2017-18 Winter, Issue 2- The Drowsy Chaperone Musical

MONARCH

WINTER EDITION

2018

SPOTLIGHT

The Drowsy Chaperone January 25-27

Monarch Pavilion

letter from the director…

It is difficult to believe that we are halfway through the school year, and as we look back upon the inspired performances of

“

our incredible young artists this Fall, we pause to give thanks for the great music, dance and theatre through which they gifted us. With nearly half of the campus involved in the performing arts, we are broadening what it means to be a Monarch and charting a course for a resurgence in the arts not just on the corner of Bristol and Edinger, but

We believe that arts transform people into more complete versions of themselves by awakening creativity, fostering collaboration, and enlivening passion and determination.

“

throughout our local community and Southern California. Our Music Academy, under the direction of Mr. Taylor Smith, continues to grow and serves nearly 500 elementary and junior high students each week. We look forward to welcoming many of these fine young instrumentalists at the choir Spring Concert at the Reneé and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on March 26.

And speaking of the choirs, they are busy as well preparing for their Easter Pilgrimage to Spain and France. We are thrilled to announce that the singers have been granted the rare opportunity to sing in Gaudi’s glorious Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona. The choirs will premiere Dios te Salve Maria penned by a great friend of Mater Dei, the incredible composer Richard Burchard. The piece was commissioned for the choir’s trip to Spain and is set to the latin Ave Maria text in Spanish - we can’t wait to share it with you.

The dance team is busy preparing to host the Mater Dei Dance Classic sponsored by CADTD. This is the first time in many years Mater Dei will host this great competition and promises to become a tradition for the future. In addition to this competition, the dance teams, song teams and Winterguard teams are heading into the competition season with some of the best routines I have seen in my time at Mater Dei. It promises to be a very successful season and so we wish the dancers all the best as they push for excellence every day. All this is possible only with the superior instruction from our fine directors and instructors. Your students are benefiting not only from great teaching, but also the access to professionals in their field with the introduction of the Mater Dei MasterClass Series.

This year, your students have worked with directors from Chapman, UC Irvine, Bellarmine University and many more - how fortunate we are. We do this for we believe that arts transform people into more complete versions of themselves by awakening creativity, fostering collaboration, and enlivening passion and determination.

And so we invite you to sit back and enjoy this musical within a musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. Please pay special attention to the technical elements of this show which have been fully produced by our stagecraft class under the direction of Mr. Andrew Roberts from page to stage, everything you see was developed by students - we are so proud of you all!! God Bless and enjoy the show!!

Scott Melvin Executive Director of Performing Arts

Mater Dei Performing Arts presents

Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar

Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison

Director Mr. Joe Alanes

Performance Coach Mr. Danny Campbell

Assistant Director Lauren Jones

Student Technical Director Lia Weed

Musical Director Mr. Kent Helwig

Technical Director Mr. Andrew Roberts

Stage Manager Stefanie Giron

Dramturge Lauren Lilly

Choreographer Ms. Kristina Marquez

Production Manager Ms. Alexi Thomas

Assistant Stage Managers Carson Alanes Miranda Vasquez

Special Acknowledgements

Special Thanks

MD PRESIDENT…..………………….…………..……… Mr. Patrick Murphy

Mr. Barsuglia and the Events and Media Services Team, Mr. Avendano, Mrs. Monge, Mr. and Mrs. McNally and MEI, Ms. Spencer, MDHS Theatre Committee Members, Mr. Ritter and the Facilities Team, Mr. Tom Duffy, All Crew Members and All Cast Parents. And thanks to our Theatre Moms, Diana Mendoza and Kim Rangell, for always being so amazing and willing to help with the program!

