Fifty years ago, A Chorus Line premiered on Broadway.
The hit musical was unlike anything else on stage. It stood out for its focus on the ensemble cast—artists who traditionally blended into the background—and its raw portrayal of the trials, triumphs and humanity behind a Broadway audition. The original production ultimately ran for more than 6,000 performances, making it, at one point, the longest-running show in Broadway history.
Now, VCUarts actors, dancers, and musicians are bringing A Chorus Line to the Singleton Center stage this November.
Landing a celebrated musical in a significant anniversary year is, on its own, a major win—and VCUarts is leaning into the moment by bringing on a guest choreographer and director with deep ties to the production.
Choreographer Matthew Couvillon will restage the original choreography, offering students and audiences an authentic connection to the show’s original Broadway staging. Couvillon not only performed in A Chorus Line but, for more than a decade, he worked as the associate choreographer to Bob Avian, co-choreographer of A Chorus Line, and Baayork Lee, an original cast member.
Nathanial Shaw, an award-winning director and the artistic director of Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre, will serve as the guest director. Shaw also taught a class last spring for performers—who auditioned a year in advance—to help students deepen their understanding of the music and dancing.
“That class also solidified the group,” says Holly Alford, assistant dean, senior director for the performing arts and design. “They were pretty tight by the time rehearsals began, and they had a chance to better understand each other’s discipline.”
The production is the first time all three performing arts departments have joined forces for a single performance. The theatre department is designing sets and costumes. Christopher Hansen, director of choral activities, is serving as the voice coach and Eric Rivera, associate professor of dance, is providing additional guidance on movement.
The performance is also laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration ahead of the departments’ move to the new CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation—a space intentionally designed for creativity and cross-disciplinary integration.
“This production of A Chorus Line embodies the future of VCUarts,” says Dean Carmenita Higginbotham. “Through this yearlong partnership, our music, theatre, and dance students have developed a great appreciation for other disciplines and gained skills and experiences that will open the doors to new avenues of performance.”
