Maple Grove High School Debuts “The Drowsy Chaperone”

After a full day of classes 120 school students head to the auditorium for rehearsal. The large cast is preparing to put on “The Drowsy Chaperone” for its fall musical. With opening night just days away, the cast is working out last minute kinks to a show full of singing and dancing.

“I think we’re all really excited to show off all the hard work we’ve put into this show,” cast member Ben Beaupre said. “I think the biggest challenge for this show is the choreography, we have a lot of great dancing in the show.”

From small dance numbers with a handful of cast members, to the last number involving the whole cast, the show’s director believes the audience is in for a treat.

“I don’t think any audience member will think this is high school theatre,” J.C. Lippold said. “We held auditions before school even started and we’ve been working on this show ever since, so the dedication level is high for every student.”

Students are involved in every aspect of the show, from building the set to sewing the costumes. Beaupre says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Everything we do on this stage, we do together as a team.”

The show is about a disconnected man who is transported into a musical. While it is set in the late 1920s, the show got its start on Broadway in 2006. Lippold says it’s a funny show inside a traditional musical.

As a senior, Beaupre believes it’s a good show to end his high school career. “The best part of every show is getting to bond with fellow classmates and I think the audience can see that.”

Lippold agrees and says nine weeks of intense rehearsals haven’t just resulted in a good show, it has also resulted in life lessons for the cast and crew.

“Theatre offers students an opportunity to try something new, and when they do I think students realize they are capable of more than they ever knew was possible,” he said.

The public can the young talent at one of their five shows on Nov. 4, 5, 11, and 12. The show starts at 7p.m. each night with an additional matinee on Nov. 12 at 1:00 p.m. For the first time, tickets are available online. They will also be available at the door. The price is $8 for adults and $6 for students, children and seniors.