playbill vip

Notes from the Director

Welcome to Palisades High School Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone, a show written as a love letter to musical theatre. Filled with wit, nostalgia, and irresistible dance numbers, this production has been a joy and an honor to work on alongside our talented students and dedicated staff. We are beyond thrilled to present our work to you today.

For those of you wondering, What is The Drowsy Chaperone?—you’re not alone. This musical, written in 2006 as a wedding present, introduces us to the quirky, theatre-loving, self-proclaimed ‘know-it-all’ narrator, Man in Chair. As he plays his favorite (fictional) 1928 cast recording, the musical comes to life in his apartment, complete with all the glamour, mistaken identities, romance, and delightful mishaps of a classic Broadway spectacle. But The Drowsy Chaperone isn’t just a show to Man in Chair—it’s his escape.

The story explores why we turn to theatre and entertainment in the first place. As we learn more about Man in Chair, we also discover something about ourselves—how our passions transport us, comfort us, and bring us joy in life’s most difficult moments.

One of the great joys of working with young people is watching them discover their own passions. Some find theirs in academics, music, theatre, athletics, service, or social events. Each day, I have the privilege of walking alongside them as they find their own Drowsy Chaperone. We can’t erase the hard moments in life, but we can turn to the things that bring us joy to ease their weight.

A student recently shared with me how they always work out after a bad test grade. The grade doesn't disappear, but they use their passion as a tool for resilience. After a tough breakup, a group of friends might gather to play games—not to change the past, but to find joy despite it. The next day, we pull our bootstraps up and march forward. "We have to live while we can, right?"

For Man in Chair, that joy comes from his record player. And for us, the audience, we are invited into his ultimate escape—a world where problems are solved with a song and dance. As you watch, I hope you reflect on and treasure the “records” in your own life—the things that help you navigate challenges and remind you of the joy in simply being swept away.

Tough moments heal with time. If you are reading this now, you have survived a difficult time before, and you will survive them again. Surviving isn’t always thriving. Sometimes we don’t know left from right, or right from wrong. The best we can do is stumble along.

Neil Hong

PHS Theatre