■ THEATRE THE SECRET THEATRE IN LIC IS ASKING FOR HELP TO PRODUCE ‘A CHORUS LINE’ BY ANGELA MATUA The beloved 1975 musical “A Chorus Line” celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, and one Long Island City theater wants to bring it back. The Secret Theatre will produce an adaptation of the play in February. Directed by Tom Rowan and choreographed by Geena Quintos, who just finished working on a national tour of the musical, the venue is asking for donations to make their version “historically accurate and high quality as possible,” according to the Indiegogo page. The venue wants to raise at least $5,000 to ensure they can purchase high-quality costumes, props and a professional band. “Unfortunately the facts of life for an off-off-Broadway production at a off-off house are that it’s extremely difficult to finance and guarantee a profit,” the Indiegogo page reads. “Equity rules restrict us to $18 top ticket price so even if we sell out a lot of nights it will be a very close shave between losing, breaking even or making a little money.” Richard Mazda, the artistic director for the theater, said in order to put on an authentic performance, they will have to pay royalties to use the score and hire a professional band for the 16-show run. The production will be an equity showcase, which means the actors in the performance are a part of a union and have been a part of successful productions in the past. To be considered an equity showcase, the tickets can only cost a maximum of $18, which does not cover all costs. Mazda said The Secret Theatre does not receive large grants and continues to run with the help of ticket-holders and the community. “I think that we offer a service to the community. Organization like The Secret Theatre are an essential part of the arts and culture fabric of Queens,” Mazda said. “Without their support, we literally might cease to exist.” Noted for its music written by Marvin Hamlisch, “A Chorus Line” follows several Broadway dancers auditioning for a chorus line and reveals each character’s story and reason for dancing. The original Broadway production of the musical received nine Tony Awards and ran for 6,137 performances. It was the longest-running Broadway show until being eclipsed by “Cats,” which earned that title in 1997 with its 6,138th performance. People who donate $20 or more to the cause will receive items such as an official poster signed by Rowan, tickets to the show, a signed copy of Rowan’s book “A Chorus Line FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Broadway’s Singular Sensation” and a gold lamé top hat. The Secret Theatre is an independent theater complex. Along with a 99-seat theater, the venue is also a rehearsal space for artists. It creates in-house productions, co-produces and accepts rental submissions. To donate to the campaign, visit The Secret Theatre’s Indiegogo page.
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