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!

A Chorus Line's Cassandra Hlong (Connie)

Check out this video featuring A Chorus Line's Cassandra Hlong, who plays the role of Connie and gives a shout-out to North Carolina! The tour will perform at The Walker Center in Wilkesboro on April 7, 2011!



For tickets and more information, visit www.achorusline.com.

On the Line with Baayork Lee: The Cultural Impact of A Chorus Line

In the latest episode of "On the Line with Baayork Lee," Baayork talks about how the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line influenced America and how, 35 years later, the show still impacts the theatre and TV industries, including its influences on reality shows such as "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With The Stars." Watch "On the Line with Baayork Lee" video below!



For more information about the national tour, visit the official website at www.achorusline.com.

A Chorus Line's Netanel Bellaishe (Larry)

Check out this video shout-out from Netanel Bellaishe (Larry) in the NETworks Presentations' 2010-2011 national touring company of A CHORUS LINE.

For tickets and more information, visit www.achorusline.com

Q&A with David Grindrod

It’s hard standing on stage every night and talking about gonorrhea. Scratch that… it would be hard if you didn’t have an incredible sense of humor like A Chorus Line cast member David Grindrod. As the impressionable Mark, David has to feign immaturity and insecurity every night on the road. The real deal is anything but, as this thoroughly hysterical blog post shows. After you’ve finished reading, make sure to check out his own blog (complete with video and tour shenanigans) at http://www.dgrin63.blog.com/!

Name

David Grindrod

Role

Mark Anthony (Really Mark Philip Lawrence Tabori)


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

After doing the show 75 times I know every word of the show. I know when the audience is going to laugh. I know when my body is going to start complaining. I also know standing next to Jessi Trauth (Val) makes life on the line so wonderful. We keep each other smiling and giggling through the show. My favorite part of the show is whenever that cutie pie is looking my way!

Mark is a guy who goes through a lot of changes in his life. We know the tour is only half over, but how do you think you've changed since being on the road with A Chorus Line?

My mom told me that before she went to college she was very shy and quiet. When she left she decided that she was going to throw her shyness in the trash and be “chatty cathy.” This was a success for her! She asked me if I was planning on changing anything about myself as I headed off to college. I was kind of insulted. I thought I was pretty perfect. I asked if she had any suggestions. She said, "You might what to stop with the hugging random people." HOW RUDE! Unfortunately or fortunately this trait has not left me! So, if you come see the show, stay after and I will be overjoyed to say hello and I will be glad to give you a huge hug! As I headed out on tour, my mother knew not to ask me this question again, but I did think about it…

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

In Richmond, VA it was about ten minutes until places and I am getting dressed. I put on my costume pants and the bottom of the pants go all the way up to my shins. The “ready for a flood” look is not attractive. Backstage in this theatre had probably 68 flights of stairs. I go running down the stairs looking for wardrobe. After 5 minutes I finally found it! The wardrobe lady says, "Take them off." She irons them to stretch them out. I am standing there with no pants. It’s not a cute look for me. I won't get too descriptive, but my legs haven't seen the sun in about 4 years. Then I hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, break a leg, and places please, places please." CRAP! I am still standing there with no pants! I quickly put my pants back on and run up 68 flights of stairs. I just made it in time for "step, kick, kick, leap, step, touch." Phew!

Near the end of the song, “What I Did for Love”, the music drops out and we just sing "What I did for.....(breath) loooooooovvvvvvveeee! In Pueblo, Colorado, we get to this point and its “What I did for (SNEEZE) looooooooovvvvveeeeeee!” Someone in the audience had a perfectly placed sneeze. It was hysterical!

A little birdie told us that Baayork Lee is obsessed with your sense of humor. If you two were to star in a sitcom, what would the name of it be and how many seasons would it run?

