Q&A with Erica Cenci (Bebe)

We round out our week of rapid-fire ACL cast Q&As by chatting with Erica Cenci. Erica, who plays the wide-eyed Bebe on the line, is feeling the hometown love at the moment. As a native Jersey girl, she has the distinct pleasure of wrapping up her time with the show by playing Newark, NJ. As soon as you finish reading what Erica’s favorite moments on the tour have been and what got her into dance in the first place, run (don’t walk) to NJPAC because there are only 4 more chances to see A Chorus Line before it heads to Japan!

Name

Erica Cenci

Role

Bebe Benzenheimer

Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.

My favorite part of the show is the name section, when every person gets a chance to step forward and introduce themselves to Zach. It’s the first moment you get to see each of the characters as individuals and how they are doing that day: some are nervous, some are excited, some are brand new to auditioning, some are not, etc.

In the show, Bebe shares with Zach the experiences in her past that inspired her to dance. What inspired you in your younger years to want to dance / perform?

I always had a very active imagination and dancing proved to be an easy outlet for my creativity. It didn’t hurt that at the end of the year I got to play dress up and put on a pretty costume!

How does it feel to be finishing up the tour in your home state?!

It is an amazing feeling! I was able to reach out to a lot of my friends, family and teachers and invite them to come see what I’ve been a part of this year. While it will be nerve wracking, I can’t help but feel like I have some sort of home field advantage… NJ audiences are the best!

What was the funniest thing that happened to you on or offstage on the tour?

We took a group trip to a haunted house in Ohio around Halloween and our bus driver Wayne came along. He knew how easily scared I am and kept telling the monsters and creepers inside the haunted house to say my name and bother me. Needless to say, I’ve never been so scared in my life! Clearly I wasn’t laughing at the time, but now I can look at the pictures of that night and laugh.

Which was your favorite stop on the tour and why?

Beaver Creek, Colorado. It was only for one night, and we had almost no time to walk around, but it was winter and we stayed very close to the ski slopes! I love to ski and had never been to Colorado, so I was in heaven! The theatre was beautiful and in the middle of a very ritzy ski resort. I really didn’t want to get back on the bus the next morning!

Name one item you could not have lived without while on the road.

My copy of The New Yorker! I loved still feeling somewhat connected to New York and without it the bus rides would have been unbearable!

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show what would it be and why?

Gypsy with Ethel Merman. Listening to her voice on CD is one thing, but I would love to experience her power in person.

What is your favorite show tune and why?

This question is too hard to answer! I would have to say I have different favorite songs based on my moods. When I am testy and worked up I love listening to something with a driving beat and fast lyrics, say Next to Normal. But when I am happy and loving life I prefer something with tight harmonies and beautiful melodies, say Sunday in the Park with George.

What are the top five most listened to songs on your iPod?

“Nobody’s Home” - Avril Lavigne, “Accidentally in Love” - Counting Crows, “Better Off” - Ashley Simpson (I clearly need help!), “Things to Come” - Martin Sexton, “Breakaway” - Kelly Clarkson

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

Wedding reality shows and food reality shows. I become immovable; impossibly glued to my TV.

The world is dying to know… what are your plans for after A Chorus Line?

BROADWAY! Just kidding… I will spend time settling into my new apartment in NYC and getting back into dance class.

Q&A with Julia Freyer (Judy)

What’s tall, funny and smiles all over? Judy Turner of course! But those descriptors could just as easily be applied to the wonderful young actress who has been playing that role in A Chorus Line since October, Julia Freyer. Julia has a side-splitting take on one of the more outspoken characters on the line and she shares here what she will miss most about embodying this loveable goofball night after night. She also reveals her love for all things Billy Joel, iPhone and, yes, Zefron. Sounds about right!

Name

Julia Freyer

Role

Number 23, Judy Turner!

Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.

There are so many beautiful moments! I love the “Ballet Blaze” - the moment in At The Ballet when as the music swells, Maggie reaches her big, gorgeous vocal moment, the mirrors flip around, the lights change and all of us on the line turn front and do a hot few counts of ballet. I also love the “And here we go….” moment at the end of the opening after we give Larry our headshots. Breathe, adjust the leotard, wipe the forehead sweat, deeper breath and hit the logo pose!

