Arts & Entertainment
A Chorus Line at the Skokie Theatre
I attended the awesome Opening Night of A Chorus Line performed by MadKap Productions at the Skokie Theatre. It was fantastic.
Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending Opening Night of A Chorus Line at the Skokie Theatre. It is the latest performance in the MadKap Productions 2023-24 Play Series.
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical featuring music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Set in a Broadway theater, it focuses on dancers auditioning for chorus line positions. It won nine Tony Awards and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances and remains the seventh-longest running Broadway show ever. I loved the movie starring Michael Douglas and Terrance Mann released in 1985, but I have never seen the production live.
MadKap Productions has been the resident production company company for the Skokie Theatre since February 2014. The large cast numbers near 20, with all being featured at some point. The performers belted out the songs with energy. When the chorus line hopefuls were directed to speak about themselves, each took a unique route, from serious to nervous to over-the-top. No matter the style, each conveyed such emotion to the audience.
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Special praise goes to Sean M. G. Caron, Sarah Sapperstein and Luis Del Valle for extra deep emotional scenes. Occurring near the end of the production, these scenes were a bit longer and more personal than the other scenes. I couldn't help but be drawn into their feelings.
It was a fantastic presentation, one I am recommending to all in the area. By the time the cast came together for the final number, attendees had been taken on a roller-coaster of feelings. When the first few notes of “One” hit, the crowd was already cheering in praise. As the song hit its crescendo, the roar from the crowd almost drowned out the performers. It was an amazing end.
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A Chorus Line runs through October 8. There are three more productions in the MadKap Productions 2023–24 play series. Next up is The Tale of the Alergist’s Wife (October 27-November 19). Coming early next year are On Golden Pond (February 2-27) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (March 29-April 21).
