PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Hello Love!" Get to Know the Members of Paper Mill's Chorus LineNikka Graff Lanzarone, currently playing the role of Bebe in Paper Mill Playhouse's staging of A Chorus Line, offers exclusive photos and trivia about her castmates. Channeling the show's director "Zach," she introduces the 25 members of the cast and has them share their name, hometown and a little bit about themselves.
"I'm back again, this time to tell you all about this beyond-incredible cast of A Chorus Line at the Paper Mill Playhouse. These people are truly remarkable. As we all know, the show is really about getting to know dancers as individuals rather than just members of an ensemble. I wanted to take that same opportunity with our company, letting you get to know them as you’ll get to know their characters over the course of the show."
"Click away for some fun facts about this talented bunch, and come see us at the Paper Mill through Oct. 28!"
0
of
38
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Hello Love!" Get to Know the Members of Paper Mill's Chorus Line
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Hello Love!" Get to Know the Members of Paper Mill's Chorus Line
Nikka Graff Lanzarone, currently playing the role of Bebe in Paper Mill Playhouse's staging of A Chorus Line, offers exclusive photos and trivia about her castmates. Channeling the show's director "Zach," she introduces the 25 members of the cast and has them share their name, hometown...
38 PHOTOS
This is the White Line. Learn to love it, because you’re never too far from it- and if you wind up away from it, be prepared to get back, usually very quickly!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Mitzi Hamilton and Yamil setting the montage. It’s so much fun to dance this, it should be illegal.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
This is the “hello” jump. You’ll see it when you see the show. You ARE coming to see the show, right? You should.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
As we do in the show, let’s start on the end. Stage Right. Please state your name and hometown, then tell me about yourself. (okay, okay, answer the email questions Nikka bothered you about for a week. Whatever.)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Don: Jeff Pew/San Jose, CA Started dancing at 15. This is his third production of ACL.
What is your favorite thing about doing this show?: "It’s a reminder of how important it is for me to pursue my dreams, what I'm doing 'for love.'"
Dance debut as a tapping bumblebee at age 4. Fifth production of ACL.
How are you most similar to your character?: "I remember that no matter what was going on in my life, I always felt at home on the stage.'
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Mike: Mark Myars/Pittsburgh, PA
Started dancing at age 3. This is his first production!
Radio City or The Red Shoes? "My first job in NYC was in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular dancing the Carol of the Bells solo."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Connie: Alexzandra Sarmiento/Jamaica, Queens, NYC
Started dancing seriously in the 8th grade. This is her third production.
How are you most similar to your character?: "I think, like Connie, I've been able to get past the fact that I am short."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Greg: Kyle Brown/Amsterdam, NY
Started dancing when he was 9. This is his first production.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Cassie: Jessica Lee Goldyn/New Jersey
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Sheila: Rachelle Rak/Pittsburgh, PA
Started dancing at 2 1/2.
“Never done the show before, but I have made it to the finals. *gagag*”
How are you most similar to your character? "We're both full of zingers and one-liners. Difference is, I'm nicer."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Bobby: Kyle Vaughn/San Diego, CA
Started dancing at age 6. Second production.
“I played Mark in '01 at the outdoor Starlight Musical Theater. We had to pause for incoming flights since the theatre was close to the airport."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Bebe: Nikka Graff Lanzarone/L.A., CA
Started dancing at two and a half. This is her first production.
"Favorite thing about doing this show? Feeling the history of everyone who has come before us, knowing we are part of a very long line indeed."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
#23, Judy Turner: Julia Freyer/Grand Rapids, MI
Started dancing at 3. Second time with A Chorus Line.
How are you most similar to Judy "Tall, limb-y! Full of joy and hope for this moment, with a brain that goes a million miles a minute."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Richie: Kevin Curtis/Baltimore, MD
Started dancing in 4th grade in Mrs. Flynn’s after-school tap class. This is his sixth time doing the show!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Al: Mike Cannon/Pittsburgh, PA
Started dancing at 16. His third production. How are you most similar/different to your character? "Al has responsibilities other than himself. He's auditioning for the people that depend on him. Only, my wife can sing."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Kristine: Amanda Rose/Columbia, SC
Started dancing at 3. First production.
How are you most similar to your character? "Well, I get VERY NERVOUS and awkward when I'm put on the spot. Kristine is a little more neurotic than me. I think. I hope!"
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Val: Ashley Arcement/Mobile, AL
Started dancing at three. Third production.
Favorite thing about doing this show? "What ISN'T my favorite thing? I particularly love the way it brings the cast together. We are all going through the same experience."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Mark: KC Fredericks/Trinidad, CO
Started dancing at age 13. This is his first production.
Craziest audition story? "Las Vegas for Cirque du Soleil. We had to swim the entire width of the pool without coming up for air. I thought I was going to die."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Paul: J. Manuel Santos/Lake Jackson, Texas
Started dancing at 9. This is his first production of Chorus Line.
What are your hobbies other than performing? "I like to paint and create works of art with my hands."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Diana: Gabrielle Ruiz/Edinburg, TX Started dancing at “2 going on 3!” Fourth time as Diana Morales.
