Schaumburg Summer Theatre opens 35th season with ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ musical
Schaumburg Summer Theatre marks its 35th season with the Tony Award-winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” playing July 25 through Aug. 3 at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.
Tickets start at $28; $24 for students and seniors and are available online at www.prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600. Schaumburg Summer Theatre is a program of the village of Schaumburg.
Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a charming and fast-paced love letter to Golden Age musicals. The story begins in the dark, with a man alone in his apartment who puts on his favorite record: the cast album of a (fictional) 1928 musical. As the record spins, the show bursts to life in his living room — complete with outrageous characters, mistaken identities, and nonstop laughs.
This “musical within a comedy” features a colorful cast of characters: a pair of star-crossed lovers, a bumbling best man, two gangsters disguised as pastry chefs, an over-the-top theater impresario, a self-proclaimed Latin lothario, and, of course, the drowsy chaperone herself — a boozy socialite with a flair for drama.
Directed and choreographed by Melissa Crabtree, the production also features vocal direction by Jennifer Gafron and orchestra direction by Andrew Luzwick. The creative team includes costume design by Kimberly Anderson, set design by Phil Seifritz, lighting design by John Scrip, and sound design by Rob Reder. Emma Johnson serves as stage manager, with Ashley Keys as associate director.
Schaumburg Summer Theatre veteran Olivia Zaks plays Hollywood star Janet Van De Graaff.
Zaks says “audiences can expect pure fun, romance, and chaos! The show has catchy songs, big vocals, loads of dance, comedy, drama, and a heartfelt message. You’ll never know what to expect next.”
When asked what contemporary movie roles her character would love to play, she exclaimed, “I would’ve fought Ariana Grande to play Glinda!”
Jason Penton stars as Man-in-Chair, the narrator of this musical comedy. Like Zaks, Penton has done many shows with Schaumburg Summer Theater.
“I keep coming back to SST because of the supportive production team and wonderful cast members,” he said. “Every year is different, but each show turns out beautiful and reminds me what making theater is all about.”
With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, “The Drowsy Chaperone” was originally produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Bob Boyett, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag, and Jill Furman. The show is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, July 25-26 and Aug. 1-2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the theater, 201 Schaumburg Court.
The cast features: Jason Penton of Lakewood as Man in Chair; Stephanie Mayer of Arlington Heights as Mrs. Tottendale; Matthew Williams of Naperville as Underling; Griffin Snow of Arlington Heights as Robert Martin; Fiona Bilkey of Lombard as George; Felisa Lascano of Gilberts as Feldzieg; Juliana Canastra of Deerfield as Kitty; Lukas House of Glenview as Gangster #1; Luke Hafkey of Wheaton as Gangster #2; Zach Ulmer of Huntley as Aldolpho; Olivia Zak of Lake in the Hills as Janet Van De Graaff; Laura Breyen of Arlington Heights as The Drowsy Chaperone; and Sabra Thomas of Bolingbrook as Trix the Aviatrix.
Featured and ensemble: Logan Gray of Carol Stream; Evan Jensen, Gabrielle Pelayo and Morgan Smith, all of Hoffman Estates; Claire Johnson of Aurora; Maggie Maher of Arlington Heights; Kylene Murphy of Bloomingdale; Coco Schluchter of Glenview; Sydney Tschosik of Batavia; and Michael Zawislak of Schaumburg.