HDA Delights in “The Drowsy Chaperone”

Wink, bend the rules, and don’t look now but there’s vodka in your teacup: The Drowsy Chaperone burst onto the Academic & Performing Arts Center stage with a full-on Prohibition-era roar, scooped up the audience, and never let it go. With gangsters-turned-pastry-chefs, a bride and groom wobbling toward matrimony, the devilishly flamboyant (and brilliantly drawn) Adolpho, a delightfully soused chaperone, and the dryly devoted Man in Chair, the show was a triumph from overture to curtain call.

Under the brilliant direction of drama teacher Mike Calderone, the knockout cast delivered crisp acting, sharp comedic timing, and singing that warmed the ears and made you smile from the inside. Backed by a beautifully cohesive ensemble and the pitt orchestra giving the production its buoyant pulse, The Drowsy Chaperone was another HDA triumph for the lucky audiences who got to be in the room from February 26 through March 1, 2026.

An impressive 75 students were involved in this production, whether performing on stage, managing props and building intricate set pieces like a biplane, or by lending their musical talents in the pit orchestra. It truly takes a village of collaborators to bring a show of this caliber to life. Bravo!

February 26–28 & March 1, 2026

Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison

Book by Bob Martin & Don McKellar

Directed by Michael Calderone

Musical Direction by Erika Schroth

Technical Direction by David Kenton

Pit Orchestra Conducted by Erik Elligers

Choreography by Larry Nye

Costumes by Rea J. Brown

CAST (in order of appearance)

Man in Chair .......................................... Benjamin Kruger ’26

Mrs. Tottendale .................................... Miriam Levin ’26

Underling (her Butler) ......................... Timothy Edwards ’28

Robert Martin (the Groom) ................  Alexander Ciminiello ’27

George (the Best Man) .......................  Michael Mfuko ’27

Feldzieg (the Producer) ...................... Tai Candelario ’26

Kitty (the Starlette) ............................  Ava Morello ’27

Gangsters 1 & 2 .................... Gemma Iaccarino ’26 & Vincent Sze ’27

Aldolpho (the King of Romance) ......................... Jack Beauclair ’27

Janet Van De Graaff (the Bride) .......................... Nia McKeithen ’26

The Drowsy Chaperone ........................................... Bar Avraham ’26

Trix The Aviatrix ..................................................... Aerin O’Brien ’26

The Superintendent ......................................... Laila Rivera Good ’27

Chaima Arouna ’27, Laila Rivera Good ’27,  Karolina Jasaitis ’27, Charlotte Jensen ’27, 

Austin Madden ’29, Henry Russell ’28, Kelsey Reichart ’27, Alice Valente ’27

Kia Bourne ’29, Kenzy Abdalla ’27, Amaya Flores-Montero ’29, Ela Kaya ’29, 

Anyaora Osakwe ’29, Wahnya Palmer ’27, Marleigh Seluga ’28, 

Anjali van Bladel ’27 (Dance Captain)

Greta Lee ’28, Aerin O'Brien ’26, Ally Reichart ’29, Walker Stollenwerck ’27, Matteo Vinci ’29

 A New York City apartment in the Theater District

Conductor…Erik Elligers

Keyboard I…Erika Schroth

Riya Rao '26 Flute; Eliot Atlee ’27 Alto and Soprano Sax; Silas Kennedy ’27 Trombone; Amelia Andersson ’28 Percussion; Theo Covac ’28 Trumpet II; Lina Elwood ’28 Keyboard II

Julie Levene, Clarinet and Tenor Sax; Eric Gerhardt, Trumpet I; Ari Sadowitz, Bass; Nick D'Errico, Drum Set

Technical Director .............................................................David Kenton

Lighting Design ................................................................. Jamie Burnett

Costume Coordinator..........................................................Rea J. Brown

Production Stage Manager ................................Cora Turk-Thomas ‘26 

Scenic Design ....................................................Estelle Hammarlund ‘27

Sound Design .............................................................Arjun S. Phatak ‘28

Technical Assistant ................................................Jackie Labelle-Young

Asst. Stage Managers .......Alyson Henderson ‘26 & Rebecca Spiewak ‘27

Light Board Operator ..................................................................Lily Lu ‘29 

Poster & Program Art ………….............…...…Luke Wargo ’28 (Design Chief)

                         Samantha Bernstein ‘26 Anayora Osakwe ‘29, Amy Xu ‘29

Program Layout…………………………....................………Allison Solorzano ’27

Leila Abate ‘27, Heidi Balkan ‘29, Livia Balkan ‘27, Susie Becker ‘28, Valentia Cassella ‘27, Sophia dos Santos ‘27, Saisha Ghai ‘27, Aashi Karanth ‘27, Lily Lu ‘29, Charis Olaleye ‘27, Emi Onorato ‘28, Imogen Smethurst ‘27, Allison Solorzano ‘27, Kayla Song ‘27, Beatrix Vassilev ‘27, Fiona Wiman ‘28, Annie Zhang ‘27

Dylann Delgado ‘26, George Thompson ‘28

Molly Calderone ‘27 (Crew Head), Emily Galvani-Townsend ‘29, Kaya Heeger ‘29, Irene Kim ‘28

Maia Cort ‘28 (Crew Head), Erika Berliner ‘28, Jane Glover ‘29, Ashley Omega ‘27

Special thanks to Clan Calderone, Avery Williams, Robert Smith, Hope Hartup, Jemma Williams, Karen Silk, Kenton’s Intro to Tech Theatre Students, Hopkins Communications Team, Hopkins Maintenance Crew, Hopkins Art Department, Hopkins Security, Duane Campbell at Connecticut Theatre Company, Kino Alvarez at Long Wharf Theater, Dawn DeMeo, Dak Manella, Lee Melillo ’18, The Tech Week Lunch Parents, Hopkins Housekeeping, and anyone else we may have overlooked. The producers wish to thank Long Wharf Theater’s Costume & Prop Collection for its assistance in this production.