Musical star Alan Byland: The mystical side of Liverpool's talent

Musical star Alan Byland: The mystical side of Liverpool's talent

A reunion with the Broadway classic “A Chorus Line” is coming! On July 11, 2025, the successful musical returns to the Bad Hersfeld Abbey ruins and promises to captivate audiences with its unique mix of dance, music and emotional life stories. The central focus of the piece is on the challenges that dancers go through during the auditions in order to find their place in the famous “chorus line”. This production is directed by Melissa King, who has already been responsible for other productions in Bad Hersfeld. The ensemble is musically accompanied by Christoph Wohlleben.

This time the spotlight is also on Alan Byland, who plays the role of assistant Larry. The Liverpool-born actor has an extensive repertoire that includes roles in Chicago, We Will Rock You and I've Never Been to New York. He himself describes his path into the world of theater as one into which he slipped more than he actively sought, and reflects on the fact that this ultimately demonstrated his talent. That reports HNA.

Emotions and personal stories

“A Chorus Line” is considered one of the most successful musicals in history – its run from 1975 to 1990 brought it to an impressive 6,137 performances on Broadway. The 1985 film adaptation, directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Michael Douglas, further memorialized the play. The new production at the Bad Hersfeld Festival will also incorporate the actors' personal stories, which ensures a very special emotional depth, like this Hersfeld newspaper reported.

With a total cast of 24 actors and an orchestra, the production expects to be a lively show. The new faces include Josephina Mackensen as Connie and Jan-Eike Majer as Greg. Another highlight is the return of Arne Stephan in the role of director Zach and Samantha Turton as Cassie. The performances will take place in the monastery ruins until July 27, 2025.

Alan Byland: A piece of his personality

For Alan Byland, Bad Hersfeld is not just a stage, but also a source of inspiration. He is particularly fond of the “Green Shop” because it connects him with his mystical side. In addition to acting in musicals, his hobbies also include diving, which he sees as a relaxing escape from hectic everyday life. “I relax best near water, be it a pool, lake or ocean,” says Byland. He not only dreams of further stage roles, but also often thinks about making his hobbies such as photography and animal protection the focus of his life. His stage career has already presented its share of challenges - one unpleasant experience, for example, was his fall into the orchestra pit during a performance, which fortunately turned out to be unscathed as a safety net protected him from anything worse.

Alan Byland will certainly delight viewers with his acting skills and authentic charisma and increase anticipation for the musical. “A Chorus Line” brings back not only the magic of theater, but also the stories and emotions that are the essence of musicals. A must for all theater lovers!