Kicking off a career: Young actor wins prized spot in 'Chorus Line'

By Richard Duckett, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

It’s a pretty good guess the following words were ringing in Bryan Langlitz’s ears as he took part in an audition in New York City not long ago:

“God, I hope I get it./I hope I get it./How many people does he need?”

It wasn’t so much that Langlitz had just moved to New York City last September to pursue his stage career and was already auditioning at numerous casting calls. Rather, and more specifically, he was auditioning for a show about people auditioning. A show where the lined-up hopefuls do indeed sing a song titled “I Hope I Get It.”

Langlitz did get it — a much-prized part in the national touring production of the singularly sensational musical “A Chorus Line” that is coming to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts for five shows beginning Friday night.

“I’m incredibly blessed to have this opportunity,” Langlitz said during a telephone interview from Hershey, Pa., where “A Chorus Line” was playing last week.

The legendary Tony Award-winning musical opened in 1975, but in terms of appeal, popularity and even message, “A Chorus Line” still gets it, audiences seem to agree. A Broadway revival from 2006-08 was a money-making success, and then after the New York show closed, it immediately went on tour, where it has been packing them in around the country for nearly two years.

The show is about 17 Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line that will consist of just four men and four women. The director, Zach, makes the 17 pour their hearts out about themselves as part of the selection process. The creators of the show, the late Michael Bennett and the late James Kirkwood, knew all about the reality of show biz but loved it anyway. It shows, so to speak. Composer Marvin Hamlish wrote some spectacular songs, including “One (Singular Sensation).”

“My dad saw it for the first time last week, and asked me how many lines had been updated. And I said, ‘Just one, I think,’ ” Langlitz said. That change was from Lana Turner to Tina Turner in one reference, but even that update was made a few years ago, Langlitz said.

“The book itself is incredibly fresh. It feels as an actor that it’s our story. That’s what we go through. That hasn’t changed in 50 years. Life as an actor means an incredible amount of sacrifice, incredible amount of risk. But it’s something that you love.”

Langlitz has the role of Don (he’s also an understudy for Zach), a dancer who at 28 is considered to be getting on a bit in the cold reality of it all.

“I like Don a lot. He’s a cool guy. He has a wife and two kids, but he’s beginning to feel the pressure of getting this job,” Langlitz said. Some people might well relate. Indeed, “every person in the audience can relate to someone in the show,” he said.

Langlitz himself is relatively new to the business that he’s now already gotten to know so well. Originally from Marlton, N.J., he graduated last May with a BFA in musical theater from the University of Michigan.

He’s picked up some regional theater acting credits (including at The Muny in St. Louis and West Virginia Public Theatre), but made the important decision to take a chance on New York. His father helped him move. “I told my dad I’m gonna give this five years because I understand it takes a long time.”

He quickly threw himself into the life of showing up to audition with a smile on his face. “I went on dozens and dozens of auditions. …You’re constantly interviewing every day, showing up for an interview, even though there are days when you wake up and say, ‘I don’t want to go to this audition.’ ”

But then, “One of them came through — that’s your life in the business,” Langlitz said.

In fact, his casting in a big show came a lot earlier than it usually does. For thousands of others who take the plunge to go to New York to seek an actor’s life, it never comes at all.

It figures that auditioning for a part in a show about auditioning would be, by audition standards, a little challenging. “The ‘Chorus Line’ audition is notorious for being lengthy, drawn out,” Langlitz said.

He was up on stage in front of the casting director and producers seven times.

The first call saw people lined up and then doing a dance combo they had been taught. “They made a cut, and then we were asked to sing.” Langlitz was one of the ones asked to come back the next day.

“Truly, I had a really good feeling about it. The first cut was a very big one. It went from a lot of guys to not a lot of guys.”

Another good sign was when he got to talk one-on-one with the casting director, who was already thinking about him in terms of Don.

“It went very well. Then a week went by. Of course, that’s all you think about — am I going to get the job?”

Then he got a call from the producers saying they wanted to talk to him about Zach, because the actor who plays Don in “A Chorus Line” usually understudies Zach.

He was waiting again a few days later. This day was his birthday. “At this point I thought there’s nothing else I can do.” Then came another call-back request.

It had come down to two people vying for the role of Don, and the producers put them up on stage together.

“It was me and the other guy up for consideration. I danced right next to him.” A day or so later, another call. He got it.

“Oh man, elated,” Langlitz said when asked how he felt at hearing the news. “I was thrilled. The promise I made to my dad was shortened by four and a half years. You have that feeling that ‘I made it.’ ”

Most of the contracts of the original touring show cast had expired at the end of last year. “A Chorus Line” was almost 95 percent recast with a new crew, Langlitz included, and then went back on the road, opening in Houston Jan. 2. The show is booked through May 30 with a date in Sacramento.

However, Langlitz is aware he could be facing another bit of show biz reality.

“Once you start working and touring you realize, ‘Oh, I’m done in June. What then?’ ” he acknowledged.

But if hope is going to spring anywhere, it will surely be on “A Chorus Line.”

New dates could be added after May 30.

“If anything were to come up, many of us would want to extend,” Langlitz said.