 I'm pretty sure A CHORUS LINE is cursed. Or maybe it's just one of those physically demanding shows that can cause injuries, accidents, and unforeseen circumstances. The last time I did A CHORUS LINE, our "Cassie" broke her foot during Music and the Mirror... and continued to do the show AND the run! That's endurance!
In a previous production at Manatee Players, Diana (who stands at the end of the line) fell ill during the show and left stage and collapsed. Because the cast is on stage the entire time, they had to play a game of telephone to notify actors on the other side of the line what had happened. And for the first time in the HISTORY of A CHORUS LINE... Maggie sang "What I Did For Love" and made the line! I've commiserated with other A CHORUS LINE vets and I keep hearing similar stories. During our production, our "Bobby" tore his achilles-tendon during the opening number and was out for the rest of the run and in a cast. We had a few actors leave the show two weeks before we opened for personal reasons. Replacements, injuries, and swings... oh my! It only made our cast bond closer and hold each other more fiercely. I loved living in Sheila's three-inch LaDuca's every night. I'm not sure I've ever had more fun playing on stage before. Sheila has a snarky comment about everyone on the line, and the depth of her character was such a thrill to explore. I had fun playing "Judy Turner" at the Arundel Barn Playhouse in 2014, but "Sheila" was something else. **SPOILER ALERT** I also loved how she didn't make the line in the end. Audience members would come up to me and say how they were rooting for me and how they were so upset I didn't "make it." That is the reason why A CHORUS LINE works so well. You fall in love with each character and their journey. I'm missing the "line," but I'm ready for what's to come next! Hopefully I get to don Sheila's nude leotard again... A CHORUS LINE at MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER || January 7 - 24, 2016
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