Goodspeed's A Chorus Line is a True 'Singular Sensation'
By Kiersten Bjork (October 1, 2025)
Goodspeed Musicals is currently presenting A Chorus Line, timed to honor the 50th anniversary of the production which opened on Broadway in 1975. The production has already extended due to popular demand, and is now playing through November 2, 2025, at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, CT. In line with the show’s iconic closing number, it’s a true ‘singular sensation,’ featuring a dynamic cast that steps into the recognizable roles with great success.
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett with co-choreographer Bob Avian, A Chorus Line has a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban. The show follows a series of dancers as they audition for a Broadway show, each with their own distinct backgrounds and upbringings, but all with a shared passion and love for dance and the theatre. As the show progresses, we are treated to different insights into the dancers’ stories: the former romantic relationship between the director, Zach, and Cassie, a dancer who broke out of the chorus to play a few leading roles before finding herself back auditioning for the chorus after realizing she couldn’t act following a brief stint in Hollywood; Diana and the acting teacher who told her she would amount to nothing; Val and the realization that her looks were keeping her from being seen for the parts she wanted most; and many more. In the end, only eight performers will be chosen to join the Broadway company, and the audience can only cross their fingers and hope that their favorites will make the final cut.
The legendary musical receives the Goodspeed treatment under the careful and clever hands of director Rob Ruggiero, who remains true to the source material while allowing the show to shine on the intimate Goodspeed stage. Choreography by Parker Esse and additional choreography by Baayork Lee (original Broadway company of A Chorus Line) evokes the classic dances you know and love from the production, while also filling out the show with stunning movement sequences that play to the beauty and meaning of dance to the characters. Adam Souza once more serves as music director, with David Kidwell as associate music director.
Goodspeed Musicals is currently presenting A Chorus Line, timed to honor the 50th anniversary of the production which opened on Broadway in 1975. The production has already extended due to popular demand, and is now playing through November 2, 2025, at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, CT. In line with the show’s iconic closing number, it’s a true ‘singular sensation,’ featuring a dynamic cast that steps into the recognizable roles with great success.
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett with co-choreographer Bob Avian, A Chorus Line has a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban. The show follows a series of dancers as they audition for a Broadway show, each with their own distinct backgrounds and upbringings, but all with a shared passion and love for dance and the theatre. As the show progresses, we are treated to different insights into the dancers’ stories: the former romantic relationship between the director, Zach, and Cassie, a dancer who broke out of the chorus to play a few leading roles before finding herself back auditioning for the chorus after realizing she couldn’t act following a brief stint in Hollywood; Diana and the acting teacher who told her she would amount to nothing; Val and the realization that her looks were keeping her from being seen for the parts she wanted most; and many more. In the end, only eight performers will be chosen to join the Broadway company, and the audience can only cross their fingers and hope that their favorites will make the final cut.
The legendary musical receives the Goodspeed treatment under the careful and clever hands of director Rob Ruggiero, who remains true to the source material while allowing the show to shine on the intimate Goodspeed stage. Choreography by Parker Esse and additional choreography by Baayork Lee (original Broadway company of A Chorus Line) evokes the classic dances you know and love from the production, while also filling out the show with stunning movement sequences that play to the beauty and meaning of dance to the characters. Adam Souza once more serves as music director, with David Kidwell as associate music director.
The cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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Aaron Patrick Craven, Christian Feliciano, Alex Drost, and the cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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With so many featured moments and characters, the key to A Chorus Line is having a very strong cast across the board. Goodspeed once again has succeeded in bringing together a remarkable group of performers, with not a single weak link among them.
Clifton Samuels plays Zach, who for much of the show speaks from the back of the house. Despite usually being unable to physically see his performance, the nuance that Samuels provides vocally maintains the intensity of each scene. His onstage moments, particularly with Cassie and Paul, make up for the moments when he isn’t present onstage, as they are incredibly moving. Karli Dinardo’s performance of “The Music and the Mirror” as Cassie is absolutely breathtaking. She expresses such emotion through her dance, and it really brings home the feelings she is trying to express to Zach about her desire to return to the line and to just be a dancer for as long as she can.
