Bullis Upper School Presents 'The Drowsy Chaperone'

“It does what a musical should do. It takes you to a different world.”

The line from the play explains what “The Drowsy Chaperone” does — takes the audience to a charming world of musical theater from the past, and the Bullis School’s performance is no exception.

Singing, dancing and comedy highlight this Tony Award winning production, which pays tribute to American musicals of the Jazz Age. Written by Bob Martin and Don McKlellar with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, this hilarious musical is “blessed with a story and a few good songs that will take me away" — the description of the perfect play as described by the lead character, Man in Chair.

When the show opens, Man in Chair, a sad, lonely man who is obsessed with musical theater, is listening to a record from his favorite musical of 1928, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” As the music drifts from the record player, the musical comes to life on stage. The entire cast is preparing for the wedding of showgirl Janet van De Graaff to oil tycoon Robert Martin. The subsequent plot includes mistaken identities, gangsters, sabotage, wedding jitters, a butler and a drowsy (tipsy) chaperone.

Under the direction of Charles Johnson, Bullis Theater Arts teacher, the Upper School students will perform “The Drowsy Chaperone” Friday, Feb. 4, and Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Blair Family Center for the Arts on the Bullis campus.

The students performed a matinee show on Thursday that attracted many who were eager to see the show.

Senior Davis Richardson plays the lead role of “Man in Chair.” Davis has starred in most of the Bullis drama productions, but has never performed in a musical.  

“I am enjoying the play — and finding it really interesting seeing what goes into making a musical — how the music and dancing must work together to move the plot forward,” Richardson said. “My favorite part is Emily’s monkey number.”

Previously, Davis has acted in “Witness for the Prosecution” and “Noises Off.”

The role of Janet van De Graaff, female lead, is played by senior Emily Shanny. She studies voice and acting privately and also attends the Stage Door Manor Summer Acting Camp in the Catskills Mountains.

Her favorite part of the show is a scene with the drowsy chaperone where they sing "As We Stumble Along," she said. Emily is sad that this will be her last Bullis show, but is hoping to continue acting in college, she added.

Emily has previously performed in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Seussical” and “The Sound of Music.”

The play has a large cast of 32 actors, dancers and singers as well as a tech crew of 12 managed by Bullis technical director Steve Hambrick. The pit orchestra features both faculty and students. Instrumental music teacher Stefi Gogerty was in charge of organizing and rehearsing the orchestra.

Besides his role as director, Johnson is the choreographer and orchestra director. He has been working in music and stage directing throughout the U. S. for many years and has been at Bullis for the past two years.

“This is just a fun musical. It’s a homage/parody of older style musicals,” Johnson said.

“The show is light hearted and a love letter to that time period. Quoting a line from the scripts, ‘It gives you a tune to carry in your heart.’”

Show times for “The Drowsy Chaperone” are 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors and can be purchased at the door.