Actresses Jennifer Roberts and Stephanie Genito talk about the experience of being in a show that hits close to home. Don’t miss A Chorus Line, now playing at Ivoryton Playhouse.
“These characters are based on real-life people. It’s an honor to be able to share their stories and explain to an audience what it’s like to go up in front of a casting director and put yourself out there.” A Chorus Line is the story of 17 dancers competing for spots in the chorus line of a Broadway show. As the audition progresses, the audience learns about each dancer’s past and what led them to the path they’ve chosen.
Winner of 10 Tony Awards® and one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, A Chorus Line is a timeless theater classic that resonates with audiences from all walks of life. Catch it live at Ivoryton Playhouse through September 2.
Photo by Jonathan Steele
The musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line, A Chorus Line examines one day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the “chorus line” of a Broadway musical. Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, A Chorus Line is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest. This singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever.
A Chorus Line is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers– those valiant, over dedicated, underpaid, highly trained performers who back up the star or stars and often make them look even more talented than they are. It is also a celebration of the American Musical itself. A Chorus Line is also about competition, and competition might easily be the common denominator that grabs the audience and holds it by the collective heartstring until the final, ultimate choices are made. For everyone, at one time or another, puts his life on the line. We all compete, no matter what business we’re in, for promotion, for attention, for approval and for love. Specifically, A Chorus Line takes the audience through the final grueling audition run by the director, Zach, for a new Broadway musical.
The show features one powerhouse number after another. Memorable musical numbers include “What I Did for Love, “One,” “I Can Do That,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror,” and “I Hope I Get It.” A brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, A Chorus Line is recognized as a classic.
Awards (1976): 9 Tony Awards for Musical, Book, Score, Choreography, Director, Actress, Featured Actor, Featured Actress, and Lighting Design 4 Drama Desk Awards for Music, Director, Choreographer and Actress 3 Obie Awards for Actress, Actor and Special Citation The Theatre World Special Award The Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Awards (1984): Special Gold Tony Award in honor of becoming Broadway’s longest-running musical
Awards (2007): 2 Tony Awards for Revival and Featured Actress
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Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett
Original Broadway production produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, Producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc.
A Chorus Line is presented by arrangement with TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC. 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022
Schuyler Beeman* (Greg) is thrilled to be back onstage at Ivoryton! Favorite past Ivoryton credits include I Hate Musicals, The Musical (Choreographer), The Producers (Carmen Ghia), Finian’s Rainbow (Woody u/s, Choreographer) and Cabaret (Bobby, Boy Soprano) as well as Playhouse On The Shore (Choreographer/Performer) at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa. Schuyler also is an Animal Handler with William Berloni Theatrical Animals Inc., having worked with a variety of animals in theatre and film including dogs, horses, snakes and sheep. He is currently on a world tour with Isabella Rossellini as her dog handler and puppeteer in her new theatrical conference Link Link Circus. Outside of his work in theatre, Schuyler helps out on sheep farms and enjoys sharing his love of sheep and wool products to all. Schuyler would like to dedicate this show to everyone in the Ivoryton Playhouse family.
Grant Benedict (Roy, Mike U/S) is so happy to be returning to Ivoryton! You may have seen him on stage in RENT, Chicago, and South Pacific. Regional: A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage); We Foxes (Goodspeed); Kiss Me Kate (Summer Theatre of New Canaan); Aladdin, The Little Mermaid (Palace Theatre, NH); Snapshots (Circa ’21); Hairspray (Sharon Playhouse). Film: “A Hero Named Rush;” “Espresso Kills.” Concerts: HSO & Goodspeed Celebrate The Best of Broadway (The Bushnell); Women Composers in Music Theatre (Hartt). BFA Music Theatre, The Hartt School. @grantbenedict GrantBenedict.com
Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr. (Richie) is elated to be back at the Ivoryton Playhouse, where he was last seen in the production of RENT. Starting this fall, Ronnie can be seen performing across the U.S in the Anastasia Broadway 1st National Tour. National Tour: A Chorus Line. NY/Regional: West Side Story (Bernardo), 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Mitch), A Chorus Line (Richie), Kristin Chenoweth, My Love Letter to Broadway (Lunt-Fontanne Theater), Hair to Hamilton (Delacorte Theater). Thanks to God, my family, friends, the Daniel Hoff Agency, casting and this amazing creative team. BFA, The Hartt School ’17. IG: @rsbowman_
Kayla Starr Bryan (Bebe / Cassie U/S) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse Debut! National Tour: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Ensemble). Select Regional Credits: A Chorus Line (Bebe); Legally Blonde (Vivienne; Ensemble/Dance Captain), On The Town (Lonely Town Pas De Deux); Niagara Fallsview Casino Christmas On Ice (Featured Singer). Producer of Actoria Cabaret in New York. Much love to family, friends, Daniel Hoff Agency, and the Ivoryton team for their support!
