This year’s spring musical is “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Last year, WMHS welcomed a new director, Heather Burns along with her musical directors John and Faith Hartledge. After the successful production of last years “Beauty and the Beast”, Burns was excited to return again and start working on this year’s production with the talented students at WMHS.
The production of the “Drowsy Chaperone” is bit different than Disney. It’s a musical comedy that takes place in the 1920’s. The story is about a middle aged man (Man in Chair), who explains the story of his favorite record in his little apartment. The record the man selects, is the “The Drowsy Chaperone”. It comes to life on stage as The Man in Chair explains the musical from beginning to end.
The show focuses on Janet Vandergraaff, a show girl who is planning to give everything up to marry, Robert Martin. However, Janet is the leading lady of “Feldzig’s Follies.” Feldzig, who is the producer of the show, is being threatened by two gangsters who are disguised as pastry chiefs. The gangsters are trying to get Feldzig to stop the wedding so that Janet is able to perform in the next production of “Feldzig’s Follies.” Kitty, who is Feldzig’s backup dancer wants Janet’s part and doesn’t want her to come back to the show, so it could be her time to shine. To save himself from the gangsters, Feldzig enlists Adolpho to seduce Janet and ruin her marriage plans with Robert. Instead, Adolpho mistakes Janet for her friend, The Drowsy Chaperone and seduces her instead.
In the mean time, Janet is having doubts about her groom and his feelings towards her. The story goes on to explain how all the characters figure out their problems with the narration of “Man in Chair.” The story is filled of music, laughter, confusion and an entertaining story bought to life through the imagination of the narrator.
The production opens up on Thursday February 28, and runs Friday March 1 and Saturday March 2. The students have been working very hard for the past two months to prepare and before they know it, it’s already show time. Each day after school, the students rehearse for two and a half hours and in the last week, four hours a day. Seniors Josie Webb and Derek Bull shared, “We are so excited, we always put so much hard work into the play and when opening night comes around, it’s just a great feeling, there is just so much excitement.” This show is certainly not one to be missed and the students work very hard for opening night.
The cast lists includes Jack Romano who is the lead narrator. Since his freshmen year Jack has been performing in the musical productions. Other leads are played by Haley Pilkington, Tim Canali, Missy Lang, Danielle Zanoni, Matt Kasturas, Jonathan Romeo, Sophia Metcalf, Jayce Winant, Michael Galioto, Kayleigh Bennett, Jeremy Barton and Zachary McIntyre.The rest of the ensemble includes, Derek Bull, Josie Webb, Maryann Zachar, Rachel Damelio, Lacey Denning, Melanie Dowling, Sarah Folton, Kristin Loucks, Matt Kelly, Sophia Souran, Sarah Frueh, Gianna Galioto, Brandon Sushko, Allyson Romer, Gillian Todd, Maggy Chamberlain, Nicolette D’Angelo, Christina Serven, Valerie Pellington, Brett Travers, Laura Freedman and Megan Johnson. Good Luck to the entire cast!
