That show tells the story of a famous Broadway star who wants to get married and leave the show business forever. Her producer doesn’t want to lose his big star, and he is willing to try everything to stop her
marriage. So he hires a narcissistic gigolo to seduce her, with unpredictable results. While this plot unfolds on stage, the Man in the Chair makes his comments and tells us stories regarding the stars of that musical.

The “Drowsy Chaperone” actually started as a spoof of old musicals, written by friends for the wedding of Martin and his wife, Janet. Something that began as a wedding present has become this fabulous love letter to musical theatre. The Man in the Chair character is a brilliant concept and Woodlands is sure a lot of people will see part of themselves in that character. It’s this Man that takes us for a journey to a time where musicals were simple entertainments with catchy tunes and plenty of laughs. More than the musical that unfolds around him, he’s the heart and soul of this show. The music takes us back to a time of great songs and hummable tunes. The ensuing plot incorporates mistaken identities, dream sequences, spit takes, adeus ex machina, an unflappable English butler, an absent-minded dowager, a ditzy chorine, a harried best man, and a “Tipsy” chaperone. If you’ve ever sat in a dark theater and thought… “Dear Lord in heaven, please let it be good”…this is the show for you! Winner of 5 Tony Awards. This a brand new classic!

The audience is greeted by the narrator, simply called the Man in Chair (Bob Stevens), sitting on a darkened stage. He is a fan of vintage musicals and he decides to cheer things up by playing a record of the original cast recording of a Broadway musical entitled “The Drowsy Chaperone”. No sooner has the needle touched the record than we, together with the narrator, are transported to a 1928 Broadway theater and into “The Drowsy Chaperone”, a play-within-a-play crammed full of every cliche, gag and gimmick from the golden age of musicals. In this hilarious musical comedy, the star of “Feldzeig’s Follies” wants to leave the show because she’s fallen for a rich oil tycoon. Her manager Mr. Feldzieg (Lynne Derosiers) doesn’t want to lose his big star and he is willing to try everything to stop her marriage. With that premise, we are then swept into the glamorous and hilarious tale of a reluctant stage star bride (Glenna Garvey), a groom on roller skates (Adam Huff), a tap-dancing best man (Ted Richart), a womanizing gigolo (Clint Kirry), a pair of gangsters posing as bakers (Jacob Harris & Aaron Huff), and an intoxicated chaperone ( Nancy Christopher). We are also introduced to a hilarious barrage of other characters: the bubble headed Mrs. Tottendale (Kathleen Malcolm) and her faithful butler Underling (Kris Kittelson), the ditsy would-be showgirl Kitty (Lis Motley), and Trix (Shannon Hulse). Rounding out the cast is a very talented chorus: Ed Bryan, Sam Heflick, Megan Grittner, Michaela Nichols, and Alexis Hogan.

Production Dates: Oct 21,22,23,24,29,30,31, 2010

Production Dates: May 1,2, 2010

The musical is well known for its extraordinary score — the songs include “Some Enchanted Evening”, “Younger Than Springtime”, “Bali Ha’i”, “There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame”, and “A Wonderful Guy”

South Pacific is also a deeply felt drama. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an alien culture in wartime is as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences in 1949.

Director: Nancy Christopher

The Woodlands cast includes:
Ted Richart as Emile de Becque
Lea McCormick as Nellie Forbush
Adam Huff as Lt. Joe Cable
Annie Cantos as Liat
Margee Richart as Bloody Mary
Savanna Carnline & Emma Richartz as Emile’s young daughters Ngana & Mya.

The islands nurses are: Peggy Townley, Shasta Pettijohn, Karen Dewall, Katy Carnline, Janai Bakkens, Treasa Parazoo, Katlin Brooks, Kimber MacArthur, Tiera MacArther, and Kristie MacArthur.

The men of the cast are: Jerry Voelker as Luther Billis
Sean Taboloff as Stewpot
Jim Noonan as Capt. Brackett
George Eberth as Cmdr. Harbinson.

And rounding out the cast as sailors are: Sam Heflick, Adam Fisher, Jacob Harris, Timothy Linton, Gordie King, and Ian Lee.

Productions Dates: Mar 5,6,7,11,21,13,14,18,19,20,21, 2010

In the course of the evening this Nutcracker is broken, causing great grief to Marie, who, after the lights are out and guests gone, steals from her bed to have another look at him.  It is midnight and a wonderful thing happens: all the playthings and honey cakes come to life including the Nutcracker.  Towards the end of the act the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, who decides to take Marie to his magic kingdom.  The second act pictures all the joyful happenings when they finally arrive at the Nutcracker’s castle.

