Everyone’s talking ‘change’ these days – but we mostly don’t ever see it. That is not the case in the newly fluffed, re-glittered “A Chorus Line” now playing at the Curran Theatre.

The show now has less talk and more pep. This is the cast that I have been waiting for all these years. Even the walls of the Curran Theatre were smiling. The Curran likes successful shows. It’s a wonderful environment for a show about showbiz. It’s “All About Eve” set to music. A successful dancer (Cassie) who was once a big star in Broadway musicals as a dancer is now a little bit older and parts are hard to come by.

She auditions for a spot in the Chorus Line. Her ex-boyfriend who is the Dance Director/ Choreographer tells her that she is too good for the Chorus. Cassie – begs to be in the Chorus. “I need the money” – she pleads. Others that have been auditioning around town are also hopeful that they will get to be in this Chorus Line. Some will and some won’t. And that is the story about the Dance Musical.

Many of the actors/dancers on the stage have been through actual auditions themselves and have been told that they are not young enough, or not pretty enough are don’t have tight enough buns. Hey, I’ve been through it in New York myself – so I know how it works. You go in – you stand on the stage and someone out there in the dark says, step forward and then it’s you go to one and you stay to someone else – until, 40 of the 50 people are dismissed before they even do a thing.

So “A Chorus Line” is a story within a story. It’s a brutal, but exciting look at Broadway. They don’t Sing, “I hope I get it” for nothing. They really want the part. And the mirrors around the stage only emphasize that.

You’ll cheer for Mike (Clyde Alves) an amazing dancer who could probably dance right up the side of the stage wall. Alves was poetic and powerful at the same time. Emily Fletcher plays one of the slightly older dancers. One of the other dancers asks her “If you had it to do all over again – what would you like to be.” Fletcher says: “Younger.” Sheila (Fletcher) is a tough talking babe – but under the tough outer layer is a woman who has suffered lots of rejection.

Cassie – who basically is the focal point of the show is gorgeous and gives new life to the expansive dance extravaganza (The Music and The Mirror) an exploration of consciousness, if you will. With new dance steps this is now the hottest gutsy performance of “Music and The Mirror” that I have ever seen. And, I’ve seen it at least eight times. This version of “Chorus Line” is the best EVER!” Freeze the cast – and don’t thaw them out until the next performance. Make them last forever.

Paul is small cute and has had a rough life. He is Puerto Rican, but changed his name to sound Italian…thinking that it would make his chances in ShowBiz better. Paul (Kevin Santos) will make your eyes misty as he tells his story.

The big hit song of the show has always been “What I Did For Love” and Gabrielle Ruiz (Diana) sings it in a fresh, viciously alive rendition. It was a knockout! I could be wrong – but it seems to me that “Love” was always Cassie’s song. Please, let me know if I am. There are so many changes in this version that it was easy to forget the other versions.

Most impressive of all, of course is the song “One” with the entire company. It’s a visual knockout that will leave you stunned for a few minutes before you can even get out of your chair, hoping and praying that they will come back one more time. They don’t! And that’s the magic of it all. As Frank Sinatra, said to me once. “Always leave them wanting more.”

Some I have already mentioned but here is the rest of the Chorus: Venny Carranza, John Carroll, Stephanie Gibson, Michael Gruber, Natalie Elise Hall, Derek Hanson, Hollie Howard, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Julie Kotarides, Denis Lambert, Jessica Latshaw, Ian Liberto, Stephanie Martignetti, Sterling Masters, Pilar Millhollen, Colt Prattes, Clifton Samuels, Nikki Snelson, Brandon Tyler, Anthony Wayne, J.R. Whittington, and Jessica Wu.

THE ARE ALL BREATHTAKINGLY EXCITING!

It was the most thrilling, captivating musical I’ve seen this year!