A CHORUS LINE Comes to Spencer Theater, 11/20 & 21

In a Broadway revival dedicated to the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, "A Chorus Line" is at once a period piece and a brilliantly timeless work of musical theater about talented people who are striving to achieve their dreams - or at least to make a living.

Set in the mid-1970s (the dazzling show first appeared on stage in 1975), the tale takes place before a long, thin, white line that stretches across a theater stage. On this bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance.

"A Chorus Line" tells of the achingly poignant ambitions of these young professionals to land a job in the show, and it is a marvelous metaphor for all human aspiration.

Tightly interwoven with the text is Mr. Hamlisch's rhythmic, gleaming score, which mixes a range of mid-20th-century pop, jazz, classical and Broadway sounds to reflect these individuals' musical worlds. The lyrics, by Edward Kleban, are very smart, yet often disarmingly seem like everyday language. Driven by the rush of Mr. Bennett's dynamic choreography, the mesh of story and songs is wonderfully seamless, especially in extended montages like the frenetic opening, "I Hope I Get It," and "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love," a complex salute to the million and one pains of growing up.

Instantly recognized as a classic, the show is a brilliantly complex fusion of dance, song and compelling drama that has won nine Tony Awards, including "Best Musical" and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, "A Chorus Line" is Broadway's singular sensation with a slew of unforgettable musical numbers, including "At the Ballet," "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three," "The Music and the Mirror," "What I Did for Love," and "One (Singular Sensation)" in addition to the previously mention tunes.

Don't miss out on this lavish production, which features a cast of 30 singers, dancers and orchestra musicians in a celebratory cross-country revival. Show times are at 7 p.m. tonight, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. Excellent seats are available for $59 & $56. Call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets. A pre-performance Glazed Ham Buffet ($20) will also be available both nights at 5 p.m.

Spencer Theater is a world-class performance hall located in the Sacramento Mountain settlement of Alto, about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso. Unique architecture, outstanding acoustics, intimate seating, and excellent artistry are the Spencer's celebrated features. The elegant, award-winning hall, which first raised its curtains in 1997, seats 514, with no seats farther than 67 feet from the 4,770 square-foot stage. The Spencer also has a 964 square-foot outdoor stage that can seat 1,500. From its Spanish mica-flecked limestone face to the crystal lobby, the building itself is a work of art. Free public tours are offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year.

More Articles by This Author...