Carthage Theatre Presents
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison Directed by Martin McClendon Musical Direction by Amy Haines Choreography by Brenda Didier The Drowsy Chaperone originally opened on Broadway on May 1, 2006, at the Marquis Theatre. It ran for 674 performances. There will be one 15-minute intermission. This production was costumed in part with rentals from Maine State Music Theatre and Ball State Theatre Department. C A S T O F C H A R AC T E R S Man in Chair................................................................................................................Dan Brennan Mrs. Tottendale............................................................................................................. Katie Zutter Underling.................................................................................................................... Jack Lambert Robert Martin............................................................................................................ Alex Campea George.........................................................................................................................Preston Smith Feldzieg............................................................................................................Andrew Stachursky Kitty...........................................................................................................................Kaylee Annable Gangster #1....................................................................................................................Zach Rivers Gangster #2............................................................................................................Mitch Weindorf Aldolpho......................................................................................................................Alex Johnson Janet Van De Graaff...................................................................................................Brea Beelow The Drowsy Chaperone.......................................................................................Grace Brunette Trix the Aviatrix.................................................................................................... Brittany Daniels Superintendent.....................................................................................................Neil Geistlinger Ensemble................................................................................Miranda Bishop, Neil Geistlinger, Steve Hobe, Fletcher Paulsen, Alicia Petzoldt, Sydney Rovik, Seles VanHuss, Tess Weaber
The Drowsy Chaperone 1
PIT ORCHESTR A Woodwinds Sammy Whalen...............................................................clarinet, flute, soprano and alto sax Nate Larsen.......................................................................clarinet, flute, soprano and alto sax Adam Vande Ven....................................................................clarinet, tenor and baritone sax Faith Wittmus:....................................................................................clarinet and bass clarinet Brass: Thomas Battersby.............................................................................................................. trumpet Nicholas Stolfe..................................................................................................................... trumpet Bethany Kanter.................................................................................................................... trumpet Austin Pancner............................................................................................................... trombome Percussion: Michael Becker...............................................................................................................percussion Tyler Zumbrock.................................................................................. drum set and percussion Keyboard: Jane Mac Alla Livingston........................................................................................... keyboard 1 Matthew Smith.............................................................................................................. keyboard 2 PRODUCTION TEA M Director............................................................................................................. Martin McClendon Production Stage Manager..................................................................................Steven Brown Assistant Stage Managers.................................................................Kelly Field, Emily Moritz Scenic Designer............................................................................................. Martin McClendon Costume Designer.................................................................................................... Kim Instenes Lighting Designer......................................................................................... Martin McClendon Assistant Lighting Designer...................................................................................Brian Cherry Properties Design.................................................................. Hunter Arthur, Elizabeth Lange Dramaturge......................................................................................................................Lizz Zitron Dramaturgy Assistant.................................................................................................Caitlin Zant Choreographer......................................................................................................... Brenda Didier Assistant to the Choreographer...................................................................Shannon Mulvey Dance Captain......................................................................................................... Seles VanHuss Technical Director......................................................................................... Martin McClendon Assistant Technical Director........................................................................ William Newcomb Student Master Carpenter............................................................................Mitchell Weindorf Light Board Operator..............................................................................................Gino Gumino Spotlights...................................................................Matthew Schaeflein, Desiree Gonzalez Sound Operators.............................................................................Mack Folkert, Robert Petts Run/Properties Crew......................................................... Amanda Garrigan, Brian Hansen, Hunter Arthur, Teresa McCarthy Box Office Manager...................................................................................................Jenna Payne Costume Crew Head..........................................................................................Jessalyn Bender Costume Crew............................................... Molly Mason, Courtney Matula, Jane Burkitt Scenic construction/painting, costume and prop construction, lighting and sound: the students of Carthage College Theatre SPECIAL THANKS Michael Michaud Mike Love, Rob Bocock, Carthage Graphics Team, Corinne Ness 2 Carthage College
D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E S We have been working so hard to entertain you. In addition to the regular load of classes carried by our cast and crew, each has put in many hours of preparation, training, rehearsal, shop work, research, or design work. They have gone shopping for vintage musical posters; they have painted acres of scenery; they have hung and focused a hundred lights. They have created costume patterns and stitched and serged and pinned and dyed. They have learned complicated musical arrangements and set up a complex sound system. They have absorbed numerous choral voice arrangements and stunning amounts of choreography. They have researched the Jazz Age and Vaudeville comedy acts. The number of hours that we put into a show like The Drowsy Chaperone is somewhat mind-boggling. And why did we do it? To entertain you. To make you laugh and take you for a few short minutes on a journey utterly unconnected with your everyday reality. We sincerely hope you enjoy the ride. Martin McClendon, Director D R A M AT U R G I C A L N O T E S The Drowsy Chaperone is at first glance a charming love letter to Broadway’s Golden Age of musical theatre. Like its influences, the play is short, snappy, and silly. But there’s a point, and at times it’s quite sharp and uncomfortable. The Drowsy Chaperone has layers that it invites viewers to peel back as they take in the spectacle of a good, old-fashioned musical production. The 1920s were Broadway’s busiest decade, with as many as fifty new musicals opening in a single season. Record audiences forked over up to $3.50 a seat ($43.56 today) to see the latest and greatest song-and-dance production. With so much demand, it was a time of extraordinary artistic development in the musical theatre. Much of the development came from Caucasians co-opting Jewish vaudeville comedy and African-American dance and music. At a time when the United States was restricting immigration and lynching was legal, American culture was strongly shaped by those who were oppressed. Known as the Jazz Age, the 1920s was also the era of flappers, Prohibition, women’s rights, and rapid technological advances such as radio and vaccines. Women cut their hair, cursed, smoked, and dressed “unlady-like.” Whites came in droves to Harlem to hear African-American singers. World War I had changed the social landscape of America, finally allowing some rules to relax. The white, privileged inhabitants of The Drowsy Chaperone fully embrace their new freedoms- to marry “beneath them,” have scandalous careers, and dance with “Negroes.” Our guide through this world, the Man in the Chair, adores The Drowsy Chaperone, but does not want us to forget the context from which it came. Racial and socioeconomic barriers might have begun breaking down, but broad stereotyping was still acceptable and dominant culture brazenly stole from those it oppressed. An immigrant like Peter Tall might be able to make it, but only after his name was changed. However, the Man in the Chair reminds us not to judge too harshly The Drowsy Chaperone as a relic of the past. For, how much more have we progressed today? That’s the genius of The Drowsy Chaperone. Audiences can enjoy a pu-pu platter of frothy music, snappy patter, and sumptuous costumes, but with a bittersweet taste of reality. Lizz Zitron, Outreach Librarian, Carthage College The Drowsy Chaperone 3
BIOGR APHIES Kaylee Annable (Kitty): Kaylee is a junior majoring in music theatre and theatre with a dance minor. The Drowsy Chaperone marks her sixth Carthage mainstage production. Previous Carthage credits include: Ghost Bike (Nurse/Ensemble), Almost, Maine (Glory/ Villian/Marci), Cabaret (Rosie), Urinetown: Music Theatre Workshop (Penny), and Biloxi Blues (Daisy). She would like to thank all who were involved in this production for making it so enjoyable and would also like to thank her friends, and foremost her family for their unending love, support and encouragement. Brea Beelow (Janet Van De Graaff) is a Junior with a Musical Theatre and Theatre Performance Double Major. You may have seen her in Inspecting Carol (Dorothy); Cabaret (Fritzy), and The Rail Splitter (Brea Beloff). The Drowsy Chaperone is very near and dear to Brea’s heart. After she saw the show in Chicago, she decided to major in Musical Theatre as well as Theatre Performance. She feels honored to be a part of this hilarious show, and hopes the audience loves it as much as she does. She would like to thank the cast & crew for such an amazing experience, and her family and friends for always being so loving and supportive. Dan Brennan (Man in Chair): Dan is