ONE SINGULAR SENSATION- A CHORUS LINE

Photo: The Cast of THE CHORUS LINE

A CHORUS LINE is back! This 2007 Tony nominated revival opens the 2008-09 KeyBank Broadway Series October 14-26, 2008 at PlayhouseSquare. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and ten Tony awards including Best Musical of 1976 and a Gold Tony in 1984 for being the longest-running musical, A CHORUS LINE is uncommonly rare, very unique, peripatetic, poetic, and chic.

Jeffrey Lyons of WNBC TV calls A CHORUS LINE "An American Masterpiece. A show for the ages."

SYNOPSIS

A stage fills with dancers auditioning for a new Broadway show. As they leap, kick and turn, you hear their thoughts, hopes and worries about getting the job. When some dancers get eliminated, the director asks the remaining 17 to put not only their talent, but their past, present and dreams of the future on the line. The dancers take you on a journey from childhood to the end of their careers where you can see your own life reflected on the line.

No wonder New York Times critic Ben Brantley declared A CHORUS LINE “heaven on Broadway, one of those hallowed occasions in theater when anxious expectation is transformed in a heartbeat into sweet consummation.”

If you’ve ever had a dream, give A CHORUS LINE your attention because it is “one of a kind, one thrilling combination, and second best to none.”

Les Spindle of Backstage is right to proclaim, “this glittering production is a winner at every turn. Kiss yesterday hello.”

DID YOU KNOW…

That 77-year old Bessie Nelson of Cranford, New Jersey is the “go-to-beader of Broadway?” She has added glitz to clothes for 68 years, putting the flash in Broadway costumes for more than 30 shows.

Ms. Nelson has beaded costumes not only for the National Tour of A CHORUS LINE, but also for The Producers, Wicked, Dreamgirls, Michael Jackson’s glove, Liberace’s cape, and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s inaugural ball gown just to name a few.

Beads have to be sewn onto a costume by hand, one bead at a time. Some costumes have thousands of beads sewn in intricate designs and patterns. Ms. Nelson beaded 31 gold costumes for A CHORUS LINE’s National Tour.

In March, 2008, she received the Irene Sharaff Award from the Theater Development Fund for her work as an artisan.

Click here to read the full New York Times article and see some photos of her work.

Bessie Nelson is “one singular sensation!”