This year’s musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, opens THIS WEEKEND. Here’s everything you need to know about the cast and the show itself! 

The Drowsy Chaperone is both a comedy and a musical to bring smiles and laughter to everyone. Even if musicals aren’t necessarily your thing, The Drowsy Chaperone is sure to entertain. You know those friends that know an unusual amount about one specific topic? The lead character “Man in Chair” narrates from his apartment on this show he’s loved his whole life. It’s set in 1928 and he knows every detail about the show. The jokes–some obvious, some you catch moments later–will draw you in. 

This year’s cast, crew, tech, and pit orchestra have been preparing and working hard since before winter break to make this possible. Each element comes together to work on their special skill and bring the show to life! Every character on stage, leads and ensemble, have found where they fit into the story to make it better. Meet some of the people behind the scenes in this video produced by Lucy Wolff.

This year’s cast consists of leads including, Josiah Jensen (senior) as Man in Chair, Lydia Jensen (junior) as Janet Van De Graaff, Vincent Ricciardi (senior) as Robert Martin, Ava Ledermann (senior) as The Drowsy Chaperone, Zach Tress (junior) as Aldolpho, Riley Fireng (senior) as Miss Tottendale, Ben Sosnowski (senior) as Underling, McKenna Moore (junior) as Kitty, Zach Helland (junior) as Feldzieg, McKenna Richardson (senior) as Trix, The Aviatrix, Michael Hoika (senior) as George, Josh Annen (freshman) as a Tall Brother, Jack Instefjord (junior) as a Tall Brother, Nella Robinson (junior) as Frosty and Matthew Schenher (sophomore) as The Building Superintendent. 

Along with the leads, ensemble groups such as the Mansion Staff, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Reporters/Photographers, Aviators, Tap group, Members of the Press, Patriotic Chorus, Baker Girls, Emperor’s Servants, TerraCotta Warriors, Chinese Dragon Operators and Monkey Dancers all shine on the stage. 

The director Mr. Jensen thinks of this musical as “one of the funniest musicals [he’s] ever encountered” because “it makes fun of musical theater and celebrates all that makes it worth enjoying. You don’t have to be a musical theater expert in order to enjoy this show.” As the Man in Chair exclaims in his monologue, the show is “a little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world” and you are “taken to another world, a world full of color and music and glamour.” That’s what this show is about. 

Josiah Jensen also mentioned that he likes “how comedic [the show] is.” By saying “I don’t think I’ve ever been in such a funny show.” When asked why he wanted to be in this show he mentioned, “I grew up in the PRHS Fine Arts department my whole life, with my dad being the director, and I’ve always kind of longed [that] I’d be a lead in a show.” Lydia Jensen had a similar response, noting, “my whole life there’s been music around the house” and  “I’ve always pictured myself being onstage.” 

The passion shared in the Jensen household isn’t the only passion on stage though. Other cast members such as Vincent Ricciardi and Zach Helland expressed that their love for theater is driven from their love for singing. Yet singing isn’t the only thing you get to do: Zach expressed “and I like to yell at people!”

The PRHS Fine Arts program has been a safe place for everyone since the moment they stepped foot into it. Ava Ledermann has been in the program for 4 years and she shares her experience through saying “it is so rewarding” and it “has been my home.” 

This experience is not only shared throughout theater, but also in students that do multiple things. Zach is both a football player and a lead in this year’s musical and he said “they are both huge commitments” but since they are “different seasons” he is able to do both. Zach also shared that in theater “people are a lot more willing to be nicer.” 

Theater can teach us so much, from being in it, to being in the audience and as Ava also proclaimed, theater “has taught me to be confident in myself and to take up space, unapologetically.” 

The Drowsy Chaperone is sure to thrill all. 

Show dates are Friday March 1, Saturday March 2, Thursday March 7, Friday March 8, and Saturday March 9. Visit this link to buy your tickets!