MD PRINCIPAL…..…………………….………….……… Ms. Frances Clare VP BUSINESS SERVICES…..……….….….………………. Mr. David Taylor VP ADVANCEMENT.………….………….……………….. Mrs. Erica Adams MD ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS…………….………. Mrs. Geri Campeau ’87 Mr. Lee Gaeta Mrs. Audrey Ganey EXEC. DIR., PERFORMING ARTS……..…………………. Mr. Scott Melvin

Special thanks to the Theatre Angel Club Members for their generosity.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Production Teams Set Designer Louis DiBernardo* Jacob Nguyen Andrew Park

Lighting Designers Jacob Nguyen* Louis DiBernardo Andrew Park

Costume Designer Vicki Silva

Hair & Makeup Designers Megan Jones Rosa Saporito

Student Choreographer Amy Busch Sound Designers Andrew Park* Louis DiBernardo Jacob Nguyen

Wig Designer/ Stylist Megan Jones Audio Team Andrew Park* Louis DiBernardo

Wardrobe Team Maria Contreras*

Lighting Lead Jacob Nguyen

House Manager Grace Snider

Mariana Albert Paige Solano

Spotlights Ben Cruz Natalie Erhard

Programs Mr. Scott Melvin Ms. Alexi Thomas

Naea Lautenschlager*

Properties Team Gwen Smith* Marissa Rojas Lia Weed Deck Team Sam Enriquez* Sebastian Saintignon* Casey Fort Ava Walters

*denotes team leader

Hair & Makeup Publicity Team Team Sandra Muro* Kelli Wilkes* Chad Gatian Isabella Battersby Fereshteh Bunk Cappies Coordinator Kiana Hernandez Grace Danon Megan Jones Sandra Muro Box Office Lily O’Day Ms. Allison Spencer Kimberly Romero Rosa Saporito Concessions Mrs. Kristi Alanes

Directors Notes I remember listening to the soundtrack of the 2006 Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, which is about a man listening to the soundtrack of a 1920’s Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. As he listens to the soundtrack, it comes to life before our eyes, as he explains it to us and introduces us to the actual 1920’s actors who are playing the parts of these zany musical theatre characters, and their on-stage and off-stage antics. I loved the premise of watching this character take the audience through his love of this old musical, as his imagining of it came to life before our Mr. Joe Alanes Director of Theatre

eyes. Like many of us, the “Man in the Chair” uses musical theatre as an escape and as a way to get lost in the world of the show, as a reprieve from the everyday stresses and troubles of life. This show, while displaying the outlandish, old-fashioned, campy, outdated characteristics of 1920’s musicals, pays tribute to musical theatre as a whole, and the power it has to bring joy to so many people. It

shows how musical theatre can help people as “they stumble along on life’s funny journey,” as the Drowsy Chaperone herself puts it. As we see the show come to life through the Man in the Chair’s eyes, we only see what he imagines the show would have looked like, as he has not actually seen it. What he imagines is colored by his life experience and also by the many musicals he has seen over his lifetime. So, there are subtle images and influences of other musicals here, because that’s how we feel he would imagine this, based on his lifetime of watching and listening to musical theatre. I’ve listened to many soundtracks before seeing the actual show, and it’s fun to see the show and compare it to how I imagined it. How have you imagined certain musicals while listening to their soundtracks? Was Hamilton different than how you imagined it before you paid the $500 to finally see it? Me, too, my friends, (and the real version was way better than what I imagined)! Well, thanks for coming to The Drowsy Chaperone, as many people worked very hard to bring this show from imagination to life, and from page to stage. So, we hope you enjoy this ride, and this celebration of musical theatre, as we “stumble, bumble, fumble, plumble” along on this crazy, funny little journey.

Cast

(In Order of Appearance) Man in Chair….……………………Sebastian Ledesma Mrs. Tottendale….……………………… Grace Whitley Underling……………………………… John Shepherd Robert Martin………………….…….. Nick Van Dalsem George………………………………… Andrew Estrada Feldzieg…………………………….. Aidan Mulholland Kitty…………………………………………. Keely Gaeta Gangster #1…….………………………. Marco Rimicci Gangster #2……….…………….……….. Dario Rimicci Aldolpho…………………………….…… Keith Romero Janet van de Graaff………………… Alyssa Schickling The Drowsy Chaperone………….. Victoria Goodkind Trix……………………………………… Sarah Ledesma The Super……..…………………………. Joshua Weed Featured Dancers/Ensemble..…………… Alizea Hinz Sarah Schulist Hanna Schulte Annemarie Verkuylen Alexis Villanueva

Ensemble Marie Beld Maureen Beld Imani Brutlag Aria Buchanan Isabelle Buchanan Kelli Chamberlain Jack Chorbagian Eliza Contreras Caroline Kawabe Jonathan Lefebvre Tori Lopez

