Dance with Destiny–Mark Alton Rose Plays Zach in A CHORUS LINE

"Do you ever think about what you're going to do if you stop dancing?"

Part dance audition, part personal confession. A CHORUS LINE has been razzle-dazzling audiences with its groundbreaking fusion of choreography and character since the show debuted on Broadway in 1976.

Featuring music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, Hickory Community Theatre is proud to present A CHOURS LINE. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and nine Tony Awards, A CHORUS LINE plays in the Jeffers Theatre August 28 through September 12.

Returning to the Pamela Livingstone Stage as Zach, the demanding director driven by his own internal conflicts, is four-time Kay Award winner Mark Alton Rose.

Originally hailing from Newton and now residing in Hickory, Rose's theatrical journey began during his childhood years in Carson City, Nevada. He moved back to Catawba County after high school, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Rose is a familiar presence to audiences at HCT and beyond, having appeared in numerous shows in his 30+ years in the area. He last appeared at HCT in ROCK OF AGES, MAMMA MIA!, SOMETHING ROTTEN and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. Other HCT productions include SPAMALOT and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, two Best Actor Kay Awards turns in MY WAY and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and two Best Supporting Actor Kay Award turns in MISTER ROBERTS and CLOSER THAN EVER.

Recent area productions for Rose include 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL at The HUB, as well as BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROL KING MUSICAL at Green Room Community Theatre. Other notable shows include A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and OTHELLO for Lenoir-Rhyne Playmakers, A CHRISTMAS CAROL for NC Shakespeare Festival, THE SECRET GARDEN for Foothills Performing Arts, MARY POPPINS and ANNIE for CAST, and FOXFIRE for Lincoln Theatre Guild.

"It's my favorite space to perform," says Rose of Hickory Community Theatre. Rose also confesses to being "the actor most likely to hide in the back line" when doing a dance audition. "I've always admired dancers because it's the one performing art that I can't do. I'm a "double threat". I can sing and act, but two left feet in dancing."

Performances of A CHORUS LINE are Fridays and Saturdays, August 28, 29, September 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30pm; Sundays, August 30 and September 6 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, September 10 at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for youth and students 18 and under. The production is recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets are available at hickorytheatre.org or by calling 828‑328‑2283.

A CHORUS LINE is produced in association with Catawba Valley Health System. Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives sustaining support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Season 78 support is provided by the City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, David and Maria WIlliams, Shurtape Technologies, Acuña & Acuña Dentistry.