super excited to be a part of The Drowsy Chaperone! Dan has also appeared at Carthage in Ghost Bike (Old Ghost) and Cabaret (Ensemble). Dan Would like to thank his parents, Courtney, Megan, his Kidz Kabaret family and his wonderful brothers Joe and Dave for all of their support. He would also like to thank the creative team for trusting him and believing in him from the beginning of this process. He hopes you enjoy the show and reminds you to try not to think about the poodles while you’re watching... Steven Brown (Production Stage Manager): Steven is a junior technical theatre production/design major with a studio art minor. He is exhilarated to be continuing his tech career. His earlier work includes Almost Maine (assistant stage manager), the Spring 2011 dance show (light board operator), and run crew for Biloxi Blues. Steven would like to thank his family, fraternity family, the omnipotent Flying Spaghetti Monster, and most of all Briana Bell for their never ending love and support. Alex Campea (Robert): Alex is ecstatic to be performing in his tenth Carthage production! Alex is a junior pursuing degrees in music 4 Carthage College
theater and theater performance as well as a minor in dance. Notable performances include Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Music Theatre Workshop), HUNTER in [TITLE OF SHOW], Sidney Carlton in Inspecting Carol, and Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret. Alex would like to thank his parents, his professors, his fantastic brothers of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, his brothers of the Alpha Psi Omega fraternity, and Martin McClendon for being the first director to let him dance in a show at Carthage! Enjoy the show! Brian Cherry (Assistant Lighting Designer): Happy to be working for the first time as assistant lighting designer, Brian is a junior technical theatre major with emphasis in light design. Brian has been involved in theatre since second grade, and has now worked on three shows here at Carthage. Brian also works at the Blizzard Theater at Elgin Community College, on such shows as the touring production of 39 Steps and comedian Lewis Black. He’s excited to be working on The Drowsy Chaperone! It has been a fun learning experience and hilarious to watch. He hopes everyone loves and enjoys the show. Brittany Daniels (Trix): Brittany, a senior musical theatre major, is thrilled to be wrapping up her Carthage performance career with The Drowsy Chaperone! You may recognize her from Carthage’s productions of Urinetown (Music Theatre Workshop), The Beggar’s Opera (J-Term Opera), Seussical (2011), and Lysistrata. She has also been featured in several music department recitals and concerts. Brittany would like to send a warm thank you to Martin for giving her a chance to be in such a fun, energetic and captivating production. She’d also like to thank her family, friends, and the Carthage theatre and music departments for their love, support and encouragement! Brenda Didier (Choreographer): Brenda is excited to be back collaborating with the very talented staff and cast here at Carthage College after choreographing A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum here in 2006. Thank you to Martin and to Herschel for inviting me back and thank you to this most enthusiastic cast, crew and to Shannon! Ms. Didier is a freelance award winning director and choreographer based in Chicago and the owner/artistic director of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance. Enjoy the show!
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Kelly Field (Assistant Stage Manager): Kelly has been working backstage for 4 years and is glad to be continuing her work with The Drowsy Chaperone. She was recently Assistant Stage Manager for Carthage’s production of Inspecting Carol and continues to help backstage on scenic construction. Kelly would like to thank her mother, father, Scott Walz, and all those who have supported her along the way by encouraging her to pursue her passion in theatre. Amy Haines (Musical Director): Drowsy marks the 16th mainstage musical in Amy’s 25 years at Carthage. Along with Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, and the Carthage Voice Lab, Amy often teaches Exploring Music, Heritage, Cultural Expressions of Music Theatre, and this spring, a new Carthage Symposium with Pascal Rollet (Modern Languages) on Spanish and French Poetry and Song. Each summer Amy grabs her gardening hat, cleaning gloves, and seaweed rake to care for vacationers at the family resort at Sand Bay in Door County, WI. A graduate of Carthage with a MM from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Amy completed extensive graduate study at Northwestern. She has sung with the San Francisco Opera Chorus, the SFCM, Charlottesville, Racine and Kenosha Symphonies, and performed numerous recitals. Kim Instenes (Assistant Professor of Theatre/ Costume Designer): Kim holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Ohio University, and a BA in Theatre from UWWhitewater. Her faculty credits include UW Parkside, UW Whitewater, UW Milwaukee and Lawrence University. In addition to teaching at these schools she has designed costumes and makeup for a number of productions including IMAGINARY INVALID, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, TROJAN WAR, SWEENEY TODD and TRANSLATIONS. Kim continues to
