Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. was the opening night for NOFO Stage’s “Drowsy Chaperone” production. The tale follows the narration of one “man in the chair” who displays his love for his favorite musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone”. Man would break the fourth wall and connect with the audience, by expressing his desire to share the soundtrack of his favorite musical. As he turns on the record, the story comes to life on stage and the characters appear right in his very living room.
The “Drowsy Chaperone” story itself follows a young couple who are soon to be married. The woman is accompanied by her chaperone who is constantly drowsy due to alcohol consumption. The characters face challenges as they decide whether or not to continue with the wedding, considering that they had only known each other for a few months.
The character of “man in chair” was played by none other than junior Blake Barrett. Barrett has had a very successful career in NOFO Stage, taking on many roles and showing off his natural talent with the audience. It is safe to say that opening night was very successful, and it seems that Barrett must agree, “Opening night to me was a huge success! Performing a show that’s not very well known to the public can be risky. We don’t know how they’re going to react, but, luckily the audience was engaged and a part of every second, and it was one of the most special opening nights I can remember.”
Barrett is very dedicated to his craft and taking on such an important role is a grueling process. His character was not the most conventional of sorts, but certainly a memorable one, “It’s very stressful taking on a role that can be boring to many people, and alternatively a role that is so iconic to Broadway lovers. I simply deal with it by inventing new ways to tackle the character and give the audience a reason to love the part.”
Countless hours of hard work and rehearsal are put into these shows by very dedicated teenagers who are so passionate about what they do. Junior Hayley Laughter stated, “Despite the countless hours of rehearsals, all of our hard work and dedication definitely paid off in the end. Due to the inclement weather we had to cancel two dress rehearsals, and had to add some extra ones in right before the show. All that time and stress ensured that we had a great show to perform for our audience.”
In complete agreement with Laughter, Barrett claimed, “It goes for every show that the hours of rehearsals are always 100% worth it. Theater is my passion, my dream, and nothing compares to having my hard work paid off, and it’s a joy to perform every time.”
This entire production is an absolute joy to see and full of comedic relief that will keep you invested. The cast and crew have put an immense amount of time and effort into every little detail, from the highly detailed set, to the perfectly performed roles. If you have yet to see the show it is still being performed Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. Adult tickets are $15 and student tickets are only $10. This musical is definitely worth every penny!
