In much of its original run on Broadway, Pittsburgh-native Danny Herman played the character Mike in “A Chorus Line.”Now, Herman has come back to direct Point Park University students in the show, including Brandon Taylor, who plays Herman’s original role.”Meeting Danny Herman was the most intimidating and exciting experience of my life,” Taylor, a sophomore musical theater major, said in an interview in the Village park on Oct. 11.Point Park University’s Conservatory Theatre Company kicks off its season with the Broadway hit “A Chorus Line” from Oct. 21 through Oct. 30. This show welcomes Herman as choreographer and director, while Marvin Hamlisch acts as the musical composer.”A Chorus Line” is based around an audition for a Broadway show. The director, Zach, played by sophomore musical theater major Tyler Scherer, wants to choose his chorus line based on who the dancers are as real people, instead of just their talent as dancers.Scherer’s role has a twist to it, though; he sits in the theater with the audience for much of the show as the director of the auditioning dancers. Scherer’s character is based off of Michael Bennett, the original director and choreographer of the Broadway show.”No one has ever played him this way, so I was thrilled to explore this route,” Scherer said in an email interview.To rehearse for Scherer’s character in the theater, the actors have had a focal point in the dance studios to concentrate on.”We’ve been staring at this black stereo system where Zach will be in the house,” Andrea Weinzierl said in the Lawrence Hall lobby on Oct. 11. Weinzierl is a sophomore musical theater major who plays the role of Sheila.Weinzierl’s character is the oldest dancer, and the audience learns about her as a “distinguished actress.” In other contexts, the audience would only know her as a typical dancer at an audition, and never hear her speak. “A Chorus Line” gives voice to dancers, which sets it apart from other shows.”[A Chorus Line] is the first time that you actually get to hear dancers,” Weinzierl said. “For the longest time it was just this visual art.”The show is a tribute to performers, and it gives an inside look at the “back story of Broadway dancers,” what they personally struggle with, and how hard they work to achieve their goals, according to Weinzierl.Taylor describes “A Chorus Line” as a metaphor for dancers “stepping out of the line.””We aren’t just chorus boys. We aren’t just chorus girls. We’re individuals,” Taylor said in an interview in the Village Park on Tuesday, Oct. 11.To help achieve the full potential of the show, Herman is at every rehearsal as the director and choreographer. Herman’s Broadway experience, professional attitude and passion for the stage has helped the cast members come together as a single unit.Taylor, in working with Herman personally to play the shared character Mike, has found a new love for theater that stemmed from Herman’s passion.”Danny [Herman] changed my life,” Taylor said. “He made me a better dancer, a better singer and a better performer.”Lily Davis, a junior acting major playing the role of Cassie, feels more supported than she ever has working on a show with Herman as director.”He just believes in everybody that he works with,” she said in an interview in the Village Park on Oct. 11.Herman and the cast have been working hard to play homage to the 1975 original Broadway show. To do this, the cast members have been learning the original choreography, a task that does not come easy.”It’s very funky, very precise and very sharp,” Weinzierl said about the choreography.Weinzierl fell once in rehearsal while practicing a backwards move in the line. Like anything else, though, she “got right back up and kept going.”Overall, Herman’s direction has brought nothing but positive meaning to the cast and crew of “A Chorus Line.” According to Davis, Herman often says in rehearsals, “it’s not about the end product. It’s about the fight that gets you there.”Davis believes that the messages of “A Chorus Line” can be applied to anything in life, not just performing. Davis also wants the audience to be inspired by the show to go out and do what they love.”I want people to be inspired to fight for what they want, everyday,” Davis said, “because what you love is what makes you happy.””A Chorus Line” opens with a preview performance on Oct. 20. Performances are on Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.Tickets can be purchased by calling (412) 392-8000 or online at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.