The orchestra will also feature traditional Christmas carols orchestrated by Chip Davis who combines traditional orchestral instruments with recorders, harpsichord, and lute. The orchestra will also accompany the choir on Christmas carols from the Oxford book of 100 Carols. They include traditional Carols such as the “Coventry Carol”, Advent Carols, including “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and popular secular pieces like “Jingle Bells” as well as two modern carols by John Rutter.

A Carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with the church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character.  The word carol is derived from the old French word carole, a circle dance accompanied by singers.  They were very popular as dance songs from the 1150s to the 1350s.  Their use was expanded as procession songs sung during festivals.  Some were written to accompany religious mystery plays such as the Coventry Carol, written in 1591.

Director: Gail Herbst/Ron Bacon

Production Dates: Dec 5, 6, 2009

This season’s spring musical will mark the world debut of an original major musical, penned and directed by local favorite Thomas Hart entitled Tastes Like Chicken!

“The show can be described as a crazy musical menu about the mainstay of all our lives – food,” remarked Marty Kittelson. “It’s a journey from morning to evening of the experiences we all have…what we eat, how we eat, why we eat, when we eat, who we eat with! The 24 songs that Tom has written are clever, lively and just plain fun.”

The show boasts a number of able choreographers including Claire Worley of the Harran Dancers, Sean Taboloff, Kat Malcolm, Marty Kittelson, Lisa Robinson and Teresa Parazoo. “You don’t usually have so many talented choreographers working on one show,” confessed Hart. “We wanted a wide variety of styles for this show and we have successfully achieved that, thanks to some very creative efforts. I’m extremely grateful.”

The nineteen member ensemble cast includes: Michelle Bakken-Paul, Jennifer Carnline, Katy Carnline, Jim Draper, George Eberth, Jacob Harris, Karen Heflick, Rebecca Heflick, Shannon Hulse-Howe, Jennifer Inman, Kris Kittelson, Kathleen Malcolm, Lea McCormick, Chantelle Nelson, Stazya Richman, Tracey Rice, Robert Simeone, Sean Taboloff, and Jerry Voelker.”

Production Dates: Mar 6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21,22,2009

Production Dates: Nov 7,9, 2008

Swinging sounds of big band music and hilarious backstage antics are in the “1940’s
Radio Hour”. The world may be locked in the titanic struggle of the Second World War, but inside the studio of the W.O.V. radio station, the show must go on! This musical comedy takes place in a small 5000-watt New York City radio station (W.O.V.) and is centered around a group of performers and their attempts to make it to the “big time” in show biz. This fun production includes such old time greats as “Blue Moon,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Old Black Magic,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” and 19 other numbers from that era.

Take a step into the past and join:

Clifton Feddington (Richard Henry) announcer and general manager (head of everything at WOV);

Ann Collier (Lea McCormick) the ‘old standard’ in the radio show since its start in 1936, secretary by day, and a looker by night;

Johnny Cantone (Dave Johnstone) featured vocalist with the Cavalcade who is on Sinatra’s bandwagon; an ex-boxer and a rough guy who drinks too much but has a voice like velvet;

Ginger Brooks (Nancy Christopher) a bubble-headed waitress-turned-singer;

Neal Tilden (Jesse Keener) cabdriver by day, dancer and singer by night hoping for that “featured vocalist slot”;

B.J. Gibson (Jacob Harris) the third of the Gibson brothers to work for the Cavalcade and a prep student at Yale;

Connie Miller (Kendra Chilbert) a bobbysoxer from Ogden Utah who runs an elevator by day and is perennially in love;

Pops Bailey (Ed Bryan) a crotchety wizened stage doorkeeper who is a racing bookie on company time and has eclectic reading habits;

Louise Cohn  (Treasa Parazoo) dancer, choreographer and sound effects expert;

Wally Ferguson (Timothy Linton) young hopeful from Altoona Pennsylvania who came to NYC to work for his uncle and hopefully get his big show-biz break;

Biff Baker (Frank Chilbert) a young trumpet player with the Zoot Doubleman Orchestra who will be leaving after the concert for Army duty;

Stanley (Adam Jessee) all around “gopher” for Station WOV;

Geneva Lee Brown  (Eleanor Mattice) a high classed lady always “on” and always dressed to kill, and

Zoot Doubleman (Karen Moulett) the WOV Orchestra Leader.

Director: Margee Richart

Production Dates: Oct 17,18,19,24,25,26, 2008

Woodlands own lovable pit crew will be performing also and playing those memorable tunes. Be sure to come and enjoy a peak at W.O.V. New York.