‘Chorus Line’ brings large-scale dance musical to Cornell stage
The Cornell College Theatre and Dance Department presents the hit Broadway musical, “A Chorus Line,” Dec. 8–10 in Youngker Hall’s Kimmel Theatre.
Twenty-two students and two community members will bring the show to life on the Cornell campus at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9. Two matinee showings will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10. Tickets can be purchased online.
As one of the longest-running Broadway shows of all time, this 1975 musical is filled with memorable songs such as “One,” “What I Did For Love,” and “I Can Do That,” and features dancers performing ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. “A Chorus Line” follows a group of professional dancers through an audition where the director asks each of them to bare their souls in pursuit of eight coveted roles to dance in a background chorus on Broadway.
Chair of the Theatre Department, Scott Olinger, says this show was chosen to feature dance students and is the first large-scale dance musical performed at Cornell.
“Generations of young performers have been inspired to join the arts after falling in love with this classic show,” Olinger said. “It’s also timely with the recent writer and actor strikes–here we have a group of young artists fighting for the chance to appear and make a living in the background of a Broadway show, despite the low wages. The repeated cry of ‘I Really Need This Job’ in the opening number will be familiar to anyone who’s ever followed their passion and found it conflicting with the realities of the world.”
The show is directed by Kathryn Van Meter who is a choreographer and artist. Her recent work includes serving as the series choreographer for “13 Reasons Why” and the intimacy coordinator for “Echoes,” both on Netflix. Cornell theatre and music professors are part of the creative team.
Nikauly Rios, a first-year student from Puerto Rico who plays the role of Diana Morales, says she is looking forward to opening day.
“What I like most about playing this character is that we share the same culture,” Rios said. “For me, it is a pride to give life to a Puerto Rican character, but what I like the most is that I will wear sneakers during the whole performance so I’ll be very comfortable.”
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students, or youth. Cornell faculty, staff, and students are free with their Cornell ID. The Theatre Department says the show is not suitable for children under the age of 13 due to language and adult themes.
The header photo shows the cast rehearsing a dance number. Photo by Scott Olinger.
