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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday, Octobe: ‘A Chorus Line’ Proves A Singular Sensation For Westminster Players D3 Cardall’s Inspirational Life Plays Like an Evans Novel BY SCOTT C. MORGAN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Whether a locket, letter or Christmasbox, it seemsthere is BY CE THE. BAKER LT LAKETRIBUNE The Westminster Play- And manywhohear thecast of Line” in the Lees Cour- “Dear God, I need this job!” “A Chorus Line” vocalize those desperate words can relate to havingto beatout the competition to foliow a dream, or maybe just to keep bread onthetable. “A ChorusLine” is the storyof dancers — “gypsies” audition. ing for a few coveted spots in the chorusline of a Broadway show. ‘The fabric of the drama was wovenfrom transcripts of interviews with honest-to-goodness Broad- way dancers — some who would never makeit, others whose glory days were already ancient history, and a fewpoised on the cusp of ing Arts, 1250 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City, Thursday, Friday and Nov.7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the role of Zach, the seemingly omnipotent director of the audition. Composer Marvin Hamlisch, who had no previous Broadway experience, was engaged to write the score. In an interview with The Tribune earlier this year, Hamlisch said, “Ofall the experiences in my career, I would have that working on ‘A Chorus Line’ with Michael Bennett has been the most significant. I’m enormously proud of the work we did.” Michael Vought, director of the theater department at albumdeal with NaradaRecords eral and $5 for seniors and children. Call (801) (a division of Virgin Records), Paul Cardall 832-2318. @ In Concert w itions inspired by Evans novels. Westminster, knew that attempting “A Chorus Line” would be a community members, but he says they have exceeded his hopes. He even thinks his cast of nonprofes- and wrote himself into thestory in ze 26, Cardail is riding a owing wave of success. Cardall recently signed a multi 7:30 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 gen- stretchforhis cast of students and idea that became “A ChorusLine” God. Inthe » of Utah pianist and composer Paul Cardall, the ano would serve as that inspi rational object ina real-life story rivals anything cooked up Center for the Perform- bringing the Pulitzer Prize: winning musical drama to the stage of Westminster College’s the 25th anniversary of the show’s 1975 opening. Director-choreographer Michael Bennett came up with the andto strengthentheir beliefin ers present “A Chorus age Theatre ofthe Jewett fame. The Westminster Players are Lees Courage Theatre (in the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts) this week, in anticipation of always some kind ofobject in Richard Paul Evans’ novels to spur characters to understand the redemptive power of love @ A Good Stretch “T need this job!” they sing. tional piano musiccontinues to grow beyond venuesin the In- termountain West, while his as- sional actors has certain advan- sociation with best-selling author Evans has nearly made tages overa cast of professionals. “There’s something magic about this.” said Vought. “Sometimes you can watch profes- sional actor give a perfect performance, andthere's no chemistry. With these kids, there’s so much energy, and it’s so alive. That's what theateris all about — emo- tion. There's a powerthere.” Vought could be the manto harness that power. Like the semi-fictional director in “A Chorus Line,” he is intense and focused. But instead of being remote andchilly, as Zach is, Vought radiates a warmththatpulls his cast into a unit thatfeels like a family. Being a show abouta dance audition, the success of “A Chorus Line” rides on choreography. Ginny Grady came from California, where sheoperates a theater production company, for the task. ‘ah household name. Steve Griffin/TheSalt Lake Tribune Timothy Goins, front, andrest of the Westminster Players rehearse for “A ChorusLine.” In herresearch for the show, she quickly learned that, unlike most musicals, in which the choreographer has some individual leeway, the devoted followers of “A Chorus Line” expect each showto look just like the original. She learned the authentic choreography from the dance captain who works un- der SammyWilliams, who created the role of Paul for Bennett's pro: duction. Williamsis nowdirector said Grady. “I had to do my homework.” Diedre Mavin plays Sheila, whois drawnto the fact that “everythingis beautifulat the ballet.” Shesays, “I've danced since I was a little child. My family always went to manymusicals, and I liked ‘A Chorus Line’ best becauseit wasall about dancing. It gets to the soul of what makes a dancer a dancer. It became so mucha part of a touring companyof “A Cho- of who I was that when I sawthe auditionnotice, I knew I had to do “This play has a lineage and a it. 1 even postponed my gradua- rus Line.” groupoffoliowers who have practically madea religion outof it,” tion from Westminster so that I could bein the show.” Busy Goins Balances ‘ChorusLine,’ ‘Lion King’ and Teaching The characters in “A Chorus Line” dream of landing the big part, but consider themselves blessed if they can snag a spot in the chorus. That shot at a starring role recently came to TimothyGoins, who plays Richiein the Westminsterproduction. And the first thing he said was “no. Inthe midst of rehearsals for “A Chorus Line”andthefirst weeks of a newschool year at Northwest MIddle School, where heis the yocal music anddrama teacher, Goins gota call from Walt Disney Worldin Florida. He had wen astarringrole in the Wild Animal Kingdom's stage production of “The Lion King.” But howdo you walk out on a production like “A Chorus Line”? And how do you leave sses in the middle of a quarter? Goins The story doesn’t end there. The Disney folks must have found what they wanted in Paul Cardall will per. form his piano compositions Tuesday ai the All red Theatre at Weber State University in Ogden. 