buddy with him,” Uman said. (Trae Contryman)
Jazzy instrumentals, tap dancing and sky-high props inspired by the Roaring Twenties were prominent in Drama’s spring musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Featuring a dramatic wedding and comedic misunderstandings, the musical poses as a parody of the 1920s era of American society.
The show opened on March 19 and remaining performances are March 25-27 in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). It begins with avid musical fan, the Man in Chair, played by junior Nikolas Howitt, who, when feeling sad, plays his favorite musical: “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Suddenly, the characters from the musical start to perform while the Man in Chair narrates the scene, breaking the fourth wall by pausing and then unpausing the characters for the audience.
“This is the first time I’m playing a narrator, which is really cool. It’s also the most lines I’ve ever had. It’s the most excited I’ve been for a role in a long time,” Howitt said. “I like how vulnerable my character is, and it’s easier to connect with him. He feels very welcoming.”
In “The Drowsy Chaperone,” senior Isaiah Uman plays Robert Martin, is set to marry Broadway star Janet Van De Graaff, played by senior Adrianne Lamparero, as she prepares to leave her career for married life. However, Producer Feldzieg, played by junior Dominick Robles, along with two gangsters, played by senior Roman Macali and junior Hannah Phan, try to manipulate the vain Aldopho, played by senior Braden Cobb, into seducing Janet and ending the wedding.
“The thing I really like about this musical is just how much the ensemble and the cast of characters are involved,” Drama Director Zoe Seare said. “There [are] 13 named characters in the show, who I would say are all leads [which] provides a lot of opportunities for the kids to get involved.”
As the musical progresses, more chaos and romantic interests within the cast arise, including the wealthy Mrs. Tottendale, played by senior Yaretzy Perela-Pinto, forming an unlikely relationship with her butler Underling, played by sophomore Tobias Silva-Jameson. Eventually, the original Robert and Janet wedding culminates into four weddings taking place at once, to the worried best man George’s, played by junior Angel Hernandez, relief.
“This is my first high school musical, and I’m a bit nervous about it, but it’s been a really fun musical [experience],” ensemble member freshman Evangeline Lizan said. “I didn’t really know what to expect from high school musicals but [the cast is] doing a really good job right now. The community’s really good, it’s funny and I like it so much.”
Drama had been preparing for the musical since January, which involved more elaborate set pieces than their past productions, and they even received help with their set from an electrical engineer. Towards the finale of the musical, after a near-distaster that could ruin the four weddings, a life-sized plane prop that the cast is able to board takes the stage to save the day.
“It’s been the biggest project I think I’ve ever done,” Seare said. “As we kept going through rehearsals and the cast started to see the set and their costumes, it really got them excited and in the mindset where they were feeling good about taking risks and trying new things on the stage.”
