A Chorus Line at Cheltenham High School

Theater: Cheltenham High School
Show: A Chorus Line
Seen: May 2, 2008
Submitted: May 5, 2008
Reviewer: Priyanka Chugh

What happens when you take seventeen dancers auditioning for a show and ask
them to tell you a little bit more about themselves? You end up with "A
Chorus Line", the heart wrenching story of passionate dancers who bare their
souls at an unconventional audition for the opportunity to achieve their
dreams, presented by Cheltenham High School.

"A Chorus Line," by Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood, and
Nicholas Dante, won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1976. The
show begins with a large group of dancers who are desperate for work. That
group is then cut down to seventeen unique and talented people. The
director, Zach, asks all of the remaining performers to tell him a little
bit about themselves. Zach wants to see each of them as more than just
resumes and headshots. The dancers reluctantly reveal their pasts, secrets,
and shortcomings because they all desperately need this job. However, in the
end only eight of the seventeen are selected and given a shot at their
dreams.

Cheltenham High School's production included an energetic and talented cast
who had amazing chemistry from start to finish. Overall, the production was
exceptionally moving and captivating and elicited many laughs as well as
tears.

The leads as a whole were riveting. They embodied their characters fully and
presented a seamless ensemble. Each actor brought something different and
powerful to their performance. Nick Dellamonica, as Mike, performed with
enthusiasm along with great dancing skills and powerful vocals. Chelsea
Kreines, as Sheila, had excellent vocals and stage presence as well as the
ability to portray every emotion through body language and facial
expressions. D.J. Fortine, as Paul, delivered his emotional monologue with
power, bringing many audience members to tears.

The supporting cast helped create a tense atmosphere and portray specific
moments in the lives of the final seventeen dancers. The singing and dancing
of the supporting cast was outstanding, with standout dancers including Sam
Ko, Tiffanie McCall, and Kendra Wolpe.

Overall the stage, sound, and light crews were fantastic and gave a seamless
performance. Although the set seems to be a blank stage, it has many hidden
and complicated elements. Also, the lighting added a lot to the overall
production and assisted in highlighting each actor's individual performance.

"A Chorus Line" is an extremely difficult show to tackle, but Cheltenham
High School's performance was definitely "one singular sensation".

by Priyanka Chugh of Eastern Camden County Regional School District