My life would be so wonderful if Baayork and I had show! It would be called "I'm Trying to Get a 6-pack, and You Keep Feeding Me Cookies!" Here’s the reality. Baayork told us she wanted us to look great in the very tight costumes. She expected us all to have 6-packs. She made us do this hour-long warm-up before every rehearsal and every show. The warm-up includes approximately 64 million crunches, 97 thousand sit ups, and 78 hours of these weird pelvis thrust things. We were all feeling good about our abs. Then about halfway through rehearsal Baayork would pull out these huge trays of cookies! Some people thought it was a test. If it was a test, I failed. I can't turn down a cookie (it was the Pepperidge Farm variety tray!). On our sitcom there would be an invited guest. On one side of the set, I would be laying on my yoga mat doing sit ups. On the other side, Baayork would be sitting with a tray of Pepperidge Farm Cookies. The guest would have to choose to do sit-ups with me or eat cookies with Baayork. It would be a huge hit for seven seasons and bring us success for the rest of our lives so we will finally be able to get off our diets, get in the car with our husbands, drive up to our 50 acres in Vermont, dance around our kitchen cooking, (making our own cookies) and enjoy getting fat!

Which past tour stop has been your favorite thus far and why?

I loved Charleston, SC. My sister goes to school there, lucky girl! We had a great time walking around the beautiful historic town. Okay I just said that to make myself sound smart. Historic towns aren't really my cup of tea, but I loved the pralines. What's a praline, you ask! It's some yummy candy and there are always free samples. Let's be honest, what's better than free candy!

David Grindrod as Mark in A CHORUS LINE
Photo by Phil Martin.

Name one item you can't live without while on the road.

Hardy! Well, he's not an item, he's my bus buddy. Hardy plays Bobby, who is very mean to my character, Mark, onstage. Offstage Hardy keeps me laughing. He is also very well-educated. We have a “word of the day.” He teaches me a big word and I will use it, or attempt to use it throughout the day. He also encourages me to read, which I don't do, but he is trying. We spend hours and hours and hours sitting next to each other and not once has he ever smelled stinky. Granted we are only half way done, but so far so good. (I'll keep you posted!)

What is your favorite Broadway show and why?

Ugh! Why this question? So much stress! "Who's your favorite child?" Okay, okay, okay. I love West Side Story, tick, tick, BOOM, and A Chorus Line. I am not just saying that either! It's true! I really loved this show. Often, when I see a show, I can list things I didn't like. I saw A Chorus Line the first time and I said "I have to be in that show." The show is just perfect. Love it!

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

- The entire soundtrack from the film "UP" (Great music to listen to when you just need something pretty lingering in your ears.)
- “Free Fallin'” - John Mayer (This is my sister’s favorite song. Whenever we drive anywhere together, we open the window and belt this out!)
- “Seize the Day” from Newsies (This is my pre-show song for the 8th show of the week, the 5th city, and I am in need for some kind of inspiration!)
- “Sunday Morning” - Maroon 5 (Just a great song.)
- “Umbrella Beach” - Owl City (For spontaneous dance parties...which are not so rare in my life!)

Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?

Ugh twitter. I love it, but hate it. I find it so weird, but I have one and I love it. (http://twitter.com/DGrin63)


If you had to pick just one, would you describe yourself as peripatetic, poetic or chic? Why?

Chic, because I am not poetic at all. Words are not my specialty. I'm not peripatetic, well I don't think I am, I don't have a clue what that means, So chic is my only option, as I sit on the bus in sweat pants and bright orange sweatshirt... oh so chic!

I have my own blog! Follow my experiences on tour! http://www.dgrin63.blog.com/

On the Line with Baayork Lee: Michael Bennett "The Genius"

In this month's episode of "On the Line with Baayork Lee," Baayork reflects on working with A Chorus Line's original creator, Michael Bennett. Don't miss this video!



For more information about the national tour, visit the official website at www.achorusline.com.

Welcome!

Welcome to On the Line! This is the official blog for the national tour A Chorus Line produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC.

The Company of A CHORUS LINE performs "One" (Photo by Phil Martin)

Don't miss "On the Line with Baayork Lee"! In this first video, A Chorus Line on Tour's Director/Choreographer Baayork Lee discusses the intense hour-long warm-up she designed specifically for the cast.



For more information about the national tour, visit the official website at www.achorusline.com.