{"id":110172,"date":"2025-09-02T14:38:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T21:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=110172"},"modified":"2025-09-03T15:20:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T22:20:37","slug":"6th-street-playhouses-a-chorus-line-bridges-gap-between-1975-and-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/6th-street-playhouses-a-chorus-line-bridges-gap-between-1975-and-today\/","title":{"rendered":"6th Street Playhouse\u2019s \u2018A Chorus Line\u2019 bridges gap between 1975 and today"},"content":{"rendered":"
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6th Street Playhouse\u2019s \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d continues through Sept. 28 in Santa Rosa. (Photo by Eric Chazankin via Bay City News)<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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By Woody Weingarten, Bay City News<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you think the half-century-old dramatic musical \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d might be a little stale by now, think again.<\/p>\n

The current 6th Street Playhouse production proves that the show, which goes behind the scenes at intense auditions for a musical, is as effervescent, touching and funny today as it was in its 1975 debut and record-breaking 8,137 Broadway performances that followed.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: The Santa Rosa show, onstage through Sept. 28, is good entertainment for geezers and Gen-Zers alike.<\/p>\n

Yes, parts of the storyline don\u2019t have the same impact now, including some \u201cbig reveal\u201d moments by characters whose backstories involve coming out of the closet or suffering abuse as a child.<\/p>\n

But the classic tunes by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban (the songs ar bouncy and\/or heartbreaking) could fit the voices of Audra McDonald or Taylor Swift.<\/p>\n

The large multi-ethnic cast of performers with varied body types does better than OK with vigorous unison singing and synchronized dancing. Choreographer Hannah Woolfenden nicely coordinates the diverse group.<\/p>\n

Director Lorenzo Alviso makes sure the timing is near-perfect, emulating original triple-threat director Michael Bennett, who conceived and choreographed the Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Obie-winning show.<\/p>\n

The two-hour show begins with the company messing up requisite dance steps for laughs and voicing anxiety about making the cut in \u201cI Hope I Get It.\u201d It\u2019s quickly followed by \u201cI Can Do That,\u201d a tricky novelty number by Mike (Diego Rodriguez), who displays great dancing chops.<\/p>\n

Tracy Hinman\u2019s eye-catching costumes and Noah Hewitt\u2019s mood-changing lighting choices are notable. The seven-piece band in the pit under the direction of Ginger Beavers successfully captures the characters\u2019 moods, only occasionally playing a bit loud, muffling a vocal or two.<\/p>\n

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Monique Borses plays Cassie in 6th Street Playhouse\u2019s \u201cA Chorus Line.\u201d (Photo by Eric Chazankin via Bay City News)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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Special solos include “The Music and the Mirror” sung poignantly by Cassie (Monique Barses); “What I Did for Love” and “Nothing” by Diana (Reilly Milton); and the angst-filled “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three by Val (Anna Vorperian).<\/p>\n

Kudos also go to Sashas Holton, an understudy, as Sheila.<\/p>\n

Tajai Jaxon Britten is consistent as Zach, the troubled director who must select four males and four females, from twice that number who are trying out.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s a flaw in the production, it\u2019s that it\u2019s difficult to keep track of the numerous characters, a carryover from the original book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante.<\/p>\n

Imperfections, however, shouldn\u2019t keep patrons from thoroughly enjoying this classic show. It has the trademark tall, movable mirrors at the back of the stage; slapstick bits like the wannabe who relates his childhood difficulties hiding frequent erections; and, of course, the delightful tap, ballet and jazzy dancing that\u00a0characterize every chorus line.
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\n6th Street Playhouse\u2019s \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d runs through Sept. 28 at 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. Tickets are $33 to $55.95 at\u00a06thstreetplayhouse.com.<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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This article was first published on<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span>LocalNewsMatters.org<\/a>, a nonprofit site supported by Bay City News Foundation http:\/\/www.baycitynews.org\/contact\/<\/a>.\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sherwood \u201cWoody\u201d Weingarten, a longtime voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle and the author of four books, can be contacted by email at\u00a0voodee@sbcglobal.net<\/a> or on his websites, <\/b><\/em>https:\/\/woodyweingarten.com<\/a><\/b><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0https:\/\/vitalitypress.com<\/a>.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                By Woody Weingarten, Bay City News If you think the half-century-old dramatic musical \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d might be a little stale by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":3.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[837,26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-110172","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-joe-cillo","7":"category-woody-weingarten"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"