Danika McKee Daniel Mejia James Mitchell Lucy O’Hara Betty Pham Angie Phu Reina Sambrano Vicki Silva Victoria Villareal Kelsey West Reese Wineroth

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

ACT I “Overture”……………………………….…………………………………………………………………………. Orchestra “Fancy Dress” ……………….……..….…………………..…………………………………………………..……Company “Cold Feets”…………………………………..……………..……….………………………………… Robert and George “Wedding Bells #1”………………………………………………..………………………………………………… George “Show Off”………..………………………………………………………..…….…………….……… Janet and Company “As We Stumble Along”………………………………..………………………..……………………. Drowsy Chaperone “I Am Aldolpho”………………..……………….………………………….………… Aldolpho and Drowsy Chaperone “Accident Waiting to Happen”…………………………………….……………..…………………..… Robert and Janet “Toledo Surprise”…………..…………………..………… Gangsters, Feldzieg, Kitty, Mrs. Tottendale, and Company “Act 1 Finale”………………………………………….…………………………………………………………… Company

ACT II “Message From a Nightingale”..…………..…………….…… Kitty, Gangsters, Aldolpho, and Drowsy Chaperone “Bride’s Lament”………………………………………..…………………………………………….. Janet and Company “Love is Always Lovely In The End”…………………………………..………………… Mrs. Tottendale and Underling “Wedding Bells #2”………………………………………………..……………………………………… George and Trix “I Do, I Do In The Sky”……………………………………………………..…………..……………….. Trix and Company “As We Stumble Along (Reprise)”…………………………………….…………………………………………. Company

Cast Bios Sebastian Ledesma (Man in Chair) Sebastian is a freshman and is super excited to be playing Man in Chair in this production of The Drowsy Chaperone. His previous experience in Mater Dei theatre includes working props for this year’s Shakespeare in the Grotto. He has also portrayed the roles of Ram Sweeney in Heathers the Musical, Pugsley in the Addams Family, Bobby Mills in A Chorus Line, and Ruben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Top Hat 8 Repertory. Outside of theatre, Sebastian also plays volleyball for Mater Dei and Ohana Athletic Club. He would like to thank the cast and crew for being so welcoming and for all of their hard work and dedication. He would also like to thank Mr. Alanes, Mr. Campbell, and the production team for giving him this amazing opportunity. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Nick Van Dalsem (Robert Martin) Nick is very excited to be portraying Robert in this year’s All-School Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. Previously, he has played the roles of Jack in Into the Woods, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible, Florizell in The Winter’s Tale, Angelo in The Comedy of Errors, and most recently Juror #10 in Twelve Angry Men. He is a member of Chamber Singers, Improv Comedy Club, Campus Ministry, and is Junior Class President this year. Nick would like to thank his wonderful parents and brothers for their support. He would also like to thank Mr. Alanes, Ms. Thomas, and Mr. Campbell for their work during this show.

Victoria Goodkind (The Drowsy Chaperone) Victoria is thrilled to be playing the Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone. This is Victoria's third show at Mater Dei and she is excited to be performing here again. Victoria is a senior, an active member of the Chamber Singers, and is a Scarlet Ambassador on ASB. Outside of school, Victoria has performed with the Yorba Linda Spotlight Theater Company for 8 years where some of her favorite roles include The Witch (Into the Woods), Patty (School of Rock), Queen Aggravain (Once Upon a Mattress), and Erzulie (Once on this Island). She would like to thank the amazing cast and crew for their hard work and dedication and personally thank Mr. Alanes, Mr. Helwig, Ms. Thomas, and Mr. Melvin. Lastly, Victoria would like to thank her amazing family at YLSTC and her parents and sister for always encouraging her to perform.

Alyssa Schickling (Janet van de Graaff) Alyssa is excited to be playing the role of Janet Van de Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone. She has participated in several Mater Dei productions in the past: Cosette in Les Miserables, Florinda in Into the Woods, and a member of the ensemble in Little Shop of Horrors. Some of her favorite roles outside of school have been Maria in West Side Story, Mary in Mary Poppins, Sandy in Grease, and Maria in The Sound of Music.

