From a vinyl record erupts a cast of 1920s eccentrics, sprawling across the Meyer Hall stage. As theatre students sing and tap dance, the audience is transported back to a Jazz Age wedding.

The theatre department is preparing for the debut of their fall musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Directed by new theatre teacher Stephanie Nixdorf in collaboration with dance instructor Sandra Christie, the musical will premiere Nov. 1.

Theatre junior Connor Hullender will reprise his role as Aldolpho in the show after playing the character at the Jupiter Performing Arts Academy in 2022. Aldolpho is trying to be a “stereotypical Latin lover,” Hullender said. To prepare for the role, Hullender practiced singing with a Spanish accent and tried to make sure he captured the character’s physicality, specifically Adolpho’s high posture.

 “I had a lot of fun doing it (at Jupiter Performing Arts Academy). However, this time I think I’m going to understand the character a little bit more,” Hullender said. “I have more knowledge of the show (now).” 

The story begins with an aging theatre fan known as the “Man in Chair,” (played by theatre senior Maddoux LaRocque for the evening shows and theatre junior Brayden Wartmann for the matinee shows) who plays a record of the fictional 1920s musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” in an effort to cure his depression. The musical revolves around a wedding between an actress and an oil tycoon, with a rich investor who is trying to stop the whole thing. The show is a piece of meta-theater, a parody of 1920s musicals. 

“It’s the Jazz Age, and at that time musicals were not as in-depth in terms of emotion and deep dramatic art,” Hullender said. “It was much more showy, flashy, and fun, which is what ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ is.” 

For Ms. Nixdorf, this production marks her directorial debut at Dreyfoos, though she brings over 30 years of experience. 

“She’s been music directing for a very long time now,” theatre junior Makenzie Booker said. “I think her professionalism and her dedication to making everything exactly right is going to make all the details come together in the show.”

Hullender also highlighted the differences between performing at Dreyfoos and the Jupiter Performing Arts Academy. Theatre students in the production must stay after school for rehearsals until 6:20 p.m. almost every day, but Hullender said they “make it work.” 

He also notes the production’s thoroughness. “Here at Dreyfoos, we go a lot deeper on making sure that choreography and vocals are always top-notch so that we can make the show the best it can be,” Hullender said. 

Managing the various production teams presents its own challenges. Co-head of the paint crew and theatre junior Reese Ferry said that one of the “biggest challenges” in her role is keeping the crew organized and on-task. Ferry manages 11 people in the paint crew, tasked with painting the scenery in the show during the rehearsals and spending most of their time after school together.

 “Community is being built through (the show),” Ferry said. “Everyone feels like they belong.”

The musical also requires song and dance preparation for the 13 musical numbers. Theatre senior Shane Rainsburg, who plays Gangster #1 in the show, explains his process for preparing for the role. 

“This is a very dance-heavy show, so I reviewed a little bit of ballet (and brushed up on)some old skills to get ready for the dance hall,” Rainsburg said. 

“The Drowsy Chaperone” will be performed in Meyer Hall, with night shows on Nov. 1 and 8, and both matinee and night shows on Nov. 2 and 9.

 “(‘The Drowsy Chaperone’) is a truly magical experience, a dream, allowing us to go back to an age that is no longer with us,” Hullender said.

You can purchase tickets here: https://www.dsoatheatre.com/