LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Acalanes Presents 'The Drowsy Chaperone' March 3-5


Acalanes High School students at a recent rehearsal of "The Drowsy Chaperone" Photos Rick Sasner

Acalanes High School's spring production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" - a Tony award-winning farcical play within a comedy by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison - is sure to delight. The "Man in the Chair" is your guide as you navigate his favorite musical from the '20s: "The Drowsy Chaperone."

The tale is one of slapstick comedy, improbable situations, and a wedding that may or not may not happen. The show travels in and out of the Man in the Chair's imagination, strung together with snappy, upbeat '20s-influenced song and dance.

"The annual spring musical is a total Performing Arts collaboration," says Bruce Lengacher, director of choral activities and Acalanes Performing Arts Department chair. "The Drama department contributes set design, set construction, some advanced drama students, and the technical crew. Instrumental Music provides the musicians for the pit orchestra for every performance, and some of the top players in the program are in the pit. Choral Music provides the bulk of the cast and production company, which is made up entirely of students."

This year's production has a student director, producer, publicist, and make-up key, Lengacher says. "In a mere nine weeks, we go from table read to three full-scale performances and conclude with an empty theater waiting for next year's adventure!"

You can see the production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at 7 p.m. March 3-5 at the Acalanes Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit acalaneschoral.org. Tickets are open to the general public: $18 for adults; $16 for seniors (60 and older) and students, and are available at the Acalanes Webstore, https://acalaneshs.revtrak.net/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=38.