Dundalk Community Theatre Presents THE DROWSY CHAPERONE 11/4-13

Dundalk Community Theatre opens its 2011/12 season with THE DROWSY CHAPERONE from Nov 4-13. This Broadway show that won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score features the talent of local favorites: Shannon Wollman, Patrick Martyn, Amy Pierson, Robert Tucker, Jeff Burch and Roger Schulman. Individual tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for senior adults and $15 for students/DCT Actors/Children 12 and under.

The Drowsy Chaperone is an homage to the American musical, centered on a character referred to as the Man in Chair. He is an agoraphobic fanatic of the fictional 1928 Broadway Musical Comedy named The Drowsy Chaperone. He starts by addressing the audience with his tale of this show and proceeds to invite the audience to listen to the album with him. As he plays the album the show comes to life in his apartment.

The musical comedy ensues...incorporating mistaken identities, dream sequences, an untraditional English butler, a dimwitted chorus girl, the bumbling Latino Lover and the "Drowsy" ("tipsy") Chaperone, a Grande Dame of the stage, who is not above upstaging her co-star. Watching from his seat, Man in Chair experiences the show as if it is his first time watching it, while inserting his own trivial knowledge of the show. He comically takes the audience in and out of the "show within a show" to its hysterical ending.

Director/Choreographer Tom Wyatt's brilliant direction leaves you feeling as if you saw the show on Broadway. The cast he gathered includes: Shannon Wollman, Patrick Martyn, Amy Pierson, Robert Tucker, Jeff Burch, Roger Schulman, Carley Callender, Lauren Everd, Beth Higbee, James Morton, Paula Montrie, Kevin Connell Muth, Laura Pierpont, Will Poxon, Ernie Ritchey, Sara Anne Simpkins, and Christina Tarnowski.

Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday - Nov 4-13 in the John E. Ravekes Theatre, K Building. For tickets and information, call 443-840-2787. Patrons requiring special accommodations are urged to notify the Box Office at least two weeks in advance. The CCBC Box Office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/performingarts/dct.html .

Dundalk Community Theatre is a program of the college, providing high-quality live theatre experiences for the entire family at affordable prices. Tom Colonna, a veteran actor and director, serves as the Managing Director for DCT. DCT is in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Dundalk, 7200 Sollers Point Road.

WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST

Jeff Burch (Aldolpho) - returns to the DCT stage after appearing as Juror Four in last season's Twelve Angry Men. Locally, he has been featured in productions of Curtains, Follies, Ragtime, Man of La Mancha, Listen to My Heart, Forever Plaid, Crazy for You, She Loves Me, Anything Goes, Oklahoma, 42nd Street, The Full Monty, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular, just to name a few. Offstage, Jeff works in development for Open Society Institute-Baltimore.

Carly J. Callender (Trix) is excited to return to DCT after having performed in Cinderella (dancer), Into The Woods (Little Red Riding Hood), and A Christmas Carol. Other favorite credits include You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy) at Mornington Players, and Once on This Island, YAGMCB, and Godspell at NDP. Away from the stage, Carly works as a Histocompatibility technologist for the Johns Hopkins Immunogenetics Laboratory.

LAUREN EVERD (Ensemble) returns to DCT after having performed in Jane Eyre and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other local credits include Secret Garden and Curtains at Cockpit and Court, Belle in Beauty and the Beast with the Mount Carmel Players, and Rizzo in Grease with the St. Anthony Players. During the day, Lauren is a special educator at Logan Elementary School.

Beth Higbee (Ensemble) has a B.A. in Music from Syracuse University, and is a graduate of Carver Center's Vocal Music program. Credits: DCT, Cinderella, Anything Goes; Cockpit in Court, Secret Garden, Curtains; Beth Tfiloh Alumni Theatre, Curtains (Georgia); Pumpkin Theatre, The Emperor's Nightingale (Nightingale); Red Branch Theatre, Hänsel und Gretel (Hänsel); Phoenix Festival Theatre, Annie (Grace); Carver Theatre Company, Les Miserables (Eponine), Into The Woods (The Baker's Wife).

