BWW Interviews: On the Line with Mallory Gleason from Keeton's A CHORUS LINE

Director/choreographer Kate Adams-Johnson, aka Nashville theater's busiest woman, is pulling out all the stops as she puts yet another cast through its paces leading up to yet another opening night (Tonight! Thursday, June 9). Only this time, she's serious. Very serious. The show she's helming for this particular opening night, you see, is every dancer's holy grail: A Chorus Line.

 "In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance. This is A Chorus Line the musical for everyone who's ever had a dream and put it all on the line. Winner of nine Tony Awards, including "Best Musical" and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever," reads publicity for the upcoming production.

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local Theater Productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's June 9 opening night, we've introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and next up is Mallory Gleason, who plays Cassie...

What is your name? Your hometown? Your school? 
Melbourne, Florida: Eau Gallie High School  I went to Brevard Community College in Florida, on a full music scholarship. I studied Music Education there. After one semester at BCC, I went to Cincinnati Christian University, where I studied Music Education for a year. Then I had a bit of an early life crisis and moved back to Florida, got my scholarship back and began as a Communications Major, with an emphasis on Urban/Inner City Missions. I was still taking music classes in order to maintain my scholarship. In order to fulfill my communications credits, I took an acting class. After my first performance in that class (a fantastic monologue from Antigone), I was quite conflicted because it was one of those, "I was made to do this," rushes. Plus I was actually enjoying my vocal studies again.   

My high school always put on incredible productions, so that semester I went and saw their production of Seussical! The Musical. That night, I made the decision that I was going to switch my major: to Musical Theatre. I took my first ballet class the following semester and auditioned for a few schools, which led me to my most desired choice: Belmont University. It was nicely fitting that the first show I performed at Belmont was Seussical.

What shows have you done?
At Belmont University: Seussical! (Noolian/Cadet/Who), Guys and Dolls (Miss Adelaide),  Swing! (Featured Dancer).  Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount). With Actors Bridge Society: Much Ado About Nothing (Ursula; The Arabian Nights (Butcher/Bride/Singer). In Pigeon Forge: Black Bear Jamboree (Singer/Dancer), The Miracle (Mary Mag/Martha Swing), Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Female Swing).

What character do you play in A Chorus Line?  Cassie - an aging dancer who has been out of work, trying to start over.

What's the biggest challenge to doing this show? 
Getting my big rear end off the floor to leap. I mean...probably really capturing the full depth of Cassie's spirit. Michael Bennett wrote this show as an exposition of a dancer's life, the fact that they must be the absolute, most electric talents yet their names are never spoken, their faces are never recognized, they are always in the background. Since Cassie's dialogue is primarily limited to the end of the show, there's not a whole lot of contextual information that defines her past, but the lines that do share her story, are quite profound. Plus I am younger than the actors you would generally see playing Cassie, so I also must present a depth of this revelation and understanding, which is more commonly associated with someone who is 5-10 years older than I actually am. If the audience doesn't believe me, then my art cannot move them, and that's what this is all about.

What was your first exposure to A Chorus Line?  
When I was in high school, another high school in my town presented it. It's also the only presentational exposure I've ever had to it!  Extraordinary. High School productions...(in all honestly, it was actually quite good for a high school)

What's the rehearsal process been like for you thus far? 
Oh, so wonderful, wonderful! Ginger Newman was a coach of mine at Belmont, and she's just stunning. Her understanding of music, musicians, vocalists, character development, is outstanding and delicately precious to have in a musical director. Kate Adams-Johnson is such a beautiful dancer and artist. She knows how to execute and direct brilliance in dance as well as acting, which is such a rare gem to mine!  The actors - how humbled I am to work with them.  Their spirits, attitudes, and commitment astound me. My fellow cast-mates inspire me because they give their hearts in each song, dance, and breath they breathe. I was working in theatre full time, and had gotten so burnt out on all of the political aspects of it, so much so that I thought I no longer enjoyed performing...at all.  After a brief hiatus, I am inexpressibly grateful that the next time I share a stage, it will be with the captivating artists in this cast. I could not speak more honestly about all of this.

Dancing With the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance?  
Uh...sometimes you can't tell them apart! Some of the stars are so good, you can't tell which partner is the pro. Sometimes the dancers on SYTYCD are so not good, you wonder if they're a star...but don't let me lie.  I love me some SYTYCD, even though I do get wrapped into DWtS when it's on.

Where were you in 1976 when A Chorus Line premiered on Broadway?  
Maybe I should not answer this because...well.......let's just say that I am definitely younger than most Cassies you'll see! But that in no way means that anyone who is the more common age is old!

What's your favorite song from the score?  
The one about gonorrhea. No, no, not really. I'm so, so, so fortunate that my favorite song is also the song I get to sing: "The Music and The Mirror." The passion, the vulnerability, the desperation, the joy, the dancing!  It can't get much better!

Who's your favorite theater critic? 
My mother because she always tells me how great I am.

- A Chorus Line. Directed and choreographed by Kate Adams-Johnson. Presented by The Larry Keeton Theatre, 108 Donelson Pike, Nashville. June 9-25. Evening shows are at 7:00 p.m., Seating for dinner at 6:00 p.m. Matinee shows are at 2:00 p.m., Seating for lunch at 1:00 p.m.  Show tickets: $25.00 with a $1.00 ticketing fee. Show only tickets: $20.00 Special Thursday Patron's Special: $10.00 show only tickets Tickets are available through www.ticketsnashville.com or by calling (615) 883-8375. For more details, visit the company website at www.thelarrykeetontheatre.org.