50 | OCTOBER 26 • 2023 J
N

T

wo local young 
theater performers 
— Toby Gittleman of 
West Bloomfield and Kevin 
Keller of Detroit — play the 
parts of auditioning young 
theater performers in the hit 
musical A Chorus Line. 
Gittleman as Bobby and 
Keller as Greg take the stage 
for the Nicely Theatre Group 
performances at 7:30 p.m. 
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28, 
and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, 
at the Berman Center for the 
Performing Arts in The J in 
West Bloomfield. 
The musical features many 
song and dance numbers as 
well as dramatic portrayals of 
individuals seeking success 
in their careers. Among the 
songs, by Marvin Hamlisch 
and Edward Kleban, are “I 
Can Do That,” “At the Ballet” 

and “One.”
“I really like that Bobby 
is sure of himself and 
who he is and what he 
believes,” said Gittleman, 
who has studied acting 
at Bloomfield Hills High 
School, was coached in 
singing by private teachers 
and took dance lessons 
at Dance Dynamics 
Performing Arts Center in 
Walled Lake. 
“I think Bobby brings 
a level of focus that some 
of the other characters 
struggle with.”
Gittleman has appeared 
in numerous productions at 
Bloomfield Hills High School 
and was in The Addams 
Family for the Birmingham 
Village Youth Theater. In 
high school, he appeared 
in another production of A 

Chorus Line taking on the 
character of Butch. 
“Bobby knows what he 
wants and who he is,” said 
Gittleman, who has been 
working in an animal care 
facility while he pursues the 
elements of a stage career. 
“He’s unashamed of himself 

and his life. There have been 
a lot of ups and downs in his 
life, but he’s not shy about it.”
Gittleman, who has 
attended Congregation Beth 
Ahm, said he feels very 
lucky to be working with 
this production team. The 
director and choreographer 

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

Performances are this weekend at the Berman in West Bloomfield.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two Young Actors Join 

A Chorus Line

PHOTOS BY BRIAN CRAIG

Toby 
Gittleman
Kevin 
Keller

