's not pretty enough. Diana feels nothing. Cassie can't get a job. The complex and usually troubling backstories of those in show biz are tastefully explored in George Mason High School's glamorous rendition of A Chorus Line: High School Edition, complete with glittery costumes and flashy dancing.

A Chorus Line, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, follows a variety of dancers with diverse backgrounds as they audition to be a part of the chorus line. Zach, the director, not only has the auditionees perform a wide range of dances, including tap and ballet, but takes an interest in their personal lives. The many songs in the musical dig deeper into the characters and reveal the often heartbreaking nature of their rough past, giving an honest rendition of the not always glamorous lifestyle of show business. The show opened off-Broadway in 1975 at The Public Theater, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history by 1983.

George Mason's performance of A Chorus Line was anchored by their notably talented dancers, who skillfully executed an assortment of dances. The choreography was especially well-rehearsed and clean. Many ensemble members also demonstrated amazing feats of flexibility like flips, cartwheels, and leaps.

Krissy Hornbuckle's Cassie was a strikingly skilled dancer, showcasing her astounding talent during "The Music and the Mirror." It was incredible how well she executed the dances and admirably performed the songs, having only learned that she'd be taking on the role that morning. Zach was wonderfully brought to life by Avery Collins who consistently acted, keeping up his facial expressions even when he was in the audience. Collins rose to the challenge of building his character despite his being off-stage most of the show, relying on his voice to express his emotions. Hornbuckle and Collins both had great passion and were truly committed during their tense argument, adding to their strong chemistry.

Catherine Sanchez Crowe's fantastic portrayal of Diana featured strong singing and terrific dancing. Sanchez Crowe brought a superb depth to her character, using varied acting techniques to engage the audience. Val, played by Pauline Bonner, was a confident dancer and good singer, captivating the audience during her monologue. Bonner truly shined in the song "Dance: 10; Looks: 3" with brilliant movements and expressive singing. Another standout performer was Ciara Curtin, who played Judy. Curtin provided excellent comedic relief and developed a lovable personality.

The set and special effects departments collaborated to create the illusion of a dance studio, making a wall of mirrors. Dan Kramer, Callie Russell, Nina Rifkin, and Ana Karin Iturralde used a special material that required heat shrinking to make it smooth, allowing for a mirror-like appearance. The mirrors were dulled so as to not blind the audience, showing an immense attention to detail. Elizabeth Hoofnagle and her costume crew constructed an artful array of colorful athletic costumes. They masterfully executed a challenging quick change involving the whole cast putting on flashy gold costumes right before the finale.

Requiring highly skilled dancers and bold singers, George Mason's production of A Chorus Line valiantly rose to the challenge, putting on a fabulous, praiseworthy performance.

Ceili Canning
Wakefield High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

From high energy dance numbers and excitement surrounding auditions, to the reminders of rejection and heartbreak; A Chorus Line has it all! George Mason High School's production of A Chorus Line: High School Edition perfectly captured the stories of seventeen dancers striving to get a spot in the chorus line.

A Chorus Line is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante. The production closely follows the story of seventeen dancers auditioning to be in the chorus line. In its original run on Broadway in 1975, the show received twelve Tony Award nominations, and won nine including Best Musical. The production also won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A Chorus Line held the record for the longest running Broadway show until being unseated by Cats in 1997.

Each number in this production seemed to be more difficult than the last, with challenging choreography and extreme synchrony needed. The entire ensemble that made up this production took on these dances with ease, and their immense preparation was evident. In particular, Krissy Hornbuckle (Cassie), who was notified she would be going on as the understudy the morning of the show, drew eyes as she expertly took the stage in "The Music and the Mirror." Hornbuckle's every move was backed with with great intensity and emotion, paired excellently with the longing clearly in her vocals throughout the song. Another standout dancer in the production was Jack Lindly (Mike). Lindly brought a youthful energy to the stage as he sang "I Can Do That." His exquisite toe touches and turns perfectly showcased the joy his character had for dancing.

A vocal standout in the production was Emily Ives (Maggie). Ives had featured vocal moments in many songs, including "At the Ballet." Her intonation and vocal control was stellar and she brought a lot of strength to each song. Ives continuously held difficult harmonies in each song, seemingly doing so with ease.