Andee Buccheri (Tricia) is excited to return to Ivoryton Playhouse! Her favorite theater credits include: Ivoryton Playhouse: Biloxi Blues (Daisy) and Playhouse on Park: A Chorus Line (Val). Andee is a standup comedian who has appeared at Broadway Comedy Club, the Stand, and West Side Comedy Club. Her half-hour TV comedy pilot, In Development, will be making its festival premiere in 2019. Love to Mom, Dad, and the boys.
Cory Candelet (Don) is so excited to be back at Ivoryton this summer. You may remember him as The Mute in Ivoryton’s production of The Fantasticks earlier this season, and surprise, he can talk! He was recently nominated for a CT Critics Circle Award as “Best Featured Actor in a Musical” for his work in The Fantasticks, which critics called “fascinating” and “captivating” (Shoreline Times). Cory also recently toured as Orville Wright in The Wright Brothers Musical traveling throughout the USA teaching kids about determination and perseverance. He has also traveled the world with Up With People (Cast A15) preforming and doing community service in Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, and more. Cory would like to thank his parents for their endless support, his oldest brother Kyle for being there for him, his best friend Jaron and mentor Erin Stanley for all their guidance, and of course, Todd, Jacqui, Mike and the amazing cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication to this show! @Ccandelet
Matthew Carp (Mark) is thrilled to be making his Ivoryton debut! Though he is a loud and proud New Jersey native, Matthew currently studies Musical Theatre at the Hartt School in Hartford, CT. Matthew was recently seen in The Producers (Ensemble) at the Barnstormers in NH. Other favorite credits include Riff (West Side Story), Jordan (Significant Other) and more. Love to his family and friends for their endless support!
James Falcon (Butch) is thrilled to be making his debut at Ivoryton Playhouse. He grew up dancing around the Hartford CT area at Dance 10 Performing Arts Center and Connecticut Concert Ballet. He graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Dance. After Hofstra, he moved back to Hartford and danced with Judy Dworin Performance Project and Moxie Dance Company.
Stephanie Genito* (Cassie) is over the moon to be back at Ivoryton Playhouse. Regional credits: If/Then (Elizabeth), Rent (Maureen), American Idiot (Whatsername), Bonnie & Clyde (Blanche Barrow), A Chorus Line (Sheila), Chicago (Velma Kelly). Stephanie is pursuing Broadway dreams living in New York City as an actor, urban hausfrau, passionate yogi, and fur-baby mom. Gratitude to Jacqui, Todd, the Ivoryton team, and our incomparable cast and crew! Love to my friends and family who travel far and wide to see me perform. @sgenito; www.stephaniegenito.com
Sam Given* (Bobby) is thrilled to return to Ivoryton Playhouse after performing in I Hate Musicals:The Musical (Jerome/Freud) last fall. Other recent credits include The Boys from Syracuse (Musicals Tonight!), Orange Star (Bard College), and an ongoing national tour of Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust). Sam’s alter ego, Millie Grams, performs regularly at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC. Instagram: @samgivensing
Dakota Hoar (Mike) is a rising senior at Pace University where he is studying Commercial Dance under the direction of Rhonda Miller. Favorite credits: A Chorus Line (Paul), West Side Story (Riff), Hairspray (Fender). A native of Lenexa, Kansas, Dakota’s favorite color is green and he sends endless love to the most supportive friends and family. Dakota is thrilled to be joining the line this summer!
Liv Kurtz (Maggie) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! She is a rising junior at Western CT State University where she is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some favorite past roles include Eva Perón (Evita), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors) and Sarah (Company).
Lina Lee* (Connie) – Broadway: Miss Saigon Revival (Broadway Theatre). TV: Gotham (Fox), Tony Awards 2017 (CBS). NYC Dance: Broadway Bares (2017, 2018), Broadway Barkada’s LUMIPAD (Alvin Ailey). NYC Concerts: 54 Below Saigon Reunion (Studio 54), A Paradise Lost (Carnegie Hall), Green Room 42 (NAAP), Broadway at W. Favorite Regional: A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde, Chicago, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady. James Madison University, Theatre and Dance ’15. Love to family, friends, and the Mine Agency.