work as a freelance costume and make-up designer in the Milwaukee/Chicago area. Professional design credits include THE GIVER and BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, as well as the upcoming musical BIG at First Stage Milwaukee, JEEVES INTERVENES and HEROES at Milwaukee Chamber, ROMEO AND JULIET at Milwaukee Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Renaissance Theatre Works, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild, and recently costume designer for the World premier of GOSSAMER, written by Lois Lowery and performed at First Stage Milwaukee. Design work at Carthage includes CABARET, INSPECTING CAROL and new play, by Laura Jacqmin, GHOST BIKE to name a few. LYSISTRATA won her a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for costume design and an invitation to show her work at the Festival. Kim is excited to be a part of the Theatre Department here at Carthage as it strengthens and strives to create theatre artists of the highest quality. She enjoys the thrill of watching a student understand what a costume does for their character and watch that character come to life as a result. She would also like to thank her family, husband Doug, and children, Lauren and Dalen, for their continued support of her creative endeavors. Alex Johnson (Aldolpho) freshman, is truly excited for his first main stage performance. You may have seen him earlier this year in the J-Term studio theatre production of Romeo and Juliet as Lord Capulet. He would like to thank Martin McClendon, his crew members, and his castmates for investing their time and effort into this musical. He hopes you enjoy the show! Jack Lambert (Underling): Jack Lambert is a freshman music theater and psychology double major. This is his first mainstage show at Carthage and he couldn’t be
GRADUATE EDUCATION
A resource for education and research for the nonprofit sector
Courses leading to a Graduate Certicate in Nonprot Management or a Masters in Nonprot Management and Leadership
INFORMATION SESSIONS
Tues., Jan. 31 & Wed., April 4, 6-7:30 pm UWM Alumni House, 3230 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 414-229-3176 HBI.UWM.EDU The Drowsy Chaperone 5
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) more excited to attempt to make people laugh. He was recently seen as Romeo in the J-Term class production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by John Maclay. Jack would like to thank everyone in the audience for coming, especially his supportive parents. Elizabeth Lange (Co-Properties Design): Liz is a sophomore double majoring in elementary and special education with a theatre minor. This is her second time being prop master and her third time participating in a production at Carthage College. She is grateful for the opportunity to work on this production! She would like to thank Hunter Arthur for being a great co-prop master. Martin McClendon (Assistant Professor of Theatre/Director/Scenic Designer/Lighting Designer/Technical Director): Martin is an assistant professor of theatre at Carthage. Before he began teaching he spent 10 years working as a professional actor, carpenter, and scene designer in Chicago and Los Angeles. Martin designed more than a dozen sets for Chicago’s Defiant Theatre, receiving Joseph Jefferson Citation nominations for ACTION MOVIE: THE PLAY and BLUEBEARD. Other design credits include: ON THE VERGE and LAUGHING STOCK (Artist’s Ensemble, Rockford, IL), MAYHEM (Evidence Room), and LOBBY HERO (Odyssey Theatre), both in Los Angeles. Martin is a member of Actor’s Equity, SAG, and AFTRA. Acting credits include MOJO and SKYLIGHT (Steppenwolf ), HONEST (Steppenwolf Garage), CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN (Northlight), and DANNY BOUNCING (Victory Gardens) among others. On-Camera credits include numerous national and regional commercials, episodes of ER, EARLY EDITION, THREE SISTERS, and several pilots, as well as independent films. Last year Martin directed the world premiere of THE RAIL SPLITTER by Rick Cleveland, written especially for Carthage Theatre. The production was selected as a full participating entry in the 2011 Kennedy Center/American College Regional Theatre Festival and was recognized as a distinguished production of a new work by the National Selection Committee. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Jennifer and his wonderful kids Arabella and Horatio for their support and inspiration. William Newcomb (Assistant Technical Director): William holds a B.F.A. degree in technical theatre from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, and an M.F.A. degree in arts administration from Southern 6 Carthage College
Utah University. He was assistant manager of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for five years before coming to Carthage. Other credits include technical director of the Wells Fine Arts Center at Tarleton State University, assistant technical director at Oberlin College, scene shop foreman at Ohio Light Opera, and assistant production manager of the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He would like to thank his wife Alison for her continued love and support. Fletcher Paulsen (Ensemble) Fletcher is excited to be in his first mainstage production at Carthage. He is a double major in vocal music education and music theater. His favorite roles from high school include The Baker (Into The Woods), Curly (Oklahoma), and Tevye (Fiddler On the Roof ). He would to thank his family and friends for all of their support! Alicia Petzoldt (Ensemble) is a freshman music education major, theatre minor at Carthage. She is very excited to make her main stage debut in The Drowsy Chaperone. Alicia would like to thank everyone in her life that supports her, especially her parents who were willing to drive eight hours to see her perform. Zach Rivers (Gangster #1): Zach is very excited to be in his first mainstage production at Carthage. Previous Carthage roles include Van Helsing in the Steampunk Opera J-Term Symposium, Mr. McQueen in the Music Theatre Workshop presentation of Urinetown, and Janitor/Priest in See What I Wanna See (student directed musical project). Behind the scenes, Zach has worked as sound operator for both Cabaret and Inspecting Carol. He would like to thank Martin McClendon and the cast and crew for making Drowsy an awesome experience. Sydney Rovik (Ensemble): Sydney is a sophomore music theater major with a minor in dance. Drowsy marks her first mainstage production at Carthage. You may have seen her recently as Gertrude in Seussical, part of Carthage’s annual Seuss-a-thon. Other recent credits include the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Standing Ovation Theatre (Gurnee), and Lily St. Regis in Annie (Lakeside Players). Sydney thanks Jesus, her family for being so awesome, and Martin, Amy, and Brenda for this opportunity. Preston Smith (George): Preston is thrilled to be performing once again on the Carthage stage. Recently at Carthage,
