TOWNSHEND — The Leland & Gray Players - kick off their 16th season with The Drowsy Chaperone on Nov. 10-13 in the Dutton Gymnasium on the Leland & Gray campus on Route 30.
With book by Bob Martin and Don McKeller and music by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, The Drowsy Chaperone opened on Broadway in May 2006 to critical acclaim.
Paula Jessop, in a review for Splash Magazine, described the play as “a farcical romp through the mad-capped world of musical theatre,” “a valentine to the extravagant musicals of the 1920s,” and a “fond reminiscence of a long-lost era.”
Awarded five Tony Awards in 2006, including best book and best score, the show is the story of Man in Chair, an energetic, musical theater fanatic who listens to one of his favorite 1928 musical comedies, The Drowsy Chaperone. The fictitious show-within-the-show incorporates an amalgam of elements audiences know and love from musicals over the ages.
As Man in Chair listens, he is swept away to the world of 1928 - its stage, its stories, and its actors - as he guides us through each scene and song.
Man in Chair witnesses a performance that focuses on Janet, the leading showgirl of “Feldzieg's [a spoof on “Ziegfeld”] Follies,” as she plans to leave the spotlight to marry the son of an oil tycoon, Robert Martin.
Feldzieg, who has a lot of money riding on Janet's name, is threatened by three gangsters' molls employed by his chief investor and disguised as pastry chefs.
The three are to push Feldzieg to stop the wedding and ensure Janet's return to the stage. To save himself, Feldzieg hires Aldolpho, a Latin lover, to take the bride and spoil her relationship with Robert. Meanwhile, Janet has her own doubts about her future husband.
The production is directed by Ann Landenberger with music direction by Ron Kelley and choregraphy by Terrie Robinson. This will be the fourth production that Robinson - with a long resume from film, London, and New York - has choreographed for the Players. Abby Hadden is assistant producer and costumier. Vocal coaching is supported by Kristen Carmichael-Bowers.
The company features Arik Clark as the comedic Man in Chair, Addie Mahdavi as Janet van de Graff, Bailey Whelchel as Robert Martin, Patrick Hauer as Feldzieg, Jesse Cannella as Aldolpho, Jasmine Domenick as Drowsy, Madison Cannella as Mrs. Tottendale, Rachael Turner as Underling, Gia Casella as Midge, Zoe Soule as Kitty, Rachel Spence, Shelby Whelchel and Alexa Litchfield as the gangsters' molls, and Genevieve Darling as Trix the Aviatrix.
Also featured: Maezie Cramp, Maddi Etman, Nicole Winot, Emma Urbaska, Mariah Maytas, and Gabbi Walton as Janet's bridesmaids and Gable Rak as the Superintendent.
Grant Cullen, William Jagiello, Susie Francy, Kristina Urdartseva, Maike Kollner, Madison Russ, Chanick Somsupan, Lizzie Adams, and Caroline Tietz round out the ensemble.
Student staff includes Nicole Winot, assistant director; Sarah Dickson, graphic design and sound captain; Maezie Cramp, costume design; Olivia Reilly, crew manager; Phoebe Gunter-Mohr, stage manager; and Max Cramp and Trystian Carbonera on lights, with Caitlyn Arellano, Seth Davis, and Steven Scott.
Anna Cashman, Grant Cullen, and Megan Thomas assist with sound, and Greg Holland, Corrin Broussard, Mike Bergeron, Jesse Newton, Hannah Hopkins, Dani Dezendorf, Sam Turner, Evan Reilly, Ruby Defelice, Itara Jacobs, Caitlin Dery, Megan Grip, Natalie Cullen, and Kara Bronson all assist on crew.
Students in Kristen Wilson's design class have taken the lead in scenic research, design, and production.
The band includes students Isaac Cohen, Samantha Russ, Luke Darling, Giannina Gaspero-Beckstrom, Fabian Gaspero-Beckstrom, and Jonah Ulman, with teachers Dan DeWalt and Mike McKinney. Ron Kelley conducts.
Parent volunteers are organized by Bonnie Cramp. Friends of the Players assisting with costumes and sets include Vera Gervais, Cheryl Cullen, Kim Soule, Rob Cramp, Bonnie Cramp, Tim Soule, Bahman Mahdavi, Dayle Kauffeld, and Johanna Gardner.
Tickets for the production are $8 for adults; $5 for students and seniors. Performances are Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m.
For more information and reservations, call 802-365-7355, ext. 204, or send an email..