'Drowsy Chaperone' Opens Thursday

"If you are looking for something new, then this is the show for you."

So says Jon Reinoso, a 15-year-old sophomore from Grayslake Central, who encouraged people to come out to see The Drowsy Chaperone, the musical put on by a combined cast of students from Grayslake Central and Grayslake North High Schools.

The show begins with "the man in the chair," played by David Bryant, who yearns to relive his favorite musical by listening to the music from it. He is transported into the story and brings the audience along for the ride.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical comedy that won the most 2006 Tony Awards of any musical on Broadway, according to the official show website. The show pulls the audience into the story of a 1928 musical that takes place on the wedding day of a bride, her groom and the cast of characters coming and going all around them.

For Reinoso, who plays Gangster No. 1 along with Tim Sobie, who plays Gangster No. 2, the show is all about the fun of playing tough talking gangsters who are also pastry chefs.

"I love this show," Reinoso said. "It a lot of fun. And my character is great. He has the toughness of a gangster combined with the softness of a pastry chef."

The Drowsy Chaperone, with the lead character played by Amy Kennedy, opens this Thursday March 17 and runs through Sunday, March 20. Shows are held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is also a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. All shows are held in the theatre at Grayslake Central High School.

The large cast and crew, with more than 51 cast members, 70 crew members and about 22 members of the orchestra pit, have been hard at work since January perfecting the musical comedy.

Erin Thickpenny, a senior at Grayslake Central, is the assistant to the technical directors.

"I love everything about the show," she said. "To see all of our ideas come to life on stage is really gratifying."

Cast members Jacob Schrimpf and Casey Reed are good friends in real life, and both are juniors at Grayslake Central.

Schrimpf plays Robert, the groom, and Reed plays George, his best man.

"I love how unique this show is," Reed said. "It is different than any other show I've ever done."

"It is a high energy show all the way through," Schrimpf said. "What's great is that so many people get to shine in the show. That keeps it interesting."

Both said the odd, quirky characters make the show fun for the audience and for the cast.

"The cheesiness of the characters is so over the top that it is a blast," Schrimpf said.

But there is a message to the entertaining show.

"At first glance, it's just a funny show within a show," Reed added. "But there really is a true message about how we escape our lives."

Tickets are $8 general admission; and $6 for senior citizens and District 127 students. Sunday matinee tickets are $6 general admission, and $4 for senior citizens and D127 students. For more information, go to http://central.d127.org/finearts/Pages.