Judy Turner must be a very enjoyable character to play night after night. What aspect of her will you miss the most when you finish the tour?

I am going to miss Judy as a human being - she is this positive ray of light on the line. I am totally, 100% happy when I am in Judy Turner mode. I think a great deal of that is due to the fact she is such a genuine person. Judy always THROWS herself fully into everything she does and when it backfires, she has the ability to laugh at herself. I LOVE that about her. I also think Judy is awed by each person at the audition and wants everyone to succeed… so to be honest, I am going to miss having “front row seats” to everyone’s audition!! Also, I’m going to miss standing pigeon-toed and knock-kneed… it’s been fun trying to figure out how many ways I can contort my ankles!

Your Tina Turner is funnier than any we have ever seen. From where did you draw your spot-on Tina impersonation?

The first day of rehearsal I just pictured Tina Turner in my head from “Diva” specials on VH1 and tried my best to imitate the way she throws her body around. Baayork had to rein me in… a little too much Proud Mary was pouring out of me.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you on or offstage on the tour?

Gosh, I laugh a lot. Erica Cenci falling off the hotel bed in Reno due to a bad case of the burps was a good laugh. Also, Paul Flanagan’s morning bed-head brings me great amounts of joy.

Which was your favorite stop on the tour and why?

Early on in tour, we played Penn State University (my alma mater!). It was THE BEST DAY. A bunch of my best friends / classmates came back to PSU from New York on the Megabus to see the show. At night, A Chorus Line performed in the theatre on campus my friends and I used to see tours at while we were still in school. I was pinching myself before the show to believe it was actually happening! The show was totally bizarre, out of body and an incredibly special experience. After the show, I took the cast out to experience a little Penn State night-life… one cast member was quoted to say, “Penn State is the new Vegas.”

Name one item you could not have lived without while on the road.

My mom and my boyfriend. But since they aren’t items, I’ll go with my iPhone. I judge myself so harshly for choosing technology! But, it’s made staying in contact with everyone from home so much easier. Plus, “Words with Friends” helps pass time on the bus, the “Yelp” application helps find anything we need in each new city AND my iPhone allows me to “like” Facebook statuses in such a timely manner!!

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show what would it be and why?

Movin’ Out! It wasn’t that long ago, but it is my all-time favorite… if I could time travel, I would just sit in the theatre and watch it over and over again because it makes me so happy. There is something about the combination of Twyla Tharp direction / choreography set to the tune of Billy Joel music that just is IT. I would kill to just step, touch in the back of a Movin’ Out production.

What is your favorite showtune and why?

Oh, it always changes! A constant favorite is “Johanna” from Sweeney Todd—but like the 3rd time it is sung in the show (I fondly call it “Track 5”) when everyone (Sweeney, Anthony, Johanna, the Beggar Woman) joins in. It’s dramatic musical theatre gold. My friends and I like to sing along to it in the car and play every role… CITY ON FIREEEEEE!

What are the top five most listened to songs on your iPod?

They are all mellow lately because my iPod is always on when I sleep on the bus…
1. “Vienna” by Billy Joel
2. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
3. “Stop This Train” by John Mayer (the “Where The Light Is” version)
4. “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele (the boys in our show turned me onto her new CD… AMAZING)
5. “So Far Away” by Carole King

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

Zac Efron.

The world is dying to know… what are your plans for after A Chorus Line?

First, I am going grocery shopping… I miss quality time in the kitchen so much!

Q&A with Rylyn Juliano (Cassie)

Over the course of our A Chorus Line tour, Rylyn Juliano has taken a role that many actors twice her age find incredibly challenging and made it look altogether effortless. But that doesn’t mean it has been! As the past-her-prime dancer Cassie Ferguson, Rylyn carried more than her fair share of the show’s dramatic weight but also had the task of pulling the behemoth dance solo in “The Music and the Mirror” out of her back pocket every day (sometimes twice!). Read on to find out how she conditioned herself for these responsibilities and how her Cassie changed since the tour’s premiere.

