TOWNSHEND   The Leland and Gray Players (lgplayers.webs.com) kick off their 16th season with The Drowsy Chaperone  November 10-13 in the Dutton Gymnasium on the Leland and Gray campus, Route 30, Townshend.

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.  As Paula Jessop wrote, it is " a farcical romp through the mad-capped world of musical theatre. It is a valentine to the extravagant musicals of the 1920's.  A fond reminiscence of a long lost era ….”  Awarded five Tony Awards in ’06 including best book and best score, the show is the story of Man in Chair, an energetic, musical theatre fanatic who listens to one of his favorite 1928 musical comedies, The Drowsy Chaperone. A fictitious piece, Drowsy  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 every delightful scene and song.

The plot of this show-within-the-show focuses on the leading showgirl of "Feldzieg's (a spoof on “Ziegfeld’s”) 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. When these events are pulled into action, the audience is in for a rollicking good time with high-energy dance and a very hummable score.

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.  Maezie Cramp, Maddi Etman, Nicole Winot, Emma Urbaska, Mariah Maytas and Gabbi Walton are Janet’s bridesmaids; Gable Rak is the Superintendent and 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; Max Cramp and Trystian Carbonera on lights with Caitlyn Arellano, Seth Davis, and Steven Scott.   Anna Cashman, Grant Cullen, 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 Ms. 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 and 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, Johanna Gardner.

Tickets for the production are $8 for adults; $5 for students and seniors.  Performances are Thursday, November 10 at 7; Friday, November 11 at 7:30; Saturday, November 12 at 3 and 7:30, Sunday, November 13 at 3.  For more information and reservations, call 802-365-7355 x204 or write This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

PHOTOS BY ANN LANDENBERGER OF WORK IN PROGRESS AVAILABLE AT:

Drowsy Chaperone Photos on Picasa