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) he has portrayed the roles of Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown (Music Theatre Workshop), Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet (J-Term Class Production), and Horton the Elephant in Seussical the Musical. Outside of Carthage, Preston was Man #2 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! with the Haylofters of Burlington. He would like to thank Martin for this amazing opportunity, Lorian and Corinne for all of their help and instruction, his family for their love and support, and all of his amazing friends who continually make him smile even on the hardest of days. Enjoy, everyone! Andrew Stachursky (Feldzieg): Andrew is very excited to be playing Feldzieg in The Drowsy Chaperone. This is Andrew’s sixth mainstage show here at Carthage. You may have seen him as King Yama in Ghost Bike, Phil Hewitt in Inspecting Carol, Andrew Stuckowski in The Rail Splitter, Joseph Wykowski in Biloxi Blues, and as Vilom in the ACTF regional festival production of One Day in the Season of Rain. He would like to thank his friends Dan Brennan, Brett Robertson, Caitlin Robertson, Derek Nelson, and Slim Simonini. He’d also like to his family for their constant support. Enjoy the show! Seles VanHuss (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be apart of her first main stage production at Carthage College. She is currently a music theater major with a minor in dance. Now as a sophomore, she can’t wait to get more involved in future performances here at Carthage. She would like to say thanks to her parents for always believing in her through everything she does. Enjoy the show!
Tess Weaber (Ensemble): Tess is a sophomore psychology major and dance minor. She is very excited to be in The Drowsy Chaperone, her second musical at Carthage! Last year she portrayed Helga in Cabaret. Tess has been in shows since she was in the fifth grade and has loved every minute of it! Tess has also been tap dancing for 16 years and is very excited to tap in the show! She would like to thank Martin for being an awesome and hilarious director and her loving parents and boyfriend for always supporting her! Mitch Weindorf (Gangster #2): Mitch Weindorf is a junior theater performance major with a minor in German. Recent Carthage credits include Ghost Bike, Cabaret, One Day in the Season of Rain, Lysistrata and workshop productions of Seussical and Urinetown. This past summer, Mitch was a production intern and performed in A Few Good Men at Peninsula Players Theater in Door County, Wisconsin. He would like to thank the faculty for all their teaching and support and his family and friends for all their support. Lizz Zitron (Dramaturge): Lizz Zitron is Outreach Librarian at the Carthage College Hedberg Library and a lifelong theatre fan. She has served as dramaturge for Ghost Bike, The Rail Splitter, Cabaret, and other Carthage productions. Thanks to the cast and crew who made this a fun experience and especially to Martin whose humor keeps all of us afloat. Huge thanks to the wonderful Caitlin Zant for her excellent research work. Thanks especially to Erik for understanding my crazy schedule.
T H E AT R E FAC U LT Y Maria Carig.............................................................................Associate Professor of English and Theatre Annie Hackett...................................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre-Dance Kim Instenes.............................................................Assistant Professor of Theatre/Costume Designer Marcella Kearns.............................................................................................. Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Herschel Kruger..................................................... Department Chair/Associate Professor of Theatre John Maclay.................................................................................................... Assistant Professor of Theatre Martin McClendon................................................ Technical Director/ Assistant Professor of Theatre Faith Mitchell....................................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre-Dance William Newcomb............................................................................................ Assistant Technical Director Stacy Pottinger................................................................................ Assistant Professor of Theatre-Dance Brian Gill............................................................................................................ Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Neil Scharnick................................................................................................ Assistant Professor of Theatre
The Drowsy Chaperone 7
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival™ XLIV The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund; and the National Committee for the Performing Arts. This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in collegelevel theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels. Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for inclusion at the KCACTF regional festival and can also be considered for invitation to the KCACTF national festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in the spring of 2011. Last year more than 1,300 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.
8 Carthage College