Name

Rylyn Juliano

Role

Cassie

Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.

I would have to say my favorite song in the entire show has, and always will be, “At the Ballet.” I have always loved that song and remember listening to it and dancing around my family room to it when I was really little. It is just so beautiful.

Cassie must be a very challenging role to play… dramatically, vocally and physically. What part of playing her did you find the most challenging?

I think all aspects of the character have presented their own challenges. Dramatically: being able to keep the moments fresh and the scenes in the moment, finding new thoughts and feelings for the character has been something I have truly enjoyed and will miss exploring. Vocally: pacing myself knowing when it is okay to go out and have fun with the cast and when it is most important to conserve for the show. And Physically: Getting off that bus and having the ethic to work out, warm up and do the show. These are all life lessons that I have been so fortunate to learn while being on tour. So invaluable!

How did your Cassie evolve over the course of the tour?

The dance became my own while staying within the Bennett technique. It has been so wonderful to find new thoughts and feelings to fuel the intention of the dance. Also my relationship with Zach has become so much more than I could have ever imagined. Being on stage with Ryan every night and being able to trust one another the way we do is, professionally, a real treat and I feel so fortunate to have gone through everything I have with him right there beside me.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you on or offstage on the tour?

Too many... but if I had to pick one it would be when Frank (David Glenwright) slid on his new shoes and did a full on baseball slide into his groups of four in the opening. Don and I could barely keep it together!

Which was your favorite stop on the tour and why?

The entire West Coast. It was my first time out there and I fell in love! It was not too bad calling home in January and hearing about the snow storms of upstate NY while lounging by the pool with the cast! Also, one of my very best friends moved out there and I was able to spend a bunch of time with her! So beautiful and I cannot wait to get back there!

Name one item you could not have lived without while on the road.

My iPhone, and all that goes with it! NY Times app, Pandora Radio and of course the Around Me app to get me to the closest Starbucks!

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show what would it be and why?

Honestly I would LOVE to be able to see A Chorus Line. It is so iconic and it would be amazing to see the original cast, especially after working with Baayork.

What is your favorite showtune and why?

“Send in the Clowns”… I finally saw A Little Night Music right before rehearsals and seeing Bernadette Peters perform this song was something I will never forget. She is terrific and truly inspiring.

What are the top five most listened to songs on your iPod?

Okay…
“Dog Days are Over” - Florence and the Machine
“Out of My League” - Stephen Speaks
“Love Me Do” - The Beatles
“Little Secrets” - Passion Pit
“Don’t Stop the Music” - Jamie Cullum

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

Pretty Little Liars. Get into it!!!!!

The world is dying to know… what are your plans for after A Chorus Line?

Moving back to NY!!! I will be spending the summer catching up with friends and family and teaching at my Mom’s dance studio for her Summer Season. And of course, AUDITIONING!

Q&A with Hardy Weaver

If George Hamilton could be a movie star, then Hardy Weaver could be… well, one of the comedic highlights of A Chorus Line. As the wonderfully droll Bobby, Weaver has epitomized wit and mischief every night for the past seven months thanks in no small part to the side-splitting monologue he has perfected for his character. In this blog entry, Hardy gives us a glimpse of what goes into making that scene so formulaically funny and also shares how he and Bobby were kindred troublemaking spirits as children.

Name

Matthew Hardy Weaver (the First)

Role

Bobby

Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.

I love being a part of the final kick line. The first time we did it, I was boo-hooing with a goofy smile on my face. It’s an amazing feeling being part of such an iconic and recognizable moment in musical theatre history.

Monologues are tricky to pull off for any actor, but many people might be surprised to know there’s just as much work that goes into comedic monologues as in dramatic monologues. What were your secrets for keeping Bobby’s monologue fresh over the course of the tour?

