The engaging documentary Every Little Step threatens to be woefully insular–after all, it’s about dancers auditioning for a Broadway revival of a musical about dancers auditioning for a musical. But what makes the musical A Chorus Line work–aside from memorable songs and topnotch choreography–is that while not everyone wants to sing and dance, everyone has had to apply for a job. So everyone can identify with the emotions applying for a job evokes. Similarly, viewers who don’ Read more…
March 21st, 2010 on 4:00 am
This review is from: Every Little Step [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)
About half way through this film I wondered to myself if the audience would clap when it was over. They did, and it was a spontaneous and well-deserved conclusion. I’m betting Every Little Step will earn awards for Best Documentary of the year. The film begins as a retrospective about the original Broadway musical A Chorus Line, which debuted in 1975 and after 6,137 performances became the longest-running musical ever. Archival material and interviews with members of the original production take you back thirty years to the show’s simple premise, which centered on the deeply human stories of seventeen performers. The documentary then turns to the 2006 Broadway revival of the original musical, and takes you backstage to follow the stories of the dancers who auditioned for the fifteen or so spots. It begins with an open call that drew 3,000 artists, and proceeds through several call backs until the cast is finalized. Many are called but only a tiny few are chosen for the coveted opportunity.
March 21st, 2010 on 11:00 am
This review is from: Every Little Step [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)
“Every Little Step” is a terrific movie. I’ve already seen it twice in the theater and I’m looking forward to a DVD ASAP
A documentary about dancers auditioning for the revival of the musical about dancers auditioning for a musical?…it sounds insular but it’s not. There is a universal appeal in following the hopeful young performers who aspire against tough odds and thousands of other dancers to land a role in A Chorus Line.
I’m a sucker for competition-type stories, and I remember seeing A Chorus Line on Broadway, so I found it fascinating to see how it all began and follow the intense, complex process of bringing a production to life.
You don’t have to love musicals or dancing to enjoy this documentary. But if you do, you’ll probably find it entertaining, moving, and more suspenseful than many so-called thrillers.