Every Little Step

Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern’s fairly irresistible meta-documentary Every Little Step follows the cruel, dehumanizing rehearsal process for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, itself a musical story of the cruel, dehumanizing rehearsal process. As one ambitious young hoofer after another performs the same song-and-dance routines from Michael Bennett’s Tony and Pulitzer-winning production, we start analyzing and comparing each performance, a reflexive critical act undercut by hearing the often heartbreaking real-life stories that formed the basis for the original show. Every Little Step performs the minor miracle of giving heft and significance to a mediocre musical, although sonic neurotics should be warned that they’ll be hearing the irritating anthem “I Hope I Get It” in their head long after they’d like it to stop.