Film review – Every Little Step (2008)

Any insight into the casting process of a Broadway show could potentially be of interest but what makes Every Little Step so fascinating is that the show being cast is the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. The original 1974 production of A Chorus Line was developed from the stories of actual chorus line dancers, so it is show very close to the hearts of the performers who aspire to a Broadway career. The open auditions for the 2006 revival attracted 3000 people and their energy, excitement and enthusiasm about being involved are completely infectious. You certainly don’t need to be fan of A Chorus Line to be seduced by Every Little Step.

With the saturation of vacuous and bland reality television talent shows currently dominating the airwaves, it’s a revelation to see what the audition and creative process is like for actual professionals. The performers auditioning in Every Little Step are real singers, dancers and actors, who have dedicated their entire lives to their craft despite the very small odds of being one of the ones who will get that break they all desperately need and deserve. These people aren’t doing this as a hobby and they don’t have something to fall back on if it doesn’t work out. As one of the performers tells us, “If you have something to fall back on, you’ll fall back”.

There are some tremendously exhilarating moments in Every Little Step when you share the rush felt by the casting panel when they discover a performer who perfectly fulfils all the criteria they are looking for. There is one particularly breathtaking scene when a young actor performs one of A Chorus Line’s most moving monologues. You don’t need to be an expert to recognise that this man has absolutely nailed the part and the moment is made even more poignant when the camera reveals that a couple of the people on the casting panel – who have heard this monologue countless times – are moved to tears. This is just one of the many moments that makes Every Little Step such a moving tribute to the talent, passion and determination of the men and women of the Broadway.

© Thomas Caldwell, 2009

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