Comedy is such a delicate thing. People think you can get up and say a funny line and people will automatically laugh. Not the case. Timing is so important and if you deliver a punch line a second too early or too late, it bombs. My biggest “secret” is studying comedic geniuses. Since the age of 10 I’ve watched shows such as I Love Lucy and Golden Girls. Yes, I do watch them for entertainment, but I really do study these amazing actors and how they set up, deliver, and play comedy. My cast-mates sometimes catch me on the bus mouthing a scene between Lucy and Ethel or Dorothy and Rose. When it comes to monologues, comedic or dramatic, I always think of it like jazz music: you start in one place and you never know where you will end up. You have to be willing to go with the flow and embrace the fact that new reactions and intentions might come out of nowhere. I love it.

As a child, were you ever as outlandish as Bobby?

Oh yes! Before we started rehearsals, I was trying to figure out Bobby and I made a list of all the weird things I did as a child. I went through a phase where I wanted my Doritos toasted, so I would individually burn them to a crisp with a lighter. I tried to make a lizard into a paratrooper by tying a mini parachute to it and having it float down from my clubhouse. And, like Bobby, I had many staged productions. There’s many a photo of me and my childhood friends putting on an original production of “The G.I. and the Olympic Swimmer Attack Boppo, the Defenseless Clown”.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you on or offstage on the tour?

Julia Freyer. She is the funniest thing that has happened to me on tour. It’s tough to make me truly laugh out loud, but she is able to have me in stitches at the drop of a hat. Curse you, Judy Turner.

Which was your favorite stop on the tour and why?

Our recent stop in Baton Rouge was wonderful, because I had so many family and friends from New Orleans up to see the show (in a fancy limo bus, mind you). Kayaking on the Pacific in Santa Barbara and visiting Lincoln’s home and museum in Springfield, Illinois also top my list.

Hardy Weaver as Bobby in A CHORUS LINE
Photo by Phil Martin

Name one item you could not have lived without while on the road.

My iPod. Singing is the one thing I cannot go a day without doing. Before every show I need to vocally warm up, but I also need to sing and lose myself in some other moment.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show what would it be and why?

Ay Chihuahua, this is tough. I would kill to have been at any premiere of a Sondheim show (namely Sunday in the Park with George and Sweeney Todd). I would love to have seen the original production and cast of Ragtime. What a show.

What is your favorite showtune and why?

“How Glory Goes” from Floyd Collins. I did the show and played Floyd my senior year of high school and didn’t realize fully, at the time, what a magical opportunity I was given. It is a big dream of mine to revisit this show and that song.

What are the top five most listened to songs on your iPod?

1. “Therapy” by India.Arie
2. “Glitter in the Air” by P!nk
3. “Up the Ladder to the Roof” sung by Sherie Rene Scott
4. “Hang With Me” by Robyn
5. “Shark in the Water” by V.V. Brown

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

America’s Next Top Model. My college friends and I still do photo shoots. You wanna be on top?

The world is dying to know… what are your plans for after A Chorus Line?

My plan is to stay in New York for a week or two and visit with friends and then head back to my beautiful home city of New Orleans and take some time to enjoy home, family, and friends. There is no city like it and I encourage everyone to take a trip down to the Crescent City. I’m planning on spending most of the summer there and then moving back up to New York. Back to a life of auditioning!

It’s the final week of U.S. performances on the A Chorus Line tour! We at the On the Line blog wanted to take this opportunity to flood you, dear reader, with a week’s worth of brand new cast member entries. First up is the incomparable Netanel Bellaishe, our ever fearless dance captain who you may more immediately recognize as Larry, Zach’s dutiful assistant. The show doesn’t give you very many opportunities to get to know Larry… and we wanted to rectify that issue. Read on to learn about Netanel’s favorite moments in the show and what makes his Larry tick.

Name

Netanel Bellaishe

Role

Larry

Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.

I think I’d have to say my favorite moment in the show is the Cassie scene / dance. Honestly Cassie would have to be my dream role in this show, funny enough. The character of Cassie and I share a common truth about the stage. This urge to be on it as a platform of giving yourself to the audience.

I always say one’s purpose in life is invested in others. Cassie discovers that the hard way. Failing to become a “star” admitting she is but a dancer. Just wishes for a chance to dance for someone. In other words, to be given the privilege to give. That about sums up why I’m in the business.

