"A Chorus Line" Opening Night!

Hello Family & Friends! I am writing you from Houston, Texas...I never thought I'd be here, but after only 2.5 weeks of rehearsal in NYC over Christmas, here I am for the first stop of the 2010 national tour of "A Chorus Line"! This is my first really big break, as this is the 1st National Broadway Revival Tour, and I get to become a member of Equity (the actor's union) from this gig. I even get to play a role with speaking parts and some solo singing! Not to mention that I'll be living in hotels for the next 5 months, and getting paid to sing and dance! I'm liking tour life so far, that's for sure.


Brief background on the show: Chorus Line was originally created in 1975, and was based on a series of interviews with real chorus dancers - the show developed as a workshop, and a lot of these dancers actually played a version of themselves in the original production. The show became a hit, winning the Tony Award and also the Pulitzer Prize. The 17 characters who stand "on the line" have become iconic through the years!

About my role: Ms. Baayork Lee was the original dance captain of the show back in 1975, she developed and played the role of "Connie Wong", and she went on to choreograph the Broadway Revival of Chorus Line in 2006, and she also is our choreographer for this tour! I get to play her role in the show, and tell her story through the persona of "Connie Wong"...its definitely a lot of pressure, but also a great challenge and an honor! She kicks our butts every day with this boot camp warm up (which she does along with us), she has a TON of energy, and she expects a lot from us but is also very encouraging.

This tour experience is very special because when the tour first went out about a year and half ago, they hired a lot of veteran Broadway talent, but now for this last 6 month leg of the tour, they hired a lot of really young and fresh talent. So for many of us doing Chorus Line, we are in our 20's, having our first big break together, and thus it is a lot of fun and feels like a college trip sometimes :D You can check out the cast bios (including mine) here on the official website: http://www.achorusline.com/tour_cast.php

And now for pictures!

On the bus to the hotel with my friend who plays "Judy", she is an astrophysics major at Columbia University. (I thought I was the only one who did the intellectual major / musical theatre thing!!?? hahaha)



My "home" for the next 2 weeks...not bad, eh?


Jumping on the king size bed was the first thing I did upon arriving:


"Ponky" is my Christmas present from Ma & Pa - he's Pinky's nephew and is a pillow pet, perfect for lots of traveling! He's next to this cool pillow at the hotel that I think is so appropriate for this experience:


My dressing room:


The cast warms up every day in the lobby of the theatre in Houston:


In my costume on opening night, getting into the Asian spirit:


The entire cast right before our opening show, with special attendees...former President George Bush Sr. and his wife, Barbara! They came to our opening because they are fans of the show and requested to come back stage to take a picture...what a great way to open the show!


My own personal pic with George. Of course Ma insisted that I tell him she is a big supporter, and he thought that was very nice :)


With Baayork Lee, our choreographer and the original "Connie Wong":


Autographing a poster at our opening night partay (yes, i'm signing it on a grand piano, i feel so classy!):


This is a really new and exciting experience for me - we learned the show in only 2.5 weeks over Christmas, but now I will end up doing about 150 performances of the same show by the time its done! I have no idea what that will feel like, but I'm excited and will keep you guys updated as tour continues :) Thanks for all of your well-wishes and support, I wouldn't be here living the dream without the support of my family and friends!

Love,
Cayenne / "Connie"