A Chorus Line: Cast and Sydney Opera House Season Announced

Photo by Robert Catto.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company has announced that its long-awaited new production of A Chorus Line will open at the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House on 11 February 2022, after premiering at Parramatta Riverside Theatre in January as part of the Sydney Festival.

Featuring brand new choreography by Helpmann Award-nominated director and choreographer Amy Campbell, this legendary musical stars a talented cast of Australian triple threats, including Adam Jon Fiorentino as Zach, the director loosely based on the show’s creator Michael Bennett. Fiorentino has performed in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Follies and Saturday Night Fever in London’s West End; the Australian tour of Aladdin, and Kiss of the Spider Woman for Melbourne Theatre Company.

Angelique Cassimatis (American Psycho, Pippin, Hair, Saturday Night Fever, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) returns as Cassie, a former star desperate to be part of the chorus in Zach’s new show. Artistic Director Amylia Harris is thrilled to welcome Cassimatis back and recalls the incredible audience reaction to her performance during the final preview in 2020. “After Angelique’s solo number halfway through the second act, the audience rose to its feet to give her a standing ovation. It was literally show stopping!”

Image: Amy Campbell.

Following two postponements due to the pandemic, this brand-new production will finally lay bare the struggles performers face to be seen, heard, recognised and respected. The 20 roles are based on the real-life anecdotes of Broadway dancers interviewed by Michael Bennett in his East Side studio one weekend in January 1974. Rivalry and wine paved the way to a weekend of divulged secrets about their upbringing, coming-of-age, sexuality and careers.

As Amy Campbell puts it, “I am so passionate about letting these stories be heard again and reinstating their relevance. These stories were based on real people and I want to show that 50 years later these stories translate across time, gender and ethnicity. Themes of bullying, racism, sexism, power and passion are still faced every day, just as they were in the 1970s. We like to think we’ve come so far, but have we?”

Also returning from the 2020 company are Molly Bugeja as Vicki/Dance Captain, Nadia Coote as Sheila, Lachlan Dearing as Mike, Natalie Foti as Bebe, and Madeleine Mackenzie as Maggie.

New cast members include Max Bimbi as Bobby, Ross Chisari as Al, Maikolo Fekitoa as Mark, Ashley Goh as Connie, Mariah Gonzalez as Diana, Brady Kitchingham as Larry, Rechelle Mansour as Val, Ryan Ophel as Greg, 2021 Redbull Dance Your Style winner Tony Oxybel as Richie, Ethan Ritchie as Paul, Susanne Steele as Kristine, Harry Targett as Don, and Angelina Thomson as Judy.

When A CHORUS LINE opened on Broadway in 1975, it created a storm and revolutionised everyone’s notion of what a musical could be. It went on to win 9 TONY Awards, the Pulitzer Prize and 9 Drama Desk Awards, and made history by playing­­ a record-breaking 6,137 performances over 15 years.

A CHORUS LINE opens at the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House on 11 February 2022 after premiering at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre as part of the Sydney Festival. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/musical-theatre/2022/a-chorus-line.html or by phoning (02) 9250 7777.