By D. A. Blackburn
Every performer dreams of their big break, a chance to shine under the bright lights and revel in the applause of an enormous crowd. This January, the Fisher Theatre brings to its stage a familiar, but fresh revival of "A Chorus Line," Broadway's history-making look in the mirror. And among the dancers vying for a spot on the line, audiences will see the true-to-life realization of one performer's dream. Kevin Santos caught his big break in a show all about breaking into the big time.
"This is pretty much my first job," said Santos, 23, who graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts just last December. "I kind of just went from being in school to being in the first national tour, in one of the principal characters."
"A Chorus Line" is an in-depth glimpse at the behind-the-scenes world of Broadway entertainers. On an open stage, 17 dancers have assembled to audition for eight spots in a new dance production. As the auditions unfold, the inspiring, and at times, heart-wrenching stories of the dancers' lives come out.
According to Santos, "A Chorus Line's" portrayal of the performer's experience is quite accurate, if a little bit more revealing than the average audition.
"Our show is a little more Freudian than normal auditions. It goes a little bit psychoanalytical with how deeply he (casting agent, Zach) presses us with questions and why he asks certain things, but being put under intense scrutiny and subjected to harsh criticism is something we all go through."
Santos, himself, auditioned several times for the production, beginning in 2006, and was criticized for being too young, and not tight enough in physique or as a dancer, before finally getting his big break. While "A Chorus Line" provides a revealing look at the theater, Santos believes it's the depth of the show's characters, and their individual stories that appeal to audiences.
"I think that it speaks to everyone because of the fact that it's about going for what you are passionate about, giving everything you have, not letting anything get in your way, and persevering even beyond injury, health, age, all those kinds of things. It's a theatrical piece about dancers and performers, but it also says something to any person who has ever been passionate about anything in their life."
Since first reading for the role, Santos has drawn easy parallels between himself and his character Paul. Both discovered dance around the same age, as teens, and both struggled to understand the meaning of manhood as a gay male. But their paths diverge in matters of family. Santos credits his parents and sister as his greatest support, while Paul – based on a dancer named Nicholas Dante, who collaborated with James Kirkwood Jr. on the book for "A Chorus Line" – was forced to hide his appearances in a drag review from his family.
"When I first read it, I understood it right away," said Santos. "And I think what helped me is that I do have a really good relationship with my parents, and I think what struck a chord with me was how I would feel if I didn't have that, and how hard it would be to struggle without my family."
It's obvious that Santos isn't the only one who finds "A Chorus Line" easy to relate to. The original production, which opened in 1975, received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, and remains the longest running American musical in Broadway history (15 years, more than 6,000 shows). The 2006 Broadway revival recouped producers' $8 million investment in just 157 performances, and went on play a total of 759 performances. The production's current tour has received significant critical praise, and is booked through June.
Just like in the real world, not all of the show's characters make the final cut. Paul's hopes for stardom are dashed by injury. But as for Kevin Santos, he's recently signed on for another six months and plans to continue living out his dream as long as it feels right.
"It's kind of like anything else in life. You do what you love as long as you love it, and if you stop enjoying it, then it's time to move on."
PREVIEW:
'A Chorus Line'
Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. Tuesday-Sunday, Jan. 13-Feb. 1, 2009. Tickets: $30-$84. 313-872-1000 or http://www.broadwayindetroit.com