Joey Lucherini (Paul) is so humbled to be returning to the Ivoryton Playhouse! Since then, select regional credits include: West Side Story (Sioux City Symphony); A Chorus Line (Westchester Broadway); West Side Story/ Saturday Night Fever (Ivoryton Playhouse); Kiss Me, Kate (Summer Theatre of New Canaan); Hello, Dolly! (The Wick). Pace University 2015. Thank you to Todd, Jacqui, and Daniel for this beautiful opportunity. As always, many thanks to my parents, Brennyn, and closest friends for their undying support. Seeking Representation. @joeylucherini
Amanda Lupacchino (Kristine) is thrilled to be returning to The Ivoryton Playhouse this summer in Grease and A Chorus Line! Some of her favorite theater credits include West Side Story, Memphis, Annie (tour), Angelina Ballerina Holiday (NYC and tour) and South Pacific. Unconditional gratitude and admiration to Jacqui, Todd, Mike and The Ivoryton Playhouse team. Shout outs to all of her family, friends and mentors for their continued support! www.amandaleighlupacchino.com Insta: @amanduh_leigh
Natalie Madlon (Diana) is thrilled to be returning to Ivoryton Playhouse after playing Anita in West Side Story last summer. Recent credits include Company (Marta), West Side Story (Anita), Aida, and Chicago. Natalie is an upcoming senior at Montclair State University. Overflowing gratitude to her family, physical and spiritual, for their endless support, and above all her Heavenly father for his love.
Alexa Racioppi (Val) is elated to be returning to The Ivoryton Playhouse this season! Alexa is a recent graduate of Montclair State University having earned a BFA in Dance and a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite credits include: Anything Goes (Reno), West Side Story (Velma/ Ivoryton Playhouse), The Full Monty (Vikki), and Company (Kathy). www.alexaracioppi.com
Jennifer Roberts (Lois / Connie U/S) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! A Deep River native, her recent credits include Band Geeks! (Nicole), The Addams Family (Alice Beineke), and Aida (Amneris) at Valley Regional High School. Jennifer is a current student at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she studies Musical Theater with a dance emphasis. Thanks to her friends, teachers, and family for all their support!
Edward Stanley* (Zach) Stage credits include Duncan in Punchdrunks’s Sleep No More, Mark Antony in Antony & Cleopatra, plus work with Provincetown Rep, SpeakEasy Stage, Alabama Shakespeare, and Broadway Bares with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Television credits include Modern Family, Desperate Housewives, Hot in Cleveland, Ugly Betty, and The Comeback. Training: BFA/Adelphi University, MFA/University of Alabama, and the National Theatre Studio, London. Edward also teaches at The Barrow Group in New York. www.edwardstanley.net
Jared Starkey (Frank / Larry and Mark U/S) is thrilled to be making his Ivoryton debut. New York: Two by Two (Japheth) directed by Martin Charnin, starring Chip Zien and Christine Pedi. Regional: A Chorus Line (Mark), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Spring Awakening, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. Thanks to Julio Agustin and to Neil Semer. Love to Mom, Dad, Brianna, and family. Carson-Adler Agency. @Jaredstarkey (www.JaredStarkey.com)
Cassidy Terracciano (Vicki / Kristine U/S) is thrilled to be making her debut at Ivoryton! She is a recent graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Some of her favorite credits include Ella (Cinderella), Chava (Fiddler on the Roof), and Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank) which earned her a NJ Perry Award nomination. She would like to thank her parents for always supporting her dreams, her four siblings for being her number one fans, and David J V Meenan for being a great mentor and teacher.
Lili Thomas* (Sheila) is overjoyed to be making her Ivoryton debut! Favorite credits: Rent (Mimi), Pippin (Fastrada & Catherine), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), Cabaret (Lulu), Blues In The Night (The Woman), Miss Saigon (Gigi), The King and I (Tuptim), the Young Soprano in the world premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis’ Garden of Light (Disney Millennium Symphonies) at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic. Lili holds a BFA from NYU (Tisch School of the Arts/CAP21) and is a proud member of Actors Equity. Endless gratitude to my family for their support!
Sarah Warrick (Judy) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut!! Sarah had the honor to perform with Kristin Chenoweth in Love Letters to Broadway on Broadway in November 2017. Other credits include Sweetwater at Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, Beauty and the Beast and The Music Man at Theatre By The Sea. Much love to M, D & B. Hartt 2018 Swarrick.com
Max Weinstein (Larry / Bobby U/S) Ivoryton Playhouse: Grease (Sonny), West Side Story (A-Rab) and Saturday Night Fever. Max is a 2018 BFA graduate from the NYU Tisch Drama program where he recently appeared as Claude in Hair. Other select credits include Swing! (featured dancer/soloist) at Tisch and A Chorus Line (Greg) at Playhouse on Park. Immense love and thanks to Todd, Jacqui, and his family. Maxjweinstein.com insta: @maxjweinstein
Carl Zurhorst (Al) is thrilled to be making his Ivoryton Debut! Born in Maine and based in NYC, Carl trained at William Esper Studios and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (UK). Favorite Credits: Damn Yankees (National Tour), General Tilney in Northanger Abbey (Bristol, UK), Frankenstein at the Bristol Festival of Ideas, Panic! The Musical (54 Below, Joe’s Pub), Gypsy, Saturday Night Fever, Gynx, and several fringe productions in New York. He is also a Company Member at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre Group. For more info, visit www.carlzurhorst.com
Director and Choreographer: Todd Underwood
Musical Director: Michael Morris
Stage Manager: Laura Lynne Knowles*
Assistant Stage Manager: Nicole Wiegert*
Scenic Designer: Martin Scott Marchitto
Lighting Designer: Marcus Abbott
Sound Designer: Tate R. Burmeister
Costume Designer: Kate Bunce
* member of Actors Equity
Join us for an opening night reception following the 8:00pm performance on Friday, August 10th. Light refreshments will be served.
