Finally, the highly anticipated Australian production of the Broadway smash and winner of 9 Tony Awards and a Pultizer Prize, A Chorus Line (ACL) opens in Melbourne on February 4th for a strictly limited season of just 35 performances.

Josh Horner heads the Australian line up of astounding talent performing in the longest running musical theatre production in history, and with all
the right credentials to do so.

Josh Horner began taking dance classes as a 6 year old to aid his asthma. A natural born dancer, by the age of 12 Josh was training under the direction of Australian dance legends, David Atkins and Sheree da Costa. Josh continued to earn respect and accolades and graduated with Honours from the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne and was instantly offered a contract with the Australian Ballet.

Over decades of hard work and dedication to his art, Josh Horner has won a Helpmann Award amid many honours and was a judge on the 2011 series of 'Dancing with the Stars'. Treading the boards internationally, Josh has performed in numerous Broadway productions including Dirty Dancing, Billy Elliott, Guys and Dolls, and now in the role of Broadway director Zach, in the Australian production of A Chorus Line.

3008Docklands spoke with the effervescent and highly talented, Josh Horner.

In short, A Chorus Line is the story of 17 dancers all vying for one of 8 life changing roles, how closely does this story reflect your own rise as an internationally recognised dancer and choreographer?

To be honest, it is closely connected to my own life. I recently watched ACL the movie with Michael Douglas and the documentary 'Every Little Step' which covers the process of finding the new cast for the revival of the show on Broadway, and both of these just bring me to tears. It sounds silly, but I can identify with all the characters.

There are also so many issues that ACL brings up that are still relevant and exist for dancers today. The issues of sexuality in the industry through to plastic surgery, we are always trying to better ourselves to get noticed, not that I have had plastic surgery, but these are the realities of this industry. For every character in ACL, we know someone like them, or we have thought
or behaved like them and it is that familiarity that rips at my heart strings. ACL is the old classic - a show within a show.

The Australian production of A Chorus Line has stirred up a lot of excitement and anticipation, as the longest running American musical in history. What do audiences love about ACL, is it the notion that dreams can come true?
Totally, it's the quintessential Broadway musical. There are so many shows now like Idol, X Factor and even Glee to a point that is all about musical theatre and auditions. In an audition you are looking for validation, taking yourself through the most nerve racking experience and really exposing yourself, trying to outdo everyone else to get that job. The feeling you get when you win the part is just the biggest rush of adrenalin you can imagine.
A Chorus Line personifies the whole industry that musical theatre is. The show is about people trying to succeed, which is what audiences love to watch.

Did you have to audition for the part of Broadway director, Zach?
Yes, I did. The producers had contacted my agent expressing some interest and to gauge whether I was interested in auditioning for that particular part, which is unusual as normally you audition to present yourself. I think from seeing me on 'Dancing with the Stars' I already had a figure in the public eye that basically resembled the character of Zach, as I am also a choreographer.

I call myself 'bi-oceanal' as I live in both L.A and Australia but at the time I was in L.A, so with the help of a friend filming, we hired a studio and an acting coach to go through the scenes and I put 2 scenes down on YouTube and sent it to the producers, director and choreographers. Two weeks later I received the great news that I had the part of Zach.

In a world, where celebrities are made on reality shows in 5 minutes, are real 'stars' born or can they be made?
In reality, a real star is born and they work their way to the top. However, in the world we live in today we can make stars, but it's not always about their talent, it's about their brand and their profile. If I put on a Justin Bieber suit and walked around the main streets in Melbourne, I could probably
win some fans over that are carried away by the hype.

I find this quite difficult as a 32 year old and I discuss this quite often with my friends. We were the generation that didn't have dance TV shows around and now, especially in America you have these 16 year olds that are booked on conventions and on judging panels and they get paid appearance fees to just turn up to competitions and dance performances. They get paid
a lot more than I would with my years of experience and it's only because they have been on something like 'So You Think You Can Dance'.

When I was growing up, a person in a musical was in their mid 30's and all they did was musical theatre, performing 8 live shows a week. Living in America, I look at Broadway performers and it is still the same, they are real, they go to classes every morning, they are constantly perfecting their art everyday without doing TV appearances.

Of course, I don't want to sound hypocritical as a feel very blessed and I appreciate the little bit of notoriety that I have gained from being on 'Dancing with the Stars' which was instrumental in helping me get this role in ACL, but the difference is I am also a dancer that has performed 8 shows a week from the age of 19 to 30.

Do you have a favourite number or part in the show?
I can't wait for the opening number -those first few chords, as soon as I hear them it just strikes me, I am in the 'that show', the ultimate Broadway classic. This is a really prestigious role to play and I have prepared to be the best I can out there with a great cast. The last show I did was Billy Elliott on Broadway, so I am so excited to be 'treading the boards' again in here in Australia. I am an Australian and an Aussie at heart and this is where it all began for me and it's just brilliant, I just can't wait for A Chorus Line to open!

Don't miss A Chorus Line
When: From 4 February 2012
Venue: Her Majesty's Theatre
Bookings: Ticketek 1300 795 012
More info: www.achorusline.com.au