Living on the 'Line'

How does a “Chorus Line” star spend her spare time betweenshows? For Ashley Yeater, it’s about resting in her hotel room with her dog,while Nicole Kidman sings herself to death.

“I’m watching ‘Moulin Rouge,’” Yeater said, calling from atour stop in Hershey, Pa. That’s a movie musical she likes; the 1985 filmversion of “A Chorus Line” — uh, not so much.

“‘At the Ballet’ means the world to me,” she said, referringto the number in which her character, Sheila, reflects on her childhood. “WhenI got to that part in the movie I turned it off: There are some incredibledancers in that movie that get cut. That get cut!And I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

Director Richard Attenborough’s movie was a box office flop.But “Chorus Line” the show has been attracting audiences for 35 years with itsportrait of aspiring dancers vying for jobs in a Broadway musical. Watchingtheir every move and analyzing their every word is Zach, a no-nonsense directorwho pushes each would-be star to not only show off their skills but to revealtheir deepest secrets, ambitions, regrets and desires.

Things have changed for New York performers sincewriter-director Michael Bennett began work on his dream project in themid-1970s, Yeater admits.

“Most auditions aren’t held on a Broadway stage anymore;they’re usually in a dance studio,” she said. “And you generally don’t have tostep forward and give your life story — that’s the musical theater side ofthings. But the blood, sweat and tears thing is still there, 100 percent.”

As for the directors, “I think they’re a little nicer thanthey were back then,” she added.

Besides, as long as there’s a Great White Way, there will betalented kids trying to find work there.

“People still dream of going to New York and being onBroadway, and (for dancers) it really is learning combination aftercombination,” Yeater said. “I’ve gone to auditions at 10 in the morning and youdon’t leave until 7 p.m. That’s what it is in New York: You wait tables, andthen hopefully you get an hour or two off to go to an audition, or you get yourshift covered.

“Maybe the style of what you wear to an audition haschanged, but otherwise it’s timeless.”

Sheila, a veteran dancer who takes a casual, “whatever”approach to the audition, is a tough cookie and Yeater said she’s been carefulnot to overplay Sheila’s attitude.

“I never want her to come across as, ‘Oh God, get her offthe stage — I hate her,’” she said. “She has some very endearing qualities. Sheknows she’s getting older and her career is coming to an end, and she knowsshe’s going to open that dance studio somewhere.

She’s a hoot. I have so much fun every night playing her. Ithink she’s a bit shocking at first, the way she pushes the envelope. She goesway back with Zach: She knows how to push the limits and play the cat-and-mousegame with him.”

Yeater is thrilled to work with Baayork Lee, who was part ofthe first “Chorus Line” workshops, originated the role of the petite Connie inthe original Broadway cast and restaged the choreography for both the 2006 Broadwayrevival of the musical and the current tour. Yeater said she’s been aninvaluable resource.

“She told us stories we probably weren’t supposed to knowabout the people who inspired the characters, and the relationships they had.We can play on ‘the line’ with those background stories. It’s a lot of fun.”

It’s also a lot of work. “This is not a show you can phonein,” Yeater said.

“We live it every night; we’re in an audition every night.So it becomes all about keeping that energy. We gotta keep up on our ownmaterial every day — you can’t be eating cake all day.”

Even if your tour stops in Hershey. “It’s the land thatsmells like chocolate,” Yeater said. “It really does. We were all sad the parkwasn’t open yet, but a lot of us have gone on the chocolate factory tour andgone to the chocolate museum.”

Sheila may not get everything she wants, but for Yeater,it’s a pretty sweet life.

“A Chorus Line”

Wharton Center

8 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, Friday, April 9, and Saturday,April 10

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8

2 p.m. Saturday, April 10

1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 11

$26.50-$56.50

1-800-WHARTON