When not in Theatre, Alyssa is busy performing with Mater Dei’s Chamber Singers Choir, Girls Barber Shop, Rock Band, and is a member of CSF, NHS, and Renaissance Club. Alyssa has been classically trained in voice since the age of seven and has performed solos at The Vatican, Angel Stadium and made her opera debut at Chapman University’s Musco Center for the Arts this year. Some of her awards include: 2017 Orange County’s Vocal Performer of the Year Runner-Up, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Artistic Achievement Award 2016 & 2017, MACY Outstanding Achievement Award for “Cosette” in Les Mis. Alyssa would like to thank her family, friends, teachers, and the cast and crew for all of their love and support. She wishes the cast and crew the best of luck and hopes you enjoy the show!

Grace Whitley (Mrs. Tottendale) Grace, a senior at Mater Dei High School, is incredibly excited to be performing in this wonderful show with her talented cast mates. When a chance to perform in this production came along, she auditioned and fell in love with it. Other shows Grace has participated in at Mater Dei include Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet, Les Miserables, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Into the Woods, and The Crucible. She has also worked as costume lead on Mater Dei's production of Peter and the Starcatcher and on the hair and makeup team for Thoroughly Modern Millie. She absolutely loves acting and singing, especially as a member of Mater Dei's Chamber Singers. Grace would like to thank her parents, her sisters, Mr. Alanes, Ms. Thomas, Mr. Campbell, and everyone else who helped put this show together for always being kind, supportive, and encouraging towards her throughout this production.

Keith Romero (Aldolpho) Keith Romero is a sophomore this year and is excited to be performing in his first high school theatre production.

Throughout middle school, Keith participated as a lead in several musicals, including The Lion King and Aladdin. He has always used music as his main form of expression, participating in the advanced men’s choir (Kingsmen) and playing guitar and piano locally. They say that home is where the heart is, and Keith’s heart is in his performances. He hopes you enjoy the show…and he looks forward to any bouquets afterwards.

John Shepherd (Underling) Although John has been absent from the stage since his starring role as tree number five in the Nativity Story when he was 6, he is excited to be back in action playing Underling in The Drowsy Chaperone, a character he feels is most fitting to his own sassy persona. Off the stage, he enjoys taking long walks with his dog Whiskey and painting in the style of his role model, Bob Ross. He is also an avid foodie and delights in scouring joints all over the county for the best filet mignon. As a member of Chamber Singers, John would like to thank Mr. Melvin, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Helwig for accomplishing the daunting task of teaching him how to sing...more or less. He hopes you enjoy the show and that you do not feel too drowsy as you watch.

Cast Bios cont.

Andrew Estrada (George) Andrew Estrada is a senior at Mater Dei High School and is very excited to be playing George. He has been in many Mater Dei productions like Les Misérables and Macbeth. Some of his favorite roles include Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, the Mysterious Man in Into The Woods, Reverend Parris in The Crucible and King Leontes in The Winter’s Tale. Outside of Mater Dei, he's been the Scarecrow in The Wiz, Tonton Julian in Once On This Island, and Kurt in Heathers—all at Top Hat 8 Repertory.

At Mater Dei he is also a part of the Chamber Singers, A Cappella Ensemble, the Improv Comedy troupe and the Cappies team. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support, and Mr. Alanes, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Helwig, and Ms. Thomas, for all that they've done to help him grow as a performer to make this a great production. He thanks you for coming tonight and hopes you enjoy the show!

Keely Gaeta (Kitty) Keely Gaeta (17) is a senior here at Mater Dei High School. She is very active at Mater Dei as a member of the Chamber Singers, a student director of the choral program, a member of CSF, and the secretary of the Autism Society. Keely has been doing shows since she was seven years old and a few of her favorite roles have been JoJo (Seussical), Little Red Riding Hood (Into the Woods), Laurey (Oklahoma!), Miss Dorothy (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins).

Keely would like to thank her parents, directors, and friends for their unconditional love and support.

Dario Rimicci (Gangster #2) Dario is enthused to be part of this production of The Drowsy Chaperone as one of the humorously threatening gangsters. He has been part of many productions before this, such as a guard in Aladdin, Fa Zhou (Mulan’s father) in Mulan, Scar in The Lion King, a member of the ensemble in Into the Woods, and Juror #12 in Twelve Angry Men. He enjoys each and every production he's a part of. There is never a dull moment in any rehearsal for Dario. He's so ecstatic that he gets to share each moment with his friends and family in the theatre program. Dario would like to thank Mr. Alanes, Mr. Campbell, and Ms. Thomas for allowing him the honor of working with them, his friends and family for supporting him, and his mother for the action of birthing him. He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he does.

