Kevin Santos plays Paul, a gay character, in "A Chorus Line."

What a perfect time for “A Chorus Line,” one of the most acclaimed and popular all-singing, all-dancing musicals in history, to be coming to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. It’s a welcome spring break from the current headlines and weather reports.

The winner of nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize will be on stage for eight performances only — March 24 through March 29. 

The compelling and authentic back-stage story takes place on a bare stage in an empty theater with one breathtaking finale backdrop that always stops the show. It’s only one of the many rousing and touching show-stopping moments in this uplifting musical. And the bare stage gives the cast of seventeen dancers/singers/actors the large amount of uncluttered space that is ideal for a dancing troupe to fully express its seamless fluidity on stage.

The story, inspired by true theatrical experiences, is about the realities – some painful, some exhilarating - of auditioning - the moment performers have worked for every day of their lives - a singular opportunity to sparkle.

The other special treat in store for Hartford audiences is that the director of this national tour is Bob Avian. The original production was co- directed and co-choreographed by him and the legendary Michael Bennett in a workshop collaboration; they also co-created “Dream Girls” and “Ballroom.” Audiences will again see and feel the magic of Bob Avian’s vision for this enduring hit musical.

In this current company there are young exciting performers in the star-making roles that could again lead to major breakthrough performances as they did in 1975. One of the many well-conceived parts is a quiet, shy, introverted Puerto Rican kid named ‘Paul’ who sings “I Hope I Get It.” The character also happens to be gay, and we got an exclusive Metroline interview with the dedicated and passionate performer who won the part. He could become Broadway and Hollywood’s next singular sensation.

Kevin Santos, a young Las Vegas native, has made the role of Paul his own in this “A Chorus Line” tour.  He’s getting glowing personal notices: For instance: “The innocent-faced Kevin Santos does a lovely job with the moving story of Paul, the Nuyorican boy who grew up in seedy drag shows” —Elizabeth Maupin, Orlando Sentinel. "The show’s most heart-wrenching moment comes as Paul (a superbly nuanced performance by Kevin Santos) opens up about coming to terms with his sexuality — both with himself and with his parents.” —Andrea Blum, The News Herald, Michigan. 

We were lucky to catch up with Kevin while the show was in Atlanta. He gave a quick run down on when he started to think about a career in show business, how he mapped out a path that lead to his outstanding professional training right through to his prize role in “A Chorus Line.”

Early on he rode horses competitively, scored high scholastically, and successfully auctioned to win entrance into the prestigious Las Vegas Performing Arts High School - Las Vegas Academy.

After graduation in 2004, he entered New York University where he auditioned and won a place in the “Ivy League” of theater arts — Cap21 (collaborative arts program), a renowned conservatory within the university. Kevin said, “It requires high academic grades,” and added, “It immerses students in jazz, ballet, acting, vocal technique, monologues and dialects.”

Before Kevin graduated in December 2007, casting directors and agents were invited to see the Cap21 students on stage. His performance led to a contract with New York agent Chris Nichols.

Chris worked through the Jay Binder Casting Agency in Manhattan to get Kevin an audition for the part of ‘Paul’ in “A Chorus Line.” He told Metroline just how fast it happened: “Chris arranged for me to audition between 9 and 10:30 a.m.,” and then,” by 11 a.m. I knew I had it — my first job!”

Kevin said, “the gay character of Paul was more shocking back in 1975 than it is today, but it’s still an important part because many of the characters portrayed as ‘gay’ in recent musicals are there for comic relief.” He added, “Paul is a three-dimensional person struggling with his sexuality and his individuality.”

His advice for other young people who want to go into show business is, “Give 120 percent very minute, every hour, every day. Do everything you can. Try everything. Be persistent. Being an actor is showing recognizable human behavior. You can’t be afraid to work at your craft relentlessly.” 

Kevin also attributes his current success to the consistent emotional (and financial support) of his “mom, pa, and step-dad.”  He looks forward to the rest of the tour and then more musical theater as well as regional theater, dance, TV and film. After speaking with this intelligent, well-focused and talented young performer, we immediately thought of a song in the show, “He Can Do That!” 

Laughter is always the best medicine for just about everything from feeling blue to turning blue. And The Bushnell has the perfect fix for both maladies. A national sensation in forty-nine states (plus Bermuda and Canada) is Steve Solomon’s “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy.” It’s an experience that has “twice the holidays, twice the hollering, and twice the guilt!”

It’s one of the longest running one-man shows in history. The laugh fest takes to the stage in The Bushnell’s Belding Theater for one-night only, Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 7:30 p. m. 

Brooklyn-native Steve’s 90-minute smash-hit comedy is inspired by his hilarious family whose sole purpose is to drive him into therapy…and they succeed.

The critics from Variety compared him to a combination of Alan King, Billy Crystal, Don Rickles and George Carlin, to which Steve comments, “I’m honored to be in the same category with those great names.” And Dennis Hamill of the New York Daily News said, “I had a headache from laughing. He’s great!”

The actor/comic told Metroline that he creates “30 different characters with 30 different voices….kind of like Jonathan Winters. Even though my show is scripted, I often go ‘off script’ and improvise, driving the sound and light guys crazy. But I always come back to the chronological source material.”

Last year Regis Philbin saw the show and was so impressed that he spent a full five minutes on “Regis and Kelly” talking about Steve. Said Regis: “You don’t have to be Jewish or Italian; your people can be from anywhere. Lots of us have grandparents who came from the old country, so this will apply to everyone. The stories are the same, no matter what your background is. I didn’t stop laughing the whole time I was in the theater!”

Here’s your chance to enjoy brilliant dancing, exceptional music in “A Chorus Line,” and laugh your tushie off with Steve Solomon’s “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy.”  So, go already!   

For tickets to “A Chorus Line” (March 24 – 29) and “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy” (April 4 only), call toll-free 888-824-2874 or www.bushnell.org.

The authors dedicate this article to Michael Bennett - One Singular Sensation. (1942 -1987)

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