Last Monday Bridgeport High School theatre proudly announced the cast for the upcoming 38^th annual senior play The Drowsy Chaperone. Eighteen seniors and one special guest alumnus make up the group that will take the stage in mid-October.

 

Theatre director Jason A. Young, who cast the show with the help of his staff, is excited about how well this group seems to pair with the character demands of the show.

 

“Usually, after all the auditioning is complete, the staff and I have hours of deliberation and discussion about casting,” said Young. “This year I think it took about five minutes. We always try to pick a show that matches the talent we think we have; however, I have never worked on a project that seemed to fit together so perfectly.”

 

Brooke Cottrill earned the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone and says that it was the role she wanted, and seeing her name on the cast list still made her jump up and down with excitement.

 

“I had seen the play before I auditioned, and I was extremely excited to be cast in that role. It is a very funny role with great lines, great acting challenges, and a great song,” said Cottrill.

 

Cottrill also believes that the cast as a whole should do an excellent job of mounting this production.

 

“I think it was cast pretty perfectly. It’s going to be a good show because it is a fairly small cast—which is great—of really talented people.”

 

Ally Herron, who will be playing the role of Mrs. Tottendale, is excited about what this show will mean to the cast as an ensemble.

               

“We are going to be a really close cast since it is such a small one, and we are all into theatre. We have all been doing this for the past four years, and we are going to put on a really tight show. It’s going to be awesome,” said Herron.

               

The cast also features Gino Alonge, Brooklyn Clemons, Cameron Coley, Nico del Greco, Lauren Ferrell, Jesse Hamrick, Chase Janey, James Jesmer, Devon Jonhs, Logan Lehosit, Maggie Ludwig, Kody Mullins, Kallie Nealis, Bethany Reed, Katilyn Romain, and special guest Thomas Schoffler.

 

While the show is still six weeks away, the cast hit the ground running last week with music rehearsals and costume measurements. Young is very excited for the final product and hoping that the community will come out and support the show despite its lack of familiarity.

               

“We realize that we are taking a little risk by putting on a show that is so new and hasn’t had the opportunity to garner the name recognition of some of the classic musicals that we have presented recently as senior plays,” Young said. “However, unofficially, I think this production will be the West Virginia high school premier of The Drowsy Chaperone, and I’m hoping that over the last four years, our program has built up enough of a reputation that fans of Bridgeport theatre will come out and see an exciting production regardless of whether or not they have heard of the show.”

               

The Drowsy Chaperone opens Oct. 11, 2012. For information contact 304-842-6785.