Another standout is Mikaela Secada as Diana. Her rendition of “Nothing” is both humorous and heart-wrenching, and those final lines are delivered perfectly. As Val, Beatrice Howell is a blaze of energy, commanding the stage and drawing your eye any time she takes the lead. Howell is a force to be reckoned with during “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” which had the audience in stitches. One of my favorite performers to watch is Scarlett Walker as Sheila. She exudes confidence, all the while carrying the understanding that she is heading toward an age when she may no longer have a place on the line that she so loves. Her dramatic cross, eating up the entire stage as she goes, is one of my favorite moments of the show.
As Paul, Diego Guevara absolutely breaks your heart. His delivery of that iconic, lengthy monologue brings a tear to the eye, and when he finally breaks down, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. That, juxtaposed against the pure joy you see from Guevara in the finale, blends into a truly wonderful performance.
Ryan Mulvaney’s Bobby is fun, and his work in “And…,” even–and perhaps especially–in the moments when he is miming his storytelling, is entertaining. Maggie–typically played by Liesie Kelly–was played by Chloe Rae Kehm at my performance, who shines in the role. Her work on “At the Ballet” was particularly impressive. Matthew Quintero was on for Don at the performance I attended, with the role usually being played by Aaron Patrick Craven, and Quintero gives a strong, grounded performance. Mark is played by Patrick Higgins, who is incredibly endearing as the youngest dancer at the audition. Kristine and Al, the newly married couple, are portrayed by Haley Bjorn and Alex Drost. Bjorn and Drost play off each other very well, finishing each other’s sentences in quick succession in the amusing number “Sing!”.
Clifton Samuels plays Zach, who for much of the show speaks from the back of the house. Despite usually being unable to physically see his performance, the nuance that Samuels provides vocally maintains the intensity of each scene. His onstage moments, particularly with Cassie and Paul, make up for the moments when he isn’t present onstage, as they are incredibly moving. Karli Dinardo’s performance of “The Music and the Mirror” as Cassie is absolutely breathtaking. She expresses such emotion through her dance, and it really brings home the feelings she is trying to express to Zach about her desire to return to the line and to just be a dancer for as long as she can.
Another standout is Mikaela Secada as Diana. Her rendition of “Nothing” is both humorous and heart-wrenching, and those final lines are delivered perfectly. As Val, Beatrice Howell is a blaze of energy, commanding the stage and drawing your eye any time she takes the lead. Howell is a force to be reckoned with during “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” which had the audience in stitches. One of my favorite performers to watch is Scarlett Walker as Sheila. She exudes confidence, all the while carrying the understanding that she is heading toward an age when she may no longer have a place on the line that she so loves. Her dramatic cross, eating up the entire stage as she goes, is one of my favorite moments of the show.
As Paul, Diego Guevara absolutely breaks your heart. His delivery of that iconic, lengthy monologue brings a tear to the eye, and when he finally breaks down, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. That, juxtaposed against the pure joy you see from Guevara in the finale, blends into a truly wonderful performance.
Ryan Mulvaney’s Bobby is fun, and his work in “And…,” even–and perhaps especially–in the moments when he is miming his storytelling, is entertaining. Maggie–typically played by Liesie Kelly–was played by Chloe Rae Kehm at my performance, who shines in the role. Her work on “At the Ballet” was particularly impressive. Matthew Quintero was on for Don at the performance I attended, with the role usually being played by Aaron Patrick Craven, and Quintero gives a strong, grounded performance. Mark is played by Patrick Higgins, who is incredibly endearing as the youngest dancer at the audition. Kristine and Al, the newly married couple, are portrayed by Haley Bjorn and Alex Drost. Bjorn and Drost play off each other very well, finishing each other’s sentences in quick succession in the amusing number “Sing!”.
The cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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Liesie Kelly, Scarlett Walker, Lisa Finegold, and the cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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Travante S. Baker keeps everyone together as Zach’s assistant Larry, executing sharp and pristine choreography, while Mario Rizzi has the audience laughing on numerous occasions as Mike, youngest of 12, who started dancing after going along with his sister to her classes–particularly in “I Can Do That” when he has a chance to show off his dancing chops.
Judy is played by Caroline Kane, who brings just the right amount of nerves mixed with passion to their track. Emma X. O’Loughlin is a delight as Connie, her comical commentary on her height in “Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love,” earning laughs.