Marco Rimicci (Gangster #1) Marco Antonino Rimicci is so excited to be playing Gangster number 1 in The Drowsy Chaperone with his little brother, Dario.

He has performed in several shows in the past, including as the hand plant puppet in Little Shop of Horrors, Sam and Eric (the twins) with his good friend Louis DiBernardo in Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet, Les Miserables, and the 8th Juror in 12 Angry Men. After taking some time off, Marco is ecstatic to make a big comeback in his senior year. Marco wants to thank all of his friends and family who've supported him so much. Marco is so proud to be performing with his brother, Dario, before he graduates this year. He wants to encourage Dario to continue being amazing and is so proud of how much he's g ro w n . Above all, Marco wants to thank his parents for always being at his side in all that he does. Enjoy the show!

Aidan Mulholland (Mr. Feldzieg) Aidan Mulholland is so excited to be playing the role of Victor Feldzieg in this production of The Drowsy Chaperone. He was introduced to Mater Dei theatre as Lord Capulet in the 2015 production of Romeo and Juliet and since then has participated as both an actor, including the Wolf in Into the Woods and the Bishop in Les Miserables, and a lights crew member. Outside of theatre he plays trumpet and French horn in the Mater Dei High School band and sings bass in the Honors Chamber Singers and Men's Barbershop.

Joshua Weed (The Super) Joshua is very excited to play the superintendent in The Drowsy Chaperone. He worked backstage for Comedy of Errors and decided to give acting a try in the new musical. Prior to his work at Mater Dei, he has played both ensemble and principal roles in productions, such as The Lion King, Little Red Robin Hood, Peter Pan, and many more. He would like to give a huge thank you to his parents and radical sister for supporting him through everything. He would also like to thank Mr. Alanes, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Thomas, and all of the cast and crew for putting on a truly amazing show. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Sarah Ledesma (Trix) Sarah is a senior and is extremely excited to be playing Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone. She has performed in and worked crew for many Mater Dei productions, such as Romeo and Juliet, Les Miserables, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Into the Woods and The Crucible. Outside of Mater Dei Theatre, she enjoys singing in Mater Dei's Chamber Singers and she is also involved in musical theatre at Top Hat 8 Repertory where she has been in countless productions. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her, Mr. Alanes, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Melvin, Mr. Helwig, and the production team for the opportunity and their direction, as well as the cast and crew for such an amazing production! She hopes you enjoy the show!

what’s next

Proud supporter of Mater Dei Performing Arts Antigone - March 8-10 - 7:00pm + 2:00pm Monarch Pavilion Mater Dei High School $10 - $15 - $25 VIP

Materdei Theater Arts Presents

Antigone Presented in the Monarch pavillion

Sunday, January 28 25 - 27 Thurs.-Sat, January

4:00 7:00 p.m.

Sunday January 28

4:00 p.m.

$10 Adults

Tickets

$7 Students

$10 Adults $7 Students Presented in the Monarch pavillion

Antigone believes that humanity or natural laws have priority over Creon's laws and disobeys his instructions accordingly. Her pride ensures that she will die rather than renounce her beliefs, but how does this affect others? Come and see!

Spring Concert - March 26 - 7:30pm Reneé and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Segerstrom Center for the Arts Prices start at $7 Join the singers and ringers of the Mater Dei Choirs as they present their festival and Spain tour literature. Joining them as always is are the fantastic Mater Dei Jazz Band, the Mater Dei Music Academy and the Mater Dei Junior High Honor Choir.

Red Hot Jazz - April 25 - 6:00pm Spaghettini’s Jazz Club Seal Beach Prices start at $25 You will be tapping your toes and scatting along through this annual showcase of the Maer Dei Jazz bands and vocalists.

Rumor has it a certain Bishop might perform that evening as well you won’t want to miss it!

For ticketing to all our events and information about our programs please visit:

www.materdei.org/PerformingArts