Larry is the one featured player in A Chorus Line who is integral to the plot, yet the audience does not get to learn a lot about. What about your Larry would readers be surprised to know?

My Larry has big plans to accomplish. Being Zach’s right hand is highly appreciated by Larry, however he sees himself as no less of a choreographer and a director than Zach. Larry’s intentions are to help Zach put on this show and then start his own company. He also feels like his career as a performer is not over yet. As I said, Larry has big plans… He is just waiting for the right moment. 

You have to keep the company on its toes night after night as dance captain. There are several varieties of dance demonstrated throughout the show. Which style comes most naturally to the cast and which ones require a little extra upkeep?

“Naturally” is a very tricky word when dealing with dance captaining :) The hard task is to allow the space for the “self” of every dancer within the tight boundaries of the choreography. To answer the question, I would say the classical ballet parts of the show, both in the opening and in the song “At the Ballet,” are the easiest to maintain, for classical ballet is very specific already and a trained dancer is aware of those by default. On top of those ballet specifics come the Bennett specifics, mainly in upper body, whereas the opening for example is pure Bennett style head to toe which makes it harder to maintain.

What was the funniest thing that happened to you on or offstage on the tour?

Well here’s a tale that was not funny at the time but is very funny looking back. Santa Barbara, a day on the beach with Suzanna, Gaspare, Jessi and I. Jessi decides to go for a walk on the beach alone, leaving her stuff with us. So far so normal right? Well, 2 hours pass, the sun is coming down, we start to get hungry and realize there is no sign of Jessi! Her cell phone, wallet, shoes, all left with us. After a quick search on the shore, we decide to leave a note in her shoes with Suzanna’s phone number, hoping she’ll get to it before someone else does, and went about grabbing a bite. All quite worried, we had about four margaritas, start to walk back to the beach and are now very worried as Jessi finally calls saying, “Hey guys! I lost track of time! It wasn’t till the sun came down that I realized I’d been away for a long time!”

How do you not realize you’ve been gone for 3 hours?!?!?

Ho well that’s part of Jessi’s charm :)

Which was your favorite stop on the tour and why?

San Francisco! While spending 3 days off in San Fran, I just had the greatest time mostly with me, myself and I. I took ballet classes at a dance studio right by the hotel every day, I saw The Rock with a few cast members, I took the shuttle to Sausalito, saw the Golden Gate, had an $80 meal in an amazing Italian restaurant, spoke to locals and more... Loved every moment! 

Name one item you could not have lived without while on the road.

My Israeli Turkish Coffee! Tour life made me really flexible, but one thing I couldn’t adjust to is the American coffee!!! So I traveled with 20 packs of ground Turkish coffee made in Israel, an electric kettle and my unique coffee glass from Israel, wrapped inside a traveling mug :) Some things you just can’t change :)

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show what would it be and why?

Pal Joey! Gene Kelly’s debut. Everything that man ever did is sheer perfection in my eyes. When he danced it was a glorious affirmation of everything that it means to be alive! Gene and I spent a lot of quality time on the tour bus. I believed I watched most of his films several times, and I look up to him in many ways.

What is your favorite showtune and why? 

“What I Did for Love” would have to be it. I do have a strong connection to what the song is saying, being an aging dancer ;) However the real reason is that during the show, come this song, I am in the quick change room with Gaspare and Ryan, and I enjoy singing along an octave above into Gaspare’s ear and watch him get annoyed every time! While Ryan helps me with some harmonies :))
 
What are the top five most listened to songs on your iPod?

1. The recording of my voice lesson that I vocalize with every day 2. The recording I did of our musicians Sean (flute) and Clair (trombone) of a Hebrew Israeli musical song called “There’s a Place”
3,4,5. My ballet class music playlist that I warm up to every day. Fascinating I know! :)

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

I proudly admit I do not! I’m old school... very :)

The world is dying to know… what are your plans for after A Chorus Line?

Save the world, of course! And apart from that go visit my family in Israel that I haven’t seen in a year! I try not to plan beyond that. I trust my destiny to reveal itself to me at the right moment. I go where I’m needed most. May the Force be with us all!!! ;))))