The Man in the Chair, who happens to be a big fan of old Broadway musicals, is feeling kind of blue. And so to lift up his spirits, he decides to play one of his favorite cast recordings – “The Drowsy Chaperone”.
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.
Director: Ted Richart
Production Dates: Oct 21,22,23,24,29,30,31, 2010
Director: Gail Herbst/Ron Bacon
Production Dates: May 1,2, 2010
Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples – U.S. Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat — and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Can love overcome all or will these star-crossed lovers be consumed by life’s realities?
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
The first concert of the season, Carols of Christmas, will feature Woodland’s Orchestra and Choir. The orchestra will play 7 dances from The Nutcracker Suite, including Danse Russe Trepak and Valse Des Fleurs. The suite is a ballet divided into two acts with Act 1 disclosing a Christmas Eve festivity in the home of a little girl, Marie who receives a wonderful array of toys and presents, among them an ordinary Nutcracker.
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
