Director's notes:
Thank you for coming out to see our production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. After a few years of flying nannies, mermaids and ogres, it's been nice to come back to the present day. The show you are seeing is really a love-letter to musicals, and is done in a "show-within-a-show" format. The idea for this show was formed 20 years ago when several friends got together and created a spoof of old musicals for a bachelor party for the real life couple Bob Martin and Janet van de Graaf. The "narrator" of this show is called "Man in Chair" and I share his enthusiasm for great musicals. When it came time to decorate the set, I thought, not only what would he do, but what would I do? If you've ever seen my classroom, this is like a mini-version of it relocated in the "Man in Chair" apartment. I"m not embarrassed.
Anyway, the show was reshaped for the Toronto Fringe Festival, they added the "Man in Chair," and they kept developing the show until it opened up on Broadway on May 1st, 2006. It won five Tony Awards including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design. The show also won seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. Not bad for a skit developed originally developed for a party.
Our production is presented with one 15-minute intermission. Bathrooms are located in the Tomahawk Activity Center (TAC) where you bought your tickets. To access them, you can go up the stairs in the back or out the side doors if stairs are an issue. Check out the lobby display or grab something to drink or eat while you're down there.
Co-Director's notes:
Where do I begin!? I have absolutely loved being able to work with such an amazing group of people! This show has been a rather long journey, with a few bumps here and there, but I’m so excited to finally see it all come together. It has been incredible to watch the progress from the first read through and the first rehearsal with the band to what you see on stage tonight. On behalf of the cast I would like to thank Klem, for being such a wonderful director and such a patient man, as well as Mr. Kesler, Mr. Knowles, and Victoria Steward for being such a big part of our show and helping us with our music and bringing the show to life! We would also like to thank Elizabeth Price for choreographing our show and Emmaline Savidge for putting so much time into our costumes. Above all we would like to thank the parents and everyone who was supportive of our actors throughout this extremely long process and all of you that have come out to see our show! We really appreciate your support!!! This show is so different from ones we’ve had the chance to do in the past, and we really hope you enjoy the process!