8 p.m.. tickets $8. His concert schedule for his blend of New Ageandinspira- Goins, because they made him a second offer, agreeing to waituntil “A Chorus Line”finishes its run, and giving him time to finish the first quarterat school and find asuitable substitute. He is going to Floridaafterall, butit isn’t easy. “I've had other offers in the past couple of years, but I’ve become so attached to my job that I've hadto say,‘I can’t leave teaching.’ “T've learned what it’s like to go to a school that doesn’t havea lot of money and teach the kids to create something beautiful andartistic. T'll do this show for a while, but I plan to come backto teaching, because loveit.” Goins was born in Georgiato a theatrical family and started performing onstageat age 3. He cameto Utah to study musical theater on a scholarship at Weber State University, where heoriginated therole of Darrell/Benny in “The Pirated Penzance,” which premiered at the Kennedy Center in 1994. Roles in professional theater, independentfilms and television followed, Despite his blossoming career, Goins has kept the job he took to pay the bills, and along the wayhehas learnedtoloveit. He de- scribes Northwestas “the best middle schoolin the world.” In “A ChorusLine,”Goinsplays Richie, who started outas a basketball player and found his wayinto dancing becauseof his athleticism. “I classify myself as a vocalist who can move, not as a dancer primarily. [The show] has taught mea lot of respect for dance — there’s no faking your way through.” Michael Vought, director of the show, says, “I was worried about casting Richie in Salt LakeCity. You haveto havea black dancer who has a great high tenor voice and can act. We were lucky. We got the best Richie on the planet!” Celia Baker Yaa sean Means' take.in,the Cal “He's really helped meto take mycareerto thenext level,”said Cardall, while praising Evans for “believing in my mus But before Cardall experi- enced his musical successes, he endured health problems and a personalloss. Born with a congenital heart problem, Cardall narrowly survived three lifethreatening open-heart surgeries while growing up. Although heis in goodhealthwith a pace- Theatre in Orem, 8797, and Nov. 5 at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah cam: pus, 581-7100. “(Evans] was inquiring for ussicians who couldcapture the feel of the book. I was lucky said. enoughto get a call.” Since then. Evans has taken Cardall partially under his wing, offering marketing advice and in. viting him to several of his book makerfor his irregular heart rhythm, Cardall says he will probablyneed a hearttransplant in 10 years’ time. Where Cardall’s story starts signings. “Paul has a great virtue - he is genuinely thankful and appreciative for the chance to to sound even morelike some- is wary about CD tie-ins to his thing out of an Evans novel occurred in high school when a novels, Evans has been happyto have Utah composers like Kurt close friend named Dave was killed when he was struck by a car. Although Cardall's piano lessons at age 8 proved unproductive, he composedhis first song,“Dave's Farewell,” to deal with the grief for his friend. Cardall then proceededto produce his own CDof piano playing and compositions called “Sign of Affection” in 1995. While working that holiday season at a downtown mall, Cardall’s playing of “Dave's Farewell” reminded customer Debbie Castleton of her late husband(also named David) so much that she was moved to collaborate together,” said Evans. Even though Evans’ publisher Bestor, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Janice KappPerry andCardall musically interpret his books. Whenspeaking of Cardall, Evanssaid, “I don’t mindlending anamelike TheChristmas Box to be the launching pad for himto prove himself and go in whatever direction he wantstogoin.” Nowadays, Cardall draws most of his inspiration for his music from his two-year marriageto his wife, Lynnette, which Cardall saysis reflected in his music for Evans’latest novel, The Looking Glass. Music for The Looking Glass will take up the larger part of his tears. She later returned to buy more than 100 of his CDs. Cas- upcoming Utah concerts, someof which will be accompanied by tleton later introduced Cardall cellist and guitarist Steven Sharp to Evans and a partnership eventually emerged in which Cardall wrote some music for The Christmas Box. “A lot of people were asking dar section of. Friday's Salt Lake Tril $10 at 1-800-WSU-TIKS, Wednesdayat the Ragan whatthe music for The Christmas Box soundedlike,” Cardall Nelson. Cardall hopes that his music will be helpful to others whoface challenges in their own lives. “T've gone through lot of chal- lenges,andI've learned tobe sen: sitive to what's importantinlife.” 36 weddingsto attend and no time to pick up a gift. You should. have called ZCMI Wedding Registry. Themagic of ksen ge illuminates in thefall. 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