There are some musical theater productions so groundbreaking, so notable, and perhaps most importantly, so resonant, that they strike tones of familiarity and nostalgia even among those not as closely connected to the theater community. Such is the case with A Chorus Line, the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner and Music Theater Heritage’s currently running musical.
Often described as a “backstage musical,” A Chorus Line centers around dancers auditioning for a Broadway musical. Tim Scott, the MTH chief executive and artistic director, recognizes the way the plot connects with audiences. “It’s about the process of becoming an artist—and one day, not being able to dance or do what you love anymore,” he says. “I think everyone can relate to loving something hard and, at some point, not being able to do or see that anymore. My dad has Parkinson’s, and he can’t drive anymore. If you’re a musician, at some point, you won’t be able to play anymore. Eventually, you won’t see your kids as much because things evolve and change. What’s interesting for an audience is, some of them might not realize the reason that’s penetrating them on such an internal level is because they’ve also gone through a struggle like this.”
It’s not just the audience who feels an intense connection with the show, but the dancers. “I won’t lie; it was an emotional rehearsal process,” Scott says. “We checked in with each other a lot. We had conversations, and many of them are going through this right now. You know—what am I going to do next? How long am I going to do this? It’s so close to the surface for so many people.” It’s this connection that brings the entire room together each night. “I mean, really, there’s no better argument for why live theater is powerful and important than a show like this. Because it’s all these people sharing this experience—together.”
The decision to produce A Chorus Line was, in Scott’s words, “a huge gamble.” The cast is massive, and the theater community is still living through uncertain times. But the gamble’s paid off—MTH has already added performances of the show due to increased demand.
A Chorus Line stands out in its hiring of local artists. “I would say 95 percent of all the artists who work on our shows—on-stage, off-stage, backstage, are Kansas City artists,” says Scott. “It might be closer to 97 percent.” Even actor Nathan Darrow, cast as Zach and perhaps best known from Gotham and House of Cards, has Kansas City roots. “One of the first things I said on the first day of rehearsals was, ‘I’m excited to do the show in Kansas City and have Kansas City audiences see this show because it’s almost exclusively Kansas City artists.’ I don’t think some people believe you can do a show like this and cast it all locally,” says Scott. “I mean, it was hard work. It’s hard work to find people. But I just think it’s important. I think it’s really important.”
Beyond A Chorus Line, the 2024 season at MTH explores the feeling of love and how far people go to protect it. “I’ve got two young daughters, and there’s no greater reminder about what’s important in this one life we get to live,” says Scott. Shows for the season, including Godspell, Porgy and Bess, Sweeney Todd, and La Cage aux Folles, represent the manifestation of love through many different communities, through the lens of mostly musical theater. The company is also producing The Glass Menagerie with a live, improvised jazz score.
While the vision for each season might change, every show at MTH has a strong heritage in the American musical theater canon. “Porgy and Bess is Gershwin’s masterpiece, Sweeney Todd is considered Sondheim’s masterpiece, and La Cage is considered Jerry Herman’s masterpiece,” Scott says, and La Cage aux Folles feels particularly timely. “It’s no secret the drag community is under pretty serious attack these days. I thought it was important to show that, you know, this is not a new art form—that show won the Tony Award 40 plus years ago. And it’s really all about having the right to love who you love; that was very important to us.”
A Chorus Line runs through August 27 at Music Theater Heritage in Crown Center.