What is your favorite thing about doing this show? "Being able to represent dancers and everyone who has sacrificed for their passion."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Larry: Brian Letendre/Staten Island, NY
Started dancing at 15. This is his first time with ACL.
Radio City or The Red Shoes? "The Red Shoes!"
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Zach: Martin Harvey/Swindon, UK
Started dancing at about 4 years old. First production of A Chorus Line.
What's your craziest audition story? "Improvising a drug addicted cow, interviewing for a job."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Tricia: Jessica Vaccaro/Freehold, NJ
Started dancing at 4. Second production of ACL.
What is your favorite thing about doing this show? "To be on stage playing out our life story and what we live everyday is so special."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Roy: Jordan Fife Hunt/Houston, TX
Started dancing at 8, quit, started back up at 15. This is his third company of ACL.
How are you most similar to your character? "Neither of us have done a Broadway show. I'd like to change that."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Butch: Kevin Boseman/Anderson, SC
Started dancing at 15, was once a gymnast! First production.
Favorite thing about doing this show? "Reconnecting with the real reason of why I ever wanted to do this and falling in love again with being an artist."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Vicki: Jennifer Cordiner/Freehold, NJ
Started dancing at two-and-a-half to help out her coordination! This is her first production.
Radio City or The Red Shoes? "Radio City... Wearing red shoes"
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Tom: Grant Thomas/Chicago, IL
Started dancing in high school. This is his third production of ACL.
What's your craziest audition story? "Hmmmm.... don't think Playbill is the place for this story."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Lois: Carleigh Bettiol/Oneonta, NY
Started dancing at 5. This is her sixth time with A Chorus Line, having played almost every female role in the show!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Martin Harvey and some of the ladies of the company. He’s hilarious.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Gabrielle and Nikka
What are your hobbies?
Gabi: "I eat pizza with a fork and love my cat, Veronica."
Nikka: "Most of you know I moonlight as a stylist and style blogger. I LOVE Twitter. Follow me @nikkalanz!"
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
J.Manuel Santos and Gabrielle Ruiz
How are you most similar/different to your character?
Gabi: "I'm proud of being Latina and fight for what I believe in in my life, just like Diana."
Manuel: "I have never been a drag queen."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Mark Myars and Mike Cannon
What are your hobbies other than performing?
Mark: "I enjoy spending time with my adorable dog, Parker!"
Mike: "Surfing, when I can. Raising my kids."
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Brian Letendre, Mark Myars and Kyle Brown
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Julia Freyer and Karley Willocks
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
"Bored Swings" I think this needs to be their album cover.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
…or this.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone
Thank you so much for joining us! A Chorus Line runs til Oct. 28 at the beautiful Paper Mill Playhouse!
Mitzi Hamilton, a dancer in director-choreographer Michael Bennett's original taped workshop that inspired the 1975 musical, directs and choreographs the New Jersey staging. Hamilton provided the inspiration for the character of Val and performed the role in the original London company and then on Broadway.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor and celebrate the life of Marvin Hamlisch," said director Hamilton in a statement.
Jessica Lee Goldyn, who originated the role of Val in the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, stars as Cassie. She is joined by Ashley Arcement (Grease) as Val, Kyle Brown (Legally Blonde) as Greg, Mike Cannon (West Side Story) as Al, Kevin Curtis (A Chorus Line national tour) as Richie, KC Fredericks (Wicked national tour) as Mark, Julia Freyer (A Chorus Line national tour) as Judy, Martin Harvey (West End's Dirty Dancing) as Zach, Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Chicago) as Bebe, Brian Letendre (Marry Poppins) as Larry, Mark Myars (West Side Story) as Mike, Jeffrey Pew (Billy Elliot national tour) as Don, Rachelle Rak (Catch Me If You Can) as Sheila, Amanda Rose (Paper Mill's Curtains) as Kristine, Gabrielle Ruiz (In the Heights) as Diana, J. Manuel Santos (West Side Story) as Paul, Alexzandra Sarmiento (A Chorus Line in Japan) as Connie, Kyle Vaughn (The Nutty Professor) as Bobby and Karley Willocks (A Chorus Line national tour) as Maggie.
Rounding out the cast are Carleigh Bettiol as Lois, Kevin Boseman as Butch, Jennifer Cordiner as Vicki, Jordan Fife Hunt as Roy, Chris Klink as Frank, Grant Thomas as Tom and Jessica Vaccaro as Tricia.
Set during an audition for an upcoming Broadway show, A Chorus Line, according to Paper Mill, "shines a light on the hopes, fears and dreams of performers vying for a chance to do what they all know they were born to do. A Chorus Line is an enthralling and emotional metaphor for what drives each of us to achieve our dreams."
John O’Neill serves as the production's music director and conductor. A Chorus Line, originally conceived, choreographed and directed by Bennett, features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante with music by Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban.
Other members of the creative team include scenic designer James Dardenne, costume coordinator Gail Baldoni, lighting designer Julie Duro, sound designer Randy Hansen, hair designer Mark Adam Rampmeyer and production stage mamanger Joshua Halperin.
Paper Mill Playhouse is located at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ. For more information and ticktes, call (973) 376-4343 or visit PaperMill.org.
-Matthew-Murphy.jpg)
