ORRHS Drama Club
2024-2025
ORRHS Drama Club
2024-2025
The Drowsy Chaperone is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
The ORRHS Drama Club to present the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone"
Thursday, April 10 at 7pm - Friday, April 11 at 7pm - Saturday, April 12 at 7pm - Sunday, April 13 at 2pm
TICKETS: Students & Senior Citizens $12 -- General Admission $15 | Online with Eventbrite: bit.ly/drowsy-tickets At the door! | Local vendors: Marion General Store, Isabelle’s (Mattapoisett) or Friends Marketplace (Rochester)
Date Night Contest: bit.ly/dinner-drama-winner
The Drowsy Chaperone
The story begins as a lonely musical theatre fan known as the Woman in Chair, played by Tessa Ripley, '28, sits alone in her apartment, seeking comfort in her favorite 1920s musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. As she plays the record, the show magically comes to life in her living room, transporting both her and the audience into a dazzling, over-the-top Broadway spectacle. Other principal roles include Amanda Tomasso, '26 as the Drowsy Chaperone, Sienna Roveda, '25 as Janet Van De Graaf, and Calder Eaton, '25 as Robert Martin. Some the humor is a bit grown-up so audience members should be no younger than grade 5 or 6.
IMPORTANT: The ORRHS is a latex-free building so please refrain from bringing flowers with elastics or "rubber bands."
The Drowsy Chaperone is a Canadian musical with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.
DIRECTOR: Brayden Fanti MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jenna Kendall
ASST. DIRECTOR: Sarah Whinnem SOUND DIRECTOR: John Farrell
Q: "What is this play about?
A: This musical-within-a-play follows the story of glamorous stage star, Janet Van De Graaff, who plans to leave her career to marry an oil tycoon. However, her producer fears financial ruin and is determined to sabotage the wedding. He enlists a ditsy aspiring actress, Kitty, and two bumbling gangsters (disguised as pastry chefs) to derail the nuptials. Meanwhile, Robert’s best man, George, tries to keep the groom focused, but a mix-up involving roller skates and blindfolds leads to hilarious chaos.
Adding to the mayhem is Janet’s perpetually tipsy chaperone, whose supposed role is to keep the bride out of trouble but instead indulges in cocktails and flirtations with Aldolpho, an over-the-top Latin lover. As mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and show-stopping numbers unfold, the Woman in Chair interjects with witty commentary, sharing her deep love for the musical and revealing pieces of her own loneliness and longing.
As the show reaches its grand wedding finale, reality seeps back in. The cast vanishes, leaving the Woman in Chair alone once more—until the music swells again, reminding her (and the audience) of the power of theater to bring joy, even in solitude.
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The Drowsy Chaperone is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.
This program is supported in part by grants from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Winner of 9 Tony Awards -
God of Carnage is a sharp, fast-paced comedy that shows what happens when parents stop being polite and begin to behave badly. When two sets of parents meet to discuss a fight between their sons, each participant is mature and reasonable but as the conversation goes on, things get tense, then, totally out of control. What starts as a simple discussion turns into a hilarious, messy battle of insults, meltdowns, and unexpected alliances. The adults reveal their true colors, showing that they might not be any more grown-up than their children after all. God of Carnage is a funny and eye-opening look at how people handle conflict and how sometimes – they really don’t!
Mr. Fanti joined the faculty of Old Rochester Regional High School in Fall of '24. Brayden is a professional theater arts educator who also teaches Drama at the New Bedford Vocational High School. Every aspect of production including - but not limited to - lighting, sound, costume design, set design / construction and stage management is being coordinated with ORRHS students as they begin working on their first play together, Noises Off!
Exciting News! In addition to staging the Spring Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, the ORRDC performed a one-act play at the METG festival in March. Please check back soon for information about Brayden and news about this year's ORRHS Drama Club.
Brayden Fanti
Sarah Whinnem has been a part of the drama club for eight incredible productions filled with laughter, tears, and enough caffeine to power a small nation. She would like to express her appreciation to everyone in the club for all their hard work and dedication over the last four years. She is so proud of every student and parent involved in the club. As her child prepares to take his final bow and move on to the next act of life, Sarah is left wondering: “Do I go too? Or just hide in a prop cabinet and keep showing up?”
Sarah Whinnem
Maxx Domingos and Sarah Whinnem