Jonah Nash steals the scene in his featured moments as Richie, wowing the crowd with an impressive straddle jump. As Bebe, Lisa Finegold is spirited. Her uncertainty–and her power–in “At the Ballet,” is striking. Sammy Schechter plays a serious yet fierce Greg.
Rounding out the company are Christian Feliciano and Erica Peréz-Gotay in the ensemble, typically joined by Kehm, as well as Maggie Bergman and Quintero as swings.
Judy is played by Caroline Kane, who brings just the right amount of nerves mixed with passion to their track. Emma X. O’Loughlin is a delight as Connie, her comical commentary on her height in “Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love,” earning laughs.
Jonah Nash steals the scene in his featured moments as Richie, wowing the crowd with an impressive straddle jump. As Bebe, Lisa Finegold is spirited. Her uncertainty–and her power–in “At the Ballet,” is striking. Sammy Schechter plays a serious yet fierce Greg.
Rounding out the company are Christian Feliciano and Erica Peréz-Gotay in the ensemble, typically joined by Kehm, as well as Maggie Bergman and Quintero as swings.
Jonah Nash and the cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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Liesie Kelly and the cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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Scenic designer Ann Beyersdorfer evokes the audition room with a simple, yet powerful design. The upstage wall is floor-to-ceiling dance mirrors, while the rest of the room remains open. John Lasiter’s lighting design builds upon the set, accenting the room with soft, warm lighting, while also setting tones and moods and indicating featured moments via spotlights and color.
Costumes by designer Joseph Shrope are well-suited to the time and setting of the show, with a nice pallet of colors across the board. The original finale costume design is by Theoni Aldredge. The Goodspeed lobby also features a special treat, with two of the original finale costumes designed by Aldredge on view.
Sound design by Goodspeed resident designer Jay Hilton is particularly impressive in this production because the orchestra is not in the traditional pit location. Instead, due to the need to extend the stage to accommodate the full line, the orchestra has been moved to Goodspeed’s Members’ Lounge, which is visible as the audience enters the theater up the grand central staircase. The music is still live, but it is projected into the theater. The resulting sound, and overall balance, could not have been better. In my experience, sometimes when a show has to pipe their music in from another space the music can sound canned if the equipment isn’t top of the line. This couldn’t be further from the truth for A Chorus Line, and Hilton and team have succeeded in bringing the magic of the live orchestra into the room, even though they’re further from the audience than normal.
Costumes by designer Joseph Shrope are well-suited to the time and setting of the show, with a nice pallet of colors across the board. The original finale costume design is by Theoni Aldredge. The Goodspeed lobby also features a special treat, with two of the original finale costumes designed by Aldredge on view.
Sound design by Goodspeed resident designer Jay Hilton is particularly impressive in this production because the orchestra is not in the traditional pit location. Instead, due to the need to extend the stage to accommodate the full line, the orchestra has been moved to Goodspeed’s Members’ Lounge, which is visible as the audience enters the theater up the grand central staircase. The music is still live, but it is projected into the theater. The resulting sound, and overall balance, could not have been better. In my experience, sometimes when a show has to pipe their music in from another space the music can sound canned if the equipment isn’t top of the line. This couldn’t be further from the truth for A Chorus Line, and Hilton and team have succeeded in bringing the magic of the live orchestra into the room, even though they’re further from the audience than normal.
Clifton Samuels, Karli Dinardo, and the cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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The cast of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Musicals, 2025 (Diane Sobolewski)
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A Chorus Line has been adored by audiences for decades. Featuring hit songs such as “I Hope I Get It,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror,” “One,” and more, it’s a show you won’t soon forget. Goodspeed’s production adds to the legacy of the classic show, and is an eye-catching, heart-pounding performance that you shouldn’t miss. Whether it’s your first time experiencing A Chorus Line, or your 50th, run, don’t walk, to see this dazzling production. Tickets may be few and far between, even with the extension, but definitely give the box office a call to see about cancellations–now through November 2.
A Chorus Line plays September 5-November 2, 2025, at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets at goodspeed.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 873-8668.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
A Chorus Line plays September 5-November 2, 2025, at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets at goodspeed.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 873-8668.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.