Lights go up, and on stage is a group of performers.
Dressed in their costumes, makeup done just so, each has a look to reflect their role. They've got their lines and songs memorized, and their feet are ready to dance.
But who are these actors? These singers and dancers that hope to entertain the audience for two or three hours? What was it about them that got them their role? How did they ever get through the auditions and be selected over the dozens of others who also wanted the parts?
"A Chorus Line" is a musical about 17 Broadway dancers auditioning for spots in a show. Set on a bare stage of a Broadway theater, it takes place during an audition for a musical. "A Chorus Line" provides a glimpse into the performers and their lives, what events shaped their lives and why they chose to be dancers.
Find out about the lives of dancers in Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "A Chorus Line" now through Aug. 8.
Two of the performers for the WWT production sat down Monday afternoon to talk about themselves, the show and what it's like to be an actor and dancer.Carleigh Bettiol, 23, is from Oenonta, NY. The dance captain for "A Chorus Line," she plays Diana Morales. Bettiol started dancing at 4 years old and just received her bachelor's degree in business economics. This is the second time she has worked with WWT Artistic Director and Choreographer Scott Michaels and Musical Director Thomas Stirling.
"I'm very happy to be here," she said.
In "A Chorus Line" Shay Dixon, 17, plays "headband boy." He's no stranger to the WWT stage as he's been a part of it for the past 11 years.
"I know practically all the artistic team," Dixon said.
After his senior year at Warsaw Community High School, Dixon said he plans to attend college at Marymount Manhattan to major in dance and biology. He'd then like to join a dance company.
In the show, Bettiol said, Morales is a 27-year-old Puerto Rican from the Bronx. She worked many years on Broadway as an ensemble dancer. Morales is very guarded because in high school she had a teacher, Mr. Karp, who always put her down and said she'd never be dancer. She overcame it, Bettiol said.
Headband boy is not a complex character, Dixon said. When he dances, he looks down at his feet. The director isn't impressed.
In "A Chorus Line," Bettiol said, the last big conversation between the director and the dancers auditioning is about what would the dancers do if they couldn't act. The musical shows people what these performers go through to get a role, even if it's an ensemble part. And it shows, she said, how they still love it and still go for it despite the outcome.
Asked what they would do if they couldn't dance anymore, both agreed they wouldn't open a dance studio of their own. It's too much work.
"I'd still like to be involved in theater somehow," said Bettiol.
Dixon agreed. He said he'd still want to be involved in theater, even if was just acting and no dancing.
While Dixon didn't really have to audition for Michaels for the WWT shows this year, Bettiol said she auditioned for him twice.
"Every audition related to the show, whether it's Scott or someone else," Bettiol said, is the same. In the back of your mind, there's always the questions of if you have the right look, the right hair and do you have it, she said.
Michaels asked Bettiol to be the dance captain for "A Chorus Line." As the dance captain, she said, she is responsible for learning all the choreography for all the men and women, duos and trios. She has to learn all the dancing for everyone so she can help tweak things with the other performers when Michaels is busy.
"I'm just another set of eyes," she said.
In "A Chorus Line," there are three basic styles of dance - jazz, ballet and soft-shoe tap.
"I don't have a favorite type of dancing. I really enjoy all the dances," said Bettiol.
Dixon said he prefers the ballet combination part of the show because that's what he prefers.
Bettiol said a lot of people think "A Chorus Line" is a dance show. It's about the dancers/performers, but only the opening and closing sections are heavy on the dancing. In between is character development.
Dixon said he thinks it's interesting to see all the characters develop and audiences get to see them as individuals, but at the end, they all become a part of a group and their individuality is shed.
"An ironic twist, I guess," he said.
Along with Dixon and Bettiol, the cast includes Rachel MacIsaac as Cassie, Ashley Travis as Valerie, Jennie Sophia as Sheila, Andrew Laudel as Mike, David Glenwright as Bobby, Ryan Castillo as Paul and John Rapson as the director.
"I've had a fabulous time with this cast," said Bettiol. "I can't say enough about them."
She said they all get along great. There's no cliques, no one is left out and they help each other out.
Dixon said performing at the WWT helps him out a lot. He gets to watch and learn from other performers who have been to college, been in other shows elsewhere and gets to see their process. He can then take what he learns and apply it to shows at WCHS and beyond.
And one last note. Dixon and Bettiol said the stage show shouldn't be judged on the movie version. They have many differences, and the stage version is better.
"A Chorus Line" runs through Aug. 8 at the Wagon Wheel. Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 years old through college are $16, and children 12 years old and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. To order tickets, or for more information, call the box office at 574-267-8041 or toll free at 866-823-2618, or online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