PATRICK MARTYN (Man in Chair) is happy to be making his first appearance at DCT. Although a newcomer to the DCT stage, he has performed extensively throughout the Baltimore area. Local credits include The House of Blue Leaves, Art, and Gross Indecency at Fells Point Corner Theater, Angels in America, The Food Chain and Love! Valour! Compassion! at Axis Theater, Chicago and The Heidi Chronicles at Theater Hopkins, Suessical and A Year with Frog and Toad at Pumpkin Theater and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Rumors, Tiny Alice and Light Up the Sky at Vagabond Players. By day Patrick is a partner with the law firm of Rosenberg | Martin | Greenberg, LLP.

James Morton (Superintendant) is excited to be performing with DCT for the first time. James is attending CCBC and UMBC majoring in Theatre with a Computer Science minor. James has also recently appeared as The Chairman in Drood, Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and performed the one man show Iphigenia in Orem by Neil LaBute.

Paula Montrie (Ensemble) returns to Dundalk Community Theater after appearing in Jane Eyre in 2006. She has also performed locally with Cockpit in Court Theater (Secret Garden, Crazy for You), with Opera Camerata (The Merry Widow), The Washington Revels, and as a member of Step Aside Tap Company and Centuries Historical Dance Company.

KEVIN CONNELL MUTH (Gangster 1) is thrilled to be working with Tom again after appearing as Dickon this summer in Cockpits production of Secret Garden The Musical. He is a recent graduate of Point Park Conservatory with his degree in Musical theatre. While in college, he had the privilege of working w/ Tony award winner Michael Rupert on a production of Parade. Also, he appeared in the world premiere of the new musical Time after Time directed by Gabriel Barre. Kevin sends love to his wonderfully supportive family and thanks them for always believing in his abilities.

Laura Pierpont (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Dundalk Community Theater debut after having such a wonderful experience in Hairspray with Cockpit In Court! Laura performed in six musicals at her previous school, St. Paul's School for Girls, most notably Godspell, Bye Bye Birdie, Beauty and the Beast (Babette), and Seussical (The Cat in the Hat). She studies at Towson University with plans to transfer next fall to be able to receive a musical theater major. Laura also works part time at LOFT, and teaches Musical Theater and Dance at St. Paul's School for Girls' after school program.

Will Poxon (Gangster #2) is thrilled to be doing his first production with DCT! Will is a junior at UMBC, where he is studying Vocal Music Education. He has appeared in many shows, including The Secret Garden as Fakir with Cockpit in Court, and recently appeared in his first opera, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, at UMBC. He has also directed several musicals and musical revues, and in Spring 2011 vocal directed the UMBC production of RENT.

SARA ANNE SIMPKINS was last seen on the DCT stage in Cinderella and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other local credits include the Ayah in The Secret Garden at Cockpit in Court, Fudgie in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Mayzie in Seussical The Musical at Red Branch Theatre, and Ulla in The Producers at DLC Summer Stage. Offstage, Sara works as a technical writer.

CHRISTINA TARNOWSKI (Mrs. Tottendale) is making her debut at DCT. She has performed with
several community theatre groups over the years. Favorite roles include Laurey in Oklahoma, Nancy in Oliver, Tessie in Gypsy, and Marsinah in Kismet. Other favorite productions include Joseph,
The Fantasticks, Cinderella, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and I Remember Mama.

Robert Tucker (Robert Martin), BFA music theatre, is honored to be making his Dundalk Community Theater debut. Local performances include Paul in Company at Phoenix Festival Theater, Freddie in Chess at Winter's Lane, and Fabrizio in Light in the Piazza at Theatre Hopkins. Robert most enjoys working with children. He has worked with both Pumpkin Theatre and The Children's Theater Association. Away from the stage, Robert works in early childhood and arts education.

SHANNON WOLLMAN (Chaperone) Shannon has been featured in many local productions including Funny Girl, Mame, Born Yesterday, Evita, Bells Are Ringing, The Wild Party, On the Town, and Guys and Dolls. DCT credits include Hello Dolly, Baby and The Women. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall appearances include opening for Bob Newhart and BSO Holiday Spectaculars 2008-2010. Shannon sings with the wedding band, Limited Edition and performs her one woman show often with Doug Lawler at various events around town.

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