A conversation with Molly Lajoie, the director and choreographer of A CHORUS LINE at TheaterWorks

Molly Lajoie (right) and the cast of TheaterWorks' A Chorus Line in rehearsals
photo by JT Turner

by Monica Sampson

“A-Five, six, seven, eight! God, I hope I get it. I hope I get it.”

Those are the famous lines uttered by nervous actors as they step on stage for the first time in the nine time Tony Award winning A Chorus Line, and Arizona audiences can enjoy the smell of the greasepaint and the rush of the crowd again in TheaterWorks' production of this groundbreaking musical, which opens tonight and runs through March 4th.

The show was based off of interviews with actual dancers and their experiences, and in true Chorus Line fashion, PHX Stages sat down with Molly Lajoie the Director and Choreographer for this TheaterWorks production, to hear a little about her own theater experience and have a sneak peak into her directorial process for this production and the show’s themes, and overall impact on the Valley.

“I can’t see myself doing anything else” said Lajoie, on a static phone line, stuck in rush hour traffic on the way to rehearsal.

In addition to appearing in dozens of shows at theatres across the Valley and providing choreography for many others, Lajoie’s desire to direct and choreograph a production of this musical comes from her own acting background, and the time she spent time preparing for this show by acting in it twice, before transitioning into the role of director.

“There's just something about this piece,” said Lajoie, “It never really gets old. Audiences love seeing that opening number, and from that moment the lights come up on stage they’re hooked.”

Molly Lajoie

For Lajoie the process of making this show is more than personal, it feels like a love story, or narrative written especially for Phoenix actors. This is because the show itself is about the story of actors, as they audition for a role in a musical.

In the original production, the actors were based off real actors in New York, and their stories were turned into the music and lyrics we all know, and love. Some of the dancers interviewed even appeared in the original production, playing versions of themselves and reenacting their own life experiences on stage. The story became a relatable tale for actors and audiences as they grew to love the characters fighting for their dreams. Lajoie related the struggle of auditioning, and the connections the actors form in the show as similar to the process Phoenix actors have all gone through, and the connections, bonds, and struggles they inevitably form.

“We are so blessed,” said Lajoie, voice cracking a little as she began thinking about her own ensemble of supportive actors, and theater friends in the valley.

“I really think actors in Phoenix are so supportive of one another, everyone wants to succeed, and we all help one another get there, and that's a lot of what you see in this show too.” She continued by saying, “The story is so heartfelt, its beautiful to see what new spins every actor puts on the characters we all know and love so well.”

Some new and exciting takes on the show can be seen in the use of lightning, as Lajoie described, this version relies heavily on lighting, with a minimal set that, similar to the original Broadway production, features gorgeous tall mirrors, especially choreographed to capture the bodies, and facial expressions of the actors as they glide across the stage.

This might not be the first Chorus Line to hit the Valley, nor will it be the last, but with Lajoie's level of direction and dedication, TheaterWorks' production, to quote a famous line from the musical, looks like it will definitely be, "one singular sensation!"

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through March 4th