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We are thrilled to announce that in August, Vivid Ballet will rebrand to become Ballet Hartford and open an affiliate school, School of Ballet Hartford. Our aim to produce innovative and artistically diverse choreographic works will not change. By producing productions that incorporate classical ballet and new choreographic works, we will continue to provide our audiences with performances that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
This rebranding is the result of having developed national and international recognition and doubling our roster of dancers in only two seasons. We could not have achieved this without generous support from friends like you.
Please join us in celebrating the start of the inaugural season of Ballet Hartford with a private reception at Ivoryton Playhouse. We have an exciting year planned with new and innovative choreography.
The Ballet Hartford Inaugural Season Reception will take place on Thursday August 16th, 2018, 6-10pm at Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT, and will include a cocktail reception, a pre-curtain ballet performance and Ivoryton’s production of the classic dance musical, A Chorus Line. Tickets are $75.00 per person. We are also offering a “Cocktail Reception and Pre-show only” ticket for $25.00 per person (this does not include a ticket to the Ivoryton show).
Tickets can be purchased in advance only. Deadline for all tickets is August 1. Please send checks made out to Vivid Ballet ℅ Sue Hennessey 20 Windward Lane Madison, CT 06443.
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The Lyme Public Library Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that annually provides significant support to the Lyme Public Library. During the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the Foundation contributed $42,000 toward the overall cost of the library. This year the Foundation is excited to announce that another great benefit event has been planned. In conjunction with the Ivoryton Playhouse, we are presenting a performance of “A Chorus Line” on August 30th at 7:30 p.m. A dessert and prosecco reception with a chance to meet some of the cast members follows in what promises to be a fun night. Tickets will be $100 per person. Seats for the performance are in the orchestra section, but as there is a limited number of seats, please act now.
For more information, please follow this link.
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Press Release
July 21, 2018
One Singular Sensation!
A CHORUS LINE
At the Ivoryton Playhouse
Ivoryton – Opening on August 8th at the Ivoryton Playhouse, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singular sensation, A CHORUS LINE! Casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete, and for 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime and what they’ve worked their whole lives for. A CHORUS LINE brilliantly evokes both the glamour and grind of showbiz, and is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line.
The iconic score features such classics as “What I Did for Love,” “One,” “I Hope I Get It” and more! With its celebration and true-to-life depiction of performers and their struggle to achieve greatness on the Broadway stage, A CHORUS LINE has earned unanimous praise as one of the true masterpieces of live theater.
Penned by legendary composer, Marvin Hamlisch, A CHORUS LINE opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway July 25, 1975, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. An unprecedented box office and critical hit, the musical received 12 Tony Award nominations and won nine, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history until surpassed by Cats in 1997, and the longest-running Broadway musical originally produced in the U.S., until surpassed in 2011 by Chicago.
Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, A Chorus Line is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest and even today remains one of the best loved Broadway shows ever.
This production showcases many performers who have made the Playhouse their home over the past few years: Schuyler Beeman*, Ronnie Bowman Jr., Andee Buccheri, Cory Candelet, Stephanie Genito*, Sam Given*, Joey Lucherini, Amanda Lupacchino, Natalie Madlon, Alexa Racioppi, Jared Starkey and Max Weinstein. Performers making their Playhouse debut are Kayla Starr Bryan, Matthew Carp, Dakota Hoar, Liv Kurtz, Lina Lee*, Jennifer Roberts, Edward Stanley*, Cassidy Terracciano, Lili Thomas* and Sarah Warrick.
The production is directed and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood and musical directed by Michael Morris, with set design by Martin Scott Marchitto, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Kate Bunce.
A CHORUS LINE opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse on August 8th and runs through September 2nd, 2018. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Additional matinee performances are on Saturday, August 18th and Saturday, September 1st.
Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Members of the press are welcome at any performance after August 9th, 2018 *denotes member of Actors Equity
Photos by Jonathan Steele
Looking for something to do? Ivoryton Playhouse has been voted best place to see live theatre by readers of The Shoreline Times for three years in a row. Come to Essex and visit our historic, professional theatre – a Connecticut treasure!