Welcome to the Chorus Line

I feel like a bad theater nerd. I couldn’t come up with a better “A Chorus Line” reference for the title. I apologize.


Last week: The show found it’s Joe DiMaggio in Michael Swift.


This week: Rehearsals begin for “Marilyn, the Musical.” Oh, hey, the assistant in rehearsals is Ann Harada AKA Christmas Eve from “Avenue Q”!


Cast Members AB Has Seen Live


Christian Borle
Will Chase
The dancer from “Grenade”
Michelle Federer
Ann Harada



Karen is clearly the odd woman out as apparently everyone is Ivy’s friend. Which I find strange. I mean, I know Ivy is the veteran and the theater community is a small, intimate one. But I find it hard to believe that she has befriended everybody. Maybe she is well-known because Playbill ran a story about her being cast as Marilyn in “Marilyn.” But the fact that everyone is automatically on her side? This smells too contrived to me.


Because we have our “fish out of water” storyline with Karen. And it’s done so heavy-fisted you realize you’re being manipulated into feeling for Karen. And I already like Karen. Then Ivy shows up and is pissed no one told her that her rival had been cast. Is that customary? Do other leading ladies (or men) go around asking for heads up if the other people who tried out for their role are cast in the ensemble?


Meanwhile, Karen has a hard time fitting in the ensemble. I get the show is showing a Broadway newbie, but this is also a bit unbelievable. We know Karen did other productions. Was she never in the ensemble in them? Or is she a Rachel Berry—pull all the attention no matter what? And Ivy is no better. She’s passive aggressive, claiming Karen is throwing her off. Karen gets moved around numbers and then finally removed from them.


Annoyed, she complains to Dev. But he’s busy on his phone though he tries to be sympathetic. She goes to the gym. Back at the studio, she flips out on one of her fellow ensemble cast mates. Karen makes a good observation that she is one of them and that they should be helping her rather than closing ranks around Ivy. Something in her plea gets through and a few chorus members help Karen out.


They take her shopping to get good dancing outfits. Next is her closet at home, much to Dev’s confusion. After going through her outfits, the three start showing Karen what it means to be in the ensemble. About being in sync. And they dance to Adele’s “Rumor Has It.” And they do it again at some bar. Karen gets a moment in the spotlight before stepping back. Some people have questioned why. I understand, though. Sure, it was probably just a chance for Katherine McPhee to show off. But it also had a purpose in my opinion. Sometimes, ensemble members get brief moments to shine. A line here or there…and then they have to step back and blend in again. I think that was the reason for the exercise.


As this is going on, a big star that got his start in one of Tom and Derek’s plays is back in town. He’s now a world famous actor starring in a new show worth millions. He is Lyle West, played by Nick Jonas.


Cast Members AB Has Seen Perform Live


Christian Borle
Will Chase
The dancer from “Grenade”
Michelle Federer
Ann Harada
Nick Jonas


Lyle is happy to be in town and see Derek again. Apparently, once upon a time, Derek and Tom used to be friends as well.


Anjelica goes to see if she can get Lyle to back their show. Especially as she’s being trying to sell a Degas painting she has in her office, which Julia realized was authentic being a art history major. But no one will take it without the record of sale, which was in Jerry’s name. But Lyle is willing to back the production and shows some business savvy. First, he wants to see what he’s backing.


Since the party is thrown by Derek, Ivy is already there. Anjelica and Julia manage to round up Tom (who was on a blind date set up by his mother) and Michael in order to perform a number for Lyle and his guests. And they do the recently written USO number “I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn’t Love to Howl.” Which everyone loves, including Lyle. He agrees to invest and Anjelica is happy.


Ivy, meanwhile, grows jealous when she sees Derek flirting with Ellis’ girlfriend. Yeah, somehow Ellis wrangled an invite to the party. So Ivy goes off with Lyle who is like “Score!” Insert your own joke about the Jonas Brothers’ promise rings here. Discovering them, Derek talks to Ivy about how he has to schmooze because everyone is a potential investor.  Ivy buys it and they go off, though Ivy still has her doubts.


I think the show is hitting it’s stride. The Ivy vs. Karen competition is still there, right now because Ivy thinks it is. It looks like next week, it’s because Derek encourages the competition. I’m liking it, though I echo the Television Without Pity recapper’s question about Karen’s friends. Namely, why doesn’t she have any? I hope she gets some soon.


Quote of the Episode


“So, it’s like high school?” Karen, about the theater world

Playbill's Recap