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A Chorus Line by Pixler Productions Living the life of a dancer on Broadway isn’t all glitz and glamour, with their offstage life often filled with rejection, unemployment, and eeking out a meager existence. But love of the art and an inner call to the stage keep the dreamers dancing anyway. This Tony Award-winning musical about the often faceless chorus dancers gives them much more than a face as they are interviewed by a director during a demanding audition process, giving us glimpses into their lives and experiences that are filled with comedy, drama and, of course, music! Director Robin L. Kidd and Jared Pixler, the young creator and producer of Pixler Productions, has brought together a terrific group of dancers (choreographed by Mary White) who have somehow overcome many last-minute cast changes to still put on a surprisingly strong production in the beautifully refurnished Star Theatre in Oceanside. Not that they can just dance! Some of the cast members turn in some great singing and acting performances as well while they try to audition for their roles in the Broadway show. As Diana, Emily Amezcua is taunted by her obnoxious acting teacher (Henry Metcalf) and fellow students in a highly amusing Nothing scene in which Diana has to try to get into the soul of, among other things, an ice cream cone. Other humorous numbers include Anne Metcalf describing how she improved her “looks” rating with a couple little surgical alterations in Dance Ten, Looks Three, and the young married couple Al (Alex Stauffer) with his severely vocally challenged wife Kristine (Katherine O’Keefe) in Sing. Lydia Lesar gives both a fantastic singing and dancing routine in The Music and the Mirror. Jared Pixler does a great job as Lydia's former lover and current prospective employer as the director Zach, despite just taking on the role a couple weeks before the opening. As Paul, Brandon Vara shines with the most challenging monologue as he tells the painful story of how his parents abandoned him after seeing him onstage for the first time and realizing that their son was gay. The role is often overdone to the point of melodrama, but Brandon’s delivery is realistic, sincere, and very effective. He also has a great voice that joins with Emily Amezcua to start off the beautiful ballad What I Did For Love before the rest of the cast joins in, followed by the show’s signature number One – a singular sensation that gives us a glimpse into how that Broadway show will look. It looks great!Performance runs through August 17, 2003.
~ Cast ~
Diana: Emily Amezcua Connie: Amanda Benavides Laura: Marcina Checkletts Sheila: Carolyn Davidson Maggie: Robyn Dhalson Mike: Jason Dino Tricia: Katie Forman Lois: Anissa Hanson Bobby: Michael Hoover Vicki: Courtney Howe Judy: Holly Kidd Cassie: Lydia Lesar Val: Anne Metcalf Butch: Henry Metcalf Kristine: Katherine O'Keefe Zach: Jared Pixler Don: Justin Pixler Bebe: Jessica Purdin Greg: Michael Robert Al: Alex Stauffer Paul: Brandon Vara Mark: Rodney Williamson Director: Robin L. Kidd Lighting Design: Lacey Phelps Set Design: Jared Pixler Choreographer: Mary White |