Avery Collins (Zach) kept the show going as his commanding voice rang from the back of the theatre. Although for the majority of the production, Collins was not on stage and was instead stationed in the back of the auditorium, he was always in character if the audience were to look back at him. This takes extreme dedication and professionalism as he maintained his character through the entire production. Another actor who drew attention was Drew Miller (Paul) who delivered a heart-wrenching monologue of how he got into the business. Miller's monologue seemed to remove all the air from the theatre as he masterfully delivered his monologue filled with raw emotion and audible tears.

The iconic minimal set used for A Chorus Line consists of a set of mirrors lining the back of the stage. Dan Kramer, Callie Russell, Nina Rifkin, and Ana Karin Iturralde brilliantly dulled out the mirrors so the light would not be blindingly reflective for the audience, but managed to still be reflective enough to serve its purpose as a mirror. This design allowed the audience to be fully transported to the audition room.

The costumes designed by Elizabeth Hoofnagle, Savvy Smith, and Gayle Lobaton did an excellent job of enhancing each character's individual personality, while also making them realistic to what you may see dancers wearing in an audition.

George Mason High School's production of A Chorus Line excellently brought each of the seventeen individual stories to life, reminding us of the heartbreak and excitement that comes with auditioning.

Mia Bridges
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

One smile and suddenly nobody else will do – you know you'll never be lonely with the company of A Chorus Line-High School edition at George Mason High School! A fun, realistic, and high-energy show, George Mason's production of A Chorus Line: High School Edition is a thrilling combination of song, dance, and stellar actors and technicians!

A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante. It is an iconic dance musical originally choreographed and directed by Michael Bennett, and it was the longest running show on Broadway until Cats surpassed it in 1997. The show tells the stories of seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning to be in the chorus of a director's new show. When the director, Zach, asks them to tell him about about themselves, each dancer's individual character shares his past, and motivations are revealed.

Leading the show is the Chorus Line itself, also known as the Line of Seventeen. The seventeen actors in this ensemble each portrayed characters that both contrasted and complimented fellow ensemble members. For instance, Rose Tombul as the sassy Sheila had the audience roaring with laughter at her brash jokes and innuendos, while Drew Miller as Paul thoroughly pulled on the audience's heartstrings with his heartfelt monologue about his sexuality, first job, and discovery of what being a man means to him. Additionally, Pauline Bonner had fantastic physicality as Val and was consistently in character (even when she wasn't in the spotlight), and Ciara Curtin's energy and presence made her performance as the scatterbrained Judy stand out. Altogether, the amazing Line of Seventeen set the tone of the show with their high energy and fun dynamics.

Cassie, played by Krissy Hornbuckle, is one of the most notable members of the Line of Seventeen due to her past as a soloist and as Zach's partner. Hornbuckle portrayed Cassie incredibly – especially considering that she learned the role in fewer than ten hours. Unfortunately, Kaia Jefferson, who originally played Cassie, was injured at the previous night's performance and was unable to dance; however, after learning she would be playing Cassie at 10 A.M. the day of the performance, Hornbuckle truly stepped up to the challenge. Her dance skills were incredible, and her solo "The Music and the Mirror" was stellar. Acting against Hornbuckle, Avery Collins as Zach accomplished a difficult feat by creating a realistic, complex, and interesting character using only his voice. Even though he spent most of the show in the back of the house, his dynamic with Hornbuckle illustrated to the audience what the two's past relationship was like.

Supporting A Chorus Line's incredible actors were shows-topping technical elements that took the show from good to great. The lighting, designed by Sam Klemic, did a fantastic job of emphasizing different actors during their different solos. For example, the spotlights followed each actor perfectly, and the stage lights were expertly hung so that whenever an actor needed to be in focus, a light would change color above each of them creating a gorgeous pseudo-spotlight. Additionally, the huge mirror that lined the back of the stage was beautifully constructed, creating the illusion of a dance studio while not blinding the audience when the lights reflected off it.

With exciting dance numbers, stunning technical elements, and a cast of funny, complex, and genuine characters, George Mason High School's production of A Chorus Line really was a singular sensation!