Every Little Step
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It’s the song that rings in most aspiring musical theatre performers. ”God I hope I get it! I hope I get it! How many people does he need?” That number from A Chorus Line accurately sums up the feelings most people have at an audition. How many times have you heard a cabaret group do the song “One”? I can say I’ve heard it a lot. Every Little Step is a documentary following the audition process of the 2005 revival of A Chorus Line on broadway. They take you from day one, to shots from the performances, complete with callbacks, and rejections; laughs, and tears; and thrilling moments of exultation all the way to moments of bone-crushing defeat.
It also tells the tale of the coming about of A Chorus Line, when Michael Bennett sat 24 dancers down in a circle, and they had a 12 hour talk session where everyone told their stories. It was captured with a reel to reel recorder (I believe the recordings are in the archives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts) and from those conversations a show was born. The movie follows one of the most extensive open call processes every surmounted (over 3000 people auditioned for this revival) and allows the audience interviews with some of the hopeful performers; both the ones who make it, and the ones who don’t.
I saw this movie at the Evening Star Cinema in Brunswick, Maine where it is currently playing and it blew me away. The talent was amazing, the moments stunning, and as it is one of the first films allowed to cover an audition process so completely, the film gives both actors and non-actors alike an amazing look into the world of theatre. After the showing there was a talkback with revival cast members Tony Yazbeck, and Jessica Lee Goldyn (the Al and Val from the revival). They are currently in Crazy For You at the Maine State Music Theater which opens next week. They were able to give some insight to the truth of the movie, and the things which were played up, or downplayed by the producers of the film.
First off it’s interesting to note that Tony is barely in the movie (and when I say barely, I mean that he has 3 shots throughout the whole thing, once walking into an audition, once as part of the revival cast near the end, and once drinking a bottle of water during the end credits) and Jessica is overly featured. They follow her around, including showing her on the phone getting the call that she had the part. (If you can’t guess, this part was staged…I’m sure there are people who will be mad at me for saying this, but come on…it was staged.) There were two such phone calls during the movie. The reason it’s funny that these two are so differently represented, is because as Tony put it tonight, “it was a long grueling process” wheras Jessica described it as, “a really quick whirlwind I was caught up in.” Let me explain. One of the things the movie leaves out is that Tony auditioned early in the process, and was told he had to wait 4 and a half months before the final callbacks. Jessica, on the other hand, auditioned at the final open call, and was cast in the show within a week and a half or so. The movie makes it seem as if Jessica was in the thing for the long haul, whereas Tony is almost never there. Jessica is interviewed, seen at her auditions, shown in a staged acceptance call (as I said earlier), and much more.
I won’t say much more on the movie except that you should go see it. They show Tyce Diorio (choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance) a few times in the movie. He moves so well, and you really like him, until he opens his mouth. He is shown to be pompous, obnoxious, and a true taint on a working environment. In the final callback for A Chorus Line, a show about fitting in…and becoming part of A CHORUS LINE, he decided to change the choreography, opting for a slow turn while the other 3 men auditioning with him do a triple. He later is shown in an interview spouting about how good he felt, how he sees himself winning an award, and becoming a star, and getting his own tv show. They rail on him throughout the movie…and he deserves it. Just a funny tidbit.
Anyways, see Every Little Step if you have a chance, because it is really amazing. I plan on buying the DVD when it comes out.
