Diamond Head Theatre July 16 – Aug 8, 2021 Vol 106. No. 7 Diamond Head Theatre Presents Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by MICHAEL BENNETT Book by JAMES KIRKWOOD and NICHOLAS DANTE Music by MARVIN HAMLISCH Lyrics by EDWARD KLEBAN Co Choregraphed by BOB AVIAN Musical Direction by Directed & Choreographed by Set & Lighting Design by MELINA LILLIOS GREG ZANE DAWN OSHIMA Costume Design by Props Design by Sound Design by KAREN G. WOLFE JOHN CUMMINGS III JUSTIN CHUN Co-Production Stage Managers CELIA CHUN & TOM BINGHAM Executive Director Artistic Director DEENA DRAY JOHN RAMPAGE Platinum Sponsors: CRUM & FORSTER FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK JOHN YOUNG FOUNDATION TOYOTA HAWAII Gold Sponsors: AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK C.S. WO & SONS CADES SCHUTTE CITY MILL HAWAII PACIFIC HEALTH FRANCES HISASHIMA MARIKO & JOE LYONS DAVID & NOREEN MULLIKEN CAROLYN BERRY WILSON WAKABAYASHI & BINGHAM FAMILIES A CHORUS LINE is presented by arrangement with Concord eatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. concordtheatricals.com Finale Costumes Provided by COSTUME WORLD THEATRICAL, Deerfi eld Beach, FL. www.costumeworld.com Diamond Head Th eatre • 520 Makapuu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 Phone (808) 733-0277 • Box Offi ce (808) 733-0274 • www.diamondheadtheatre.com Photographing, videotaping, or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Please turn o all cellular phones. Diamond Head Theatre Cast List Presents Zach Norm Dabalos Larry Levi K. Oliveira Don Chase Bridgman Maggie Marisa Noelle Mike Luke Ellis Connie Kayla Uchida Greg Gabriel Ryan-Kern Cassie Kira Mahealani Stone Sheila Lauren Teruya Bobby Marcus Stanger Bebe Miya Heulitt Judy Seanalei Nishimura Richie David Robinson Al Jared Paakaula Kristine Alexandria Zinov Val Jody Bill Mark Michael Hicks Paul Dwayne Sakaguchi Diana Emily North Lois Ke‘ala O'Connell Vicki Korynn Grenert Tricia Ayzhia Tadeo Frank Brandon Yim Roy Jackson Saunders A CHORUS LINE is performed without an intermission. A CHORUS LINE is presented by arrangement with Concord eatricals on UNDERSTUDIES never substitute for listed players unless a specific behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. concordtheatricals.com announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance. Bobby- Jackson Saunders; Sheila, Cassie- Alexandria Zinov, Keala O’Connell (Cassie stand in); Judy, Diana- Ayzhia Tadeo; Mike, Al, Mark- Brandon Yim; Diamond Head Th eatre • 520 Makapuu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 Val- Korynn Grenert (stand in); Paul, Richie- Jared Paakaula Phone (808) 733-0277 • Box Offi ce (808) 733-0274 • www.diamondheadtheatre.com Photographing, videotaping, or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Please turn o all cellular phones. Scenes Director’s Notes AN AUDITION Time: 1975 Place: A Broadway eatre Musical Numbers I Hope I Get It Company I Can Do at Mike ...And... Richie, Bobby, Val, Judy At e Ballet Sheila, Bebe, Maggie Sing! Kristine, Al Hello Twelve, Hello irteen, Hello Love Company Nothing Diana Dance: Ten, Looks: ree Val e Music and the Mirror Cassie One Company e Tap Combination Company What I Did For Love Diana and Company One: Reprise Company e characters portrayed in A Chorus Line are, for the most part, based upon the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers. is show is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step… anywhere. Director’s Notes In the winter of 1974, with the New York City economy in a fiscal crisis and many Broadway shows closing at an alarming rate, a group of Broadway veteran dancers (aff ectionally called “gypsies” because they went from show to show) met as a group to talk about their grievances regarding the lack of work and their passion for their art. Looking to create work for themselves, the dancers invited a prominent Broadway Greg Zane director and choreographer, Michael Bennett, who had Musical Numbers the foresight to bring a tape recorder to the “rap” sessions. Th e recorded nine-hour session of stories dealing with the lives of dancers would become A Chorus Line. Aft er numerous workshops, the show opened Off -Broadway in 1975, and would soon aft er transfer to Broadway, receive nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize For Drama. A Chorus Line became a phenomenon spawning National and International Tours as well as London and Australian companies. It also became the longest run- ning Broadway show in 1983 and would run for 6,137 performances before closing in 1990. A Broadway revival was mounted in 2006. Th ere was also a 1985 movie (which we will sum up in one word: ugh.) At first glance, A Chorus Line is a glimpse into the events that have shaped dancers’ lives, the sacrifice, and the decisions they made to become dancers. Focusing on danc- ers auditioning for a Broadway show, the dancers reveal their personalities through stories - some verbatim from the recorded “rap” sessions and some an amalgamation of those stories. Here was a ground-breaking musical that addressed what no Broad- way musical had prior: black stories, gay stories, Asian-American stories, and Latino stories though text, song, and dance. While shift ing focus from character to character, this concept musical also shift s from childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood and eventually to the end of a career. Looking beneath the surface layer of gypsy hoofers desperate to dance, audiences found resonating universal themes. Th e dance audition becomes a metaphor for life. Everyone has a dream. Everyone has interviewed and applied for a job — has put themselves “on the line.” Desperation, anxiety, joy, love, seeking approval, the fear of failure, regret, being ostracized, prejudice, and sacrifice are all common human experiences. Th e last time A Chorus Line was performed at Diamond Head Th eatre was 36 years ago and I am grateful to have played Paul in that amazing company. Th at production was a milestone in the theatre’s history as DHT was one of the first theatre companies to have permission to present the show while the Broadway production was still running. Th ose 1985 audiences, through laughter and tears, experienced a musical that is a meditation on real life and real people. It is my hope this 2021 A Chorus Line will not only bring you that experience, but also bring you joy and give you a deeper understanding as to why this beloved show has meant so much to so many people. Enjoy! Greg Zane The Cast JODY BILL (Val) is LUKE ELLIS (Mike) is thrilled to be back at a rising sophomore at DHT with this incredible Cornell University. He's cast! She was last seen ecstatic to return to the onstage in productions DHT stage, most recently at Feinstein’s/54 Below appearing as "Elmer" and Th e West End in Newsies (DHT). Lounge (NYC). Credits: Other credits at DHT DHT - Kinky Boots “Nicola”, Beehive, include Holiday Inn, 42nd Street, Mary Something Rotten, Nice Work if You Poppins, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Can Get It “Jeannie”, Evita “Eva Perón”, possibly his favorite role ever as "Michael Legally Blonde “Elle”, 9 to 5 “Judy”, Hobbs" in Elf. He thanks Jedi Master Greg Sister Act “Mary Robert”, Shrek “Gingy”; for once again taking a chance on a young MVT – Avenue Q “ K a t e”, Lysistrata Jones Padawan. He also thanks his supportive “Lysistrata”; ACT – A Chorus Line “ Va l ”. family, friends, and all the incredible DHT Mahalo to Greg, Melina, Celia, John, the s t a ff . cast, and crew. Love to Aiko and Lindsay. KORYNN GRENERT CHASE BRIDGMAN (Vicki) is thrilled to be (Don) Chase is happy performing in her fi rst show since "you-know- to be back on the DHT what" disrupted our stage aft er performing lives! Th e last production as "Friedrich Von Korynn performed in Trapp” in e Sound of at DHT was Something Music in 2010! Chase Rotten! in 2019, and has performed in over 15 she is ecstatic to be brushing up on her community theatre productions, since fi rst dancing, singing, and acting skills! Korynn appearing in ACT’s 2007 Joseph and the loves socializing with others and is stoked Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. He to be a part of such an amazing cast. wants to thank God for his many blessings, "Th ank you to my family for supporting his family for their unwavering support, me in so many ways!" and you, the audience, for continuing to support the arts. MIYA HEULITT (Bebe) is so excited to be back DR. NORM DABALOS at DHT in one of her (Zach) returns to Hawaii favorite shows! She is theater aft er being on the a rising junior at Th e mainland for almost 30 Hartt School pursuing a years. His last show in BFA in Musical Th eatre. Hawaii was as "Riff " in Recent credits include West Side Story (CPAC) “Little Sally” in Urinetown (Hartt School), in 1990. His last show at “Deb” in Ordinary Days (Punahou, DHT was Hello, Dolly! in 1989. And he Self-Directed) and Holiday Inn (DHT). also had the honor of being in the 1988 She wants to thank Mr. Greg and Melina production of A Chorus Line directed by for the opportunity, and her parents for Tommy Aguilar. He was also a founding the constant love and support. board member for the I'm A Bright Kid Foundation. He would like to thank his girlfriend, Tricia Marciel for being a true inspiration in theater and in life. The Cast cont’d MICHAEL HICKS EMILY NORTH (Mark) is thrilled to (Diana) is ecstatic to make a return to the do her fi rst show with stage alongside such a DHT aft er 10 years away talented cast and creative from theatre. Growing team! Previous stage up in Roswell, NM, she credits include, “Prince enjoyed roles including Chulalongkorn” in e “Audrey” in Little Shop King and I (IAMBK), “Billy Understudy/ of Horrors, “Marty” in Grease, and ensemble” in Billy Elliot (DHT), Matilda “Miss Scarlet” in Clue.