The Heart of Rock and Roll Wins Actors' Equity Association Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus

The chorus of the new Broadway musical The Heart of Rock and Roll, which plays the James Earl Jones Theatre, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Actors' Equity Association Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus.

Presented by Equity’s Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs, the ACCA Award is the only industry accolade to honor the talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical.

The 17 individual recipients of the 2024 ACCA Award—all part of the musical’s April 22 Broadway opening—are Mike Baerga, Tommy Bracco, TyNia René Brandon, Olivia Cece, Taylor Marie Daniel, Autumn Guzzardi, Lindsay Joan, Ross Lekites, Robin Masella, Kara Menendez, Joe Moeller, Jennifer Noble, Fredric Odgaard, Michael Olaribigbe, Kevin Pariseau, Robert Pendilla, and Leah Read.

The chorus members will receive their award at this year’s Actors’ Equity Foundation Awards June 24 in New York City. Tony winner Danny Burstein will host the ceremony, which will also be live streamed.

“This season has been an incredibly exciting one for the chorus with more eligible companies than any other year since the ACCA Award began,” said Actors’ Equity Association 2nd Vice President Al Bundonis, chair of the ACCA, in a statement. “There is extraordinary work being done by chorus members across Broadway, but at the James Earl Jones, this chorus lights up the stage with their versatility and creativity.

“They bring to life the distinct personality of The Heart of Rock and Roll. Their voices, their bodies, their hearts, their souls and all their incredible artistic skills create the world in which this story is told. Through the chorus, the heart of the 1980s is still beating. The chorus is essential to the storytelling of this production.”

Added Lorin Latarro, choreographer of The Heart of Rock and Roll, “Our extraordinary ensemble gives one thousand percent nightly. This special group came to rehearsals with open hearts and lots of laughter. Creating the show was a joy and when you see them onstage, that joy is clearly palpable. Incredible singers, actors, dancers, gymnasts… and they are all very funny!”

Voters for this award were Equity chorus councilors, members of the ACCA, and previous recipients of Equity’s Legacy Robe, which is awarded to the member of the chorus in each show who has the most Broadway chorus credits.

The Heart of Rock and Roll, a new musical inspired by the music of Huey Lewis and The News, has a book by Jonathan A. Abrams and a score of Lewis hits, including “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “Hip to be Square,” “Power of Love,” “Do You Believe in Love?,” “If This Is It,” “Doing It All for My Baby,” “Stuck with You,” "I Want a New Drug,” “It’s Alright,” and “Heart and Soul.” The musical follows Bobby, a Chicagoan whose failed band leads to him returning to corporate America. While working, he meets his boss, Cassandra, who has also traded in her personal life for a professional one. Together, the two realize their dreams when Bobby gets another shot at stardom and Cassandra is up for the CEO job.

Actors’ Equity Association is the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre.