Every Little Step is a riveting 2008 documentary that chronicles the audition process for the 2005 Broadway revival of A CHORUS LINE, that not only provides an intimate behind the scenes look at the audition process for the production, but includes archival footage from the original 1975 production and interviews with original cast members as well as the show's creator, the late Michael Bennett.
As expected, the documentary begins with quick interviews with hopefuls in line outside the theater explaining what the show means to them. We then move inside the studio where Baayork Lee, who played Connie in the original production, shows the auditionees the jazz and ballet combination in the show before the initial elimination.
The film then alternates between the audition process and a look at the original production, which included some background on Michael Bennett, some provided by original cast member Donna McKechnie, which even features some old footage of Bennett and McKechnie dancing together on Hullabaloo.
As the auditionees are eliminated, focus is shifted to a few of the individual dancers working to be cast. We meet a girl who drove into Manhattan from Parsippany, New Jersey, who ends up being one of the finalists for the role of Val. We watch several girls butcher Maggie's closing solo during "At the Ballet" and we meet a dance legacy, Charlotte D'Ambroise, a Cassie finalist, who is the daughter of legendary ballet dancer Jacques D'Ambroise, who is also featured in a very touching interview. We also meet three guys auditioning for the role of Mike, including an extremely arrogant Tyce Diorio, who would go on to be a judge on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.
Best of all, we are allowed to witness the audition of a young dancer named Jason Tam, whose performance of the monologue by the Paul character brought tears to the eyes of everyone at the audition table, as well as my own...probably the only character who was cast instantly...he was even better than original Paul, Sammy Williams.
There were some sad elements showcased here, notably watching poor Baayork Lee, whose career has gone nowhere since the original 1975 production and has made a life out of choreographing revivals of the show and it was kind of sad watching the clearly out of shape Lee showing young nubile dancers the combinations. I was also moved by the plight of Rachelle Rak, a finalist for the role of Sheila, who was in the original cast of FOSSE, being told after multiple auditions, that she needed to bring something back to her reading of the role that she did during the first audition, but couldn't remember what she did nor was unable to recreate it.
For dancers and lovers of musical theater, this is a must.
As expected, the documentary begins with quick interviews with hopefuls in line outside the theater explaining what the show means to them. We then move inside the studio where Baayork Lee, who played Connie in the original production, shows the auditionees the jazz and ballet combination in the show before the initial elimination.
The film then alternates between the audition process and a look at the original production, which included some background on Michael Bennett, some provided by original cast member Donna McKechnie, which even features some old footage of Bennett and McKechnie dancing together on Hullabaloo.
As the auditionees are eliminated, focus is shifted to a few of the individual dancers working to be cast. We meet a girl who drove into Manhattan from Parsippany, New Jersey, who ends up being one of the finalists for the role of Val. We watch several girls butcher Maggie's closing solo during "At the Ballet" and we meet a dance legacy, Charlotte D'Ambroise, a Cassie finalist, who is the daughter of legendary ballet dancer Jacques D'Ambroise, who is also featured in a very touching interview. We also meet three guys auditioning for the role of Mike, including an extremely arrogant Tyce Diorio, who would go on to be a judge on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.
Best of all, we are allowed to witness the audition of a young dancer named Jason Tam, whose performance of the monologue by the Paul character brought tears to the eyes of everyone at the audition table, as well as my own...probably the only character who was cast instantly...he was even better than original Paul, Sammy Williams.
There were some sad elements showcased here, notably watching poor Baayork Lee, whose career has gone nowhere since the original 1975 production and has made a life out of choreographing revivals of the show and it was kind of sad watching the clearly out of shape Lee showing young nubile dancers the combinations. I was also moved by the plight of Rachelle Rak, a finalist for the role of Sheila, who was in the original cast of FOSSE, being told after multiple auditions, that she needed to bring something back to her reading of the role that she did during the first audition, but couldn't remember what she did nor was unable to recreate it.
For dancers and lovers of musical theater, this is a must.