A CHORUS LINE

A CHORUS LINE – This show closed the day after I saw it. Too late to write a review to encourage readers to run out and get a ticket. So rather than a review, this is a love letter to Phamaly: 

Dear Friends in Phamaly: 

How extraordinarily proud you must be of your magnificent accomplishment in producing and performing CHORUS LINE.  Audience reaction and media coverage have reinforced your personal recognition of what a truly incredible event you have pulled off.  I’m only sorry that I couldn’t have gotten to see it earlier in the run so I could have returned a second time. 

The audience got a tiny glimpse of what the whole evening was going to be like with the incredible staging of the opening number which highlighted every player.  Jari Majewski Price as the inventive choreographer managed to turn the spotlight on everyone for one brief shining moment.  Casey Myers’ unbelievable tap dance from a wheelchair in “I Can Do That” blew off the ceiling and startled everyone to tears. Those who were expecting a traditional “At the Ballet” were amazed by the work of Teri Westerman Wagner who shaped the dance to fit Laurice Quinn as Sheila, Lily Blessing as Bebe, and Katelyn Kendrick as Maggie into a beautiful homage to the children who persevere and the teachers who inspire.  Juliet Villa’s voice warmed the night as she felt “Nothing” and expressed “What (She) Did for Love.”  Her voice is like pink velvet, quietly taking over the room, leaving no emotion unturned.  Sofie Henry and Phillip Lomeo had everyone laughing as they demonstrated how Sofie could not “Sing.”  Annie Sand was a saucy Val who managed to change the numbers in “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three.”  As the Dance Captain Larry, River Hetzel did their job with a steadfast calmness, yet with a tenderness toward the dancers and an unwavering respect for their boss. Trenton Schindele was the whip-cracking Zach, the man tasked to pick the final eight dancers. The story of Cassie was well told and beautifully danced by Jessica Swanson.  But the world stopped turning for the ten minutes of the final number when the whole company donned spangles and created a giant X formation for “One.” 

The whole evening was transcendental.  An incredibly moving experience.  But I should not have been surprised.  Phamaly has been amazing and moving people for a long time now.  I went to sleep last night thinking about all the beautiful memories I have from your shows.  I’ll never forget the spectacular Lucy as Winifred in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.  I worked backstage for that show and remember her being laid low by muscle spasms an hour before the show, patiently waiting them out, and then getting up and putting on her costume and performing as if nothing had happened.  I’ll never forget a blind Lion in THE WIZARD OF OZ having the nerve to jump off a four-foot-high rock while singing “If I Were King of the Forest.”  The bravery it took to do that for the first time in rehearsal – it moves me to tears to even think of it.  The vulnerability and determination of Regan as Dulcinea in MAN OF LA MANCHA crawling to her wheelchair after having been beaten.  Everyone in the audience was perched on the edge of their seats, ready to jump to her aid, silently urging her “You can do it,” and exulting when she made it on her own. 

The longer I write, the more the memories pour in.  The crazy lady who played the raucous Miss Hannigan in your ANNIE and the touching rendition of “Something Was Missing” by Leonard Barrett as Daddy Warbucks.  The incredible Tevye that came out of Mark Dissett and his lovely wife who was guided on stage by her daughters.  Danny Traylor and Mark’s work in ELEPHANT MAN was a never-to-be-forgotten experience.  Leonard’s Beast and Jenny’s Belle was how I introduced my grandson to theatre and he’s never forgotten it.  The scarves falling out of the ceiling in JOSEPH – tough little Barbara in SPITFIRE GRILL – the impish Emma Maxwell as Puck – DIVINERS – THE FOREIGNER and on and on and on. 

And I hope it goes on and on and on.  Oh, I have to share one other memory with you.  A hundred years ago, I used to be a grant writer for Phamaly.  Back in the day when there was one granting department for the State of Colorado, we were allowed to sit quietly in the room while the adjudicators reviewed your grant.  As they discussed the merits of Phamaly and what we had requested money for, one of the proudest moments of my life came when one of the panelists asked the question, “Can we give this organization MORE than they have asked for?”  You ask for so little – you give so much.  God bless you all.