Every Little Step Movie Review (2008)

A fascinating documentary about the casting of the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, Every Little Step becomes a real-life version of the musical, following hundreds of dancers through months of callbacks and putting their hopes, fears, and unbridled determination at the center.

When Boop! The Musical first premiered, it did so in Chicago. We get a lot of shows that might make it to Broadway, and they stop here first for workshopping and feedback. I love to see shows that are “in process,” so I bought tickets for my family. As we walked into the theater, I saw someone that I knew and lit up. She lit up too, sure she knew me, and we exchanged a quick hello and a smile. I couldn’t figure out who she was, but I knew that I knew her. It was only when we got to our seats that it occurred to me – I actually knew her from this movie. Her name is Rachelle Rak, and she was an Associate Choreographer for Boop! The Musical.

Every Little Step is a documentary about the casting of the A Chorus Line Broadway revival in 2006. It begins with an open casting call where thousands of performers were seen, then covers intense dance and vocal auditions, months of callbacks, and the emotions and life choices involved in continuing to shoot for the Broadway stars.

To be completely candid, I absolutely love this film, and I’ve watched it dozens of times. Behind-the-scenes films are usually pretty great, but the fact that A Chorus Line is about performers hoping to get a role in a chorus and this documentary is a parallel makes it that much more compelling. You get to know these actors the same way you get to know the characters in the show; you have your favorites, and you want to see them succeed.

A Chorus Line was born when creator Michael Bennett sat down with a group of friends one night, shared some personal stories, and encouraged them to share theirs – all recorded on tape. He knew there was a show in it somewhere, so he invited Bob Avian to collaborate and Marvin Hamlisch to write the music. This was the beginning of the idea of “workshops,” as Bennett and his co-creators fine-tuned the story, music, and lyrics over time. You get a lot of the backstory in this documentary, and there are additional interviews with Donna McKechnie (for whom the part of Cassie was written) and Baayork Lee (for whom the part of Connie was based), who is also a choreographer on the revival.

In the same way that A Chorus Line becomes a candid and heart-wrenching show that involves caring about characters and having to turn them away, Every Little Step is the same. There are so many talented performers that you watch, many of whom are desperate to keep the faith that this is where they are destined to be. They love it. It is the core of who they are. If they can just land the job…

There are so many things to love about this film, but one of my favorites is the casting of Maggie. Maggie sings a pivotal part of the song “At The Ballet,” where she hits a crescendo. It’s incredibly moving and incredibly difficult to sing. Actor after actor tries to perform the piece, but none can get it. Then Mara Davi walks in, and it’s as if she was born to sing the part. It is effortless and beautiful, and the example that always comes to mind when I see a show with a difficult range. Some parts truly aren’t for everyone. You need to find the right person.

Every Little Step is an engrossing documentary that passes in the blink of an eye every time I watch it. The passion seeps through the screen, and the vulnerability and hunger in the performers are palpable. If you aren’t familiar with A Chorus Line, I encourage you to watch that film too, but either way, this is truly exhilarating, and it will get you in the feels.

Runtime: 92 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? The first dozen times I watched it, yes I did.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Available: Free on YouTube, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms