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201-261-4200
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NEWS/PRESS
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Cottone, 201-290-9429
Publicity@bcplayers.org
BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS OPENS ITS 82ND SEASON WITH FIVE-TIME TONY AWARD WINNING MUSICAL, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
Oradell, NJ, August 18, 2014 - Celebrating 82 Years of continuous Community Theater, The Bergen County Players (BCP) presents The Drowsy Chaperone. With book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, this charming and slightly wacky tribute to the musicals of the 1920’s is a rare combination of modern wit and classic musical comedy. Under the direction of Steve Bell, The Drowsy Chaperone will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from September 6th through October 11th, 2014. Shows will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.
Regarded as “a musical within a comedy,” The Drowsy Chaperone begins when a modern day, die-hard musical theater fan known simply as “Man in Chair” plays his favorite cast album, the fictional 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone, on his turntable. As the overture starts the musical bursts to life in his studio apartment, telling the rambunctious tale of a brazen Broadway starlet giving up her life on the stage to marry her true love, and her producer so desperate to keep his showgirl that he will go to great lengths to stop the nuptials. With an elaborate cast of over the top characters, including the dashing groom, his best man, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, the Latin lover, and a drunken chaperone, The Drowsy Chaperone boldly addresses a great unspoken desire in everyone’s heart - to be entertained.
The Drowsy Chaperone is directed by Steve Bell of Hackensack. A Life Member, Past-President, and Board of Governor, Steve has been active with the Players for over thirty years. He has directed numerous BCP productions, including Ruthless! The Musical, The Sing-Along Sound of Music, Modern Orthodox, Curtains, Urinetown and The King & I, to name a few. Steve also served as musical director for various shows, including Aladdin, Man of La Mancha, Beehive, The Music Man, Company, and Honk. As a performer, he appeared in such shows as Follies (Buddy – Perry Award Winner), Anything Goes (Moonface Martin), City of Angels (Stine), Into the Woods (Baker) and Forum (Pseudolous). Steve teaches vocal music at Teaneck High School, and is the Artistic Director of the Teaneck Community Chorus.
The talented cast of The Drowsy Chaperone includes Will Nolan (Man in Chair), Janica Carpenter (Mrs. Tottendale), Brian Feldman (Underling), Craig Woodward (Robert Martin), Bill Cantor (Feldzieg), Debbie Zika (Kitty), Paul Aiello (Aldolpho), Danielle Valencia (Janet VanDeGraaff), Marian McCabe (Drowsy Chaperone), Nadiya Braham (Trix the Aviatrix), Marisa Gore (Gangster), George Kelly (Gangster), Elisabeth Erdmann (Ensemble), Justin Flores (Ensemble), Dan Giordano (Ensemble) and Nikki Simz (Ensemble).
The production team is comprised of Steve Bell (Director), Michele Roth (Producer), Jalm Vanamo (Music Director), Sharla Herbert (Choreographer), Jim Kelly (Asst. To The Director); Paul Reitnauer III (Stage Manager), Greg Cilmi (Set Design), Alan Seward (Lighting Designer), Kathleen Ruland (Lighting Operation), Peter Oliff (Sound Operation), Ellyn Essig (Décor), Lynne Lupfer (Décor), Lauren Zenreich (Décor), Katie Lupfer (Costumes), Melissa Miller (Costumes), Annette Jacobs (Props), Pat Bain (Props), Rosemary Deflorio (Props), Marty Obolsky (Props), Marian Mccabe (Makeup), Joyce Ghia (Dresser), Larry Braverman (Crew), Andrew Whitney (Crew), Alan Zenreich (Photography), Steve Mintz (Photography), Barbara Mintz (Photography) Marci K. Weinstein (Program Notes), Jennifer Cottone (Publicity) and Andrea Pieper (Member At Large).
TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
- All performances take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.
- Tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone are $24 for all performances, and can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.
- Those interested in Group Sales of 20 or more tickets can call (201) 261-4200 (Mailbox #6).
- As it has for the past few seasons, BCP will continue to offer a “Questions & Artists” (Q&A) discussion following select performances. The Drowsy Chaperone Q&A will kick off immediately following the September 12, 2014 performance. Admission is included in the cost of the ticket.
- Discount tickets for students age 25 and under with proper ID are available for $14 by phone or walk-up only.
- Parking is free at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theater.
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To schedule press interviews, photos, press comps or for additional information, please contact Peter Caust at 201-615-0404 or by e-mail at PUBLICITY@BCPLAYERS.ORG. Photos and press information are also available at www.bcplayers.org.
FOR FULL SIZE PRESS PHOTO IMAGES, PLEASE CLICK ON THUMBNAILS BELOW:
Photos by Alan Zenreich
(l-r): George Kelly, Danielle Valencia, Bill Cantor, Debbie Zika
(l-r): Janica Carpenter, Brian Feldman
(l-r): Marian McCabe, Paul Aiello
(l-r): Standing - Danielle Valencia, Nadiya Braham, Debbie Zika. Seated - Will Nolan
(l-r): Standing - George Kelly, Debbie Zika, Bill Cantor, Danielle Valencia, Nadiya Braham, Marian McCabe, Brian Feldman, Paul Aiello, Janica Carpenter, Justin Flores, Elisabeth Erdmann, Dan Giordano. Seated - Will Nolan
