The Habersham Community Theater and Habersham Central High School Drama Department have forged a supportive and mutually beneficial relationship through the years. They’ve shared talent, costumes, and props and now, this weekend, for the first time, they’ll be sharing the stage.
HCT and the HCHS Stage Raiders are teaming up to perform the musical The Drowsy Chaperone August 4-7 at the Habersham Central High School Auditorium in Mt. Airy. Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving parody of the jazz age musicals.
Now Habersham caught up with the director, HCHS drama teacher Jeremy Bishop, to talk about the show, the creative collaboration behind it, and the thrill of reuniting with some of his former high school students.
Q&A with director Jeremy Bishop
Briefly, what is the premise of this show?
A mysterious Man in a Chair breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience, asking them to listen to his favorite record with him, a fictional musical from 1928 called “The Drowsy Chaperone.” As the record turns and the overture plays, the Man’s living room is filled with characters from the play – two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theater producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan, an intoxicated chaperone – all bringing the 20s to life in one fun, madcap romp of a show.
How did you and the school get involved with this HCT production?
I serve on the HCT board, and the idea was to explore a partnership that would mutually benefit both the high school and the community theatre. The high school has space on stage and in the audience that allows it to mount productions of significant size and scale, while the community theater has a large group of dedicated volunteers and an established audience base. The hope is that HCT patrons will be willing to give Stage Raiders’ productions a shot in the future and that the two groups can join together every once in a while to create something grand and wonderful.
Is this the first time HCT and the high school theater department have teamed up on a production?
This is the first time it has been official, but the two groups have mutually reinforced each other’s mission for years now, at least as long as I’ve been the high school director. Students trained at the high school participate in HCT shows, and HCT has always generously allowed us the use of costumes and props.
What has the experience been like for you?
There have been some challenges in directing a show over the summer, especially after just completing Beauty and the Beast, but I love this show and these people. I know I’ll look back with tremendous fondness on this time.
Who can we expect to see in this show?
The cast is almost evenly divided into three groups: my current students, alumni, and community members. There are so many standout actors that if I try to name a few, I’d just be leaving out the rest – and they are all great!
What, for you, has been the highlight of working on this production?
For me, the chance to work with my alumni at least one more time. The cancellation of school due to COVID robbed me, robbed us all, of the chance to do one last show with the fantastic class of 2020. It seems a small but satisfying farewell. But it gets better… alumni from well before 2020 have joined us, students stretching back to my first year at Central, in fact. To have all these talented and wonderful young people all together and creating theatre as a single cast fills me with a profound joy.
What’s been the most challenging thing about getting this show stage ready?
Summer scheduling, no question.
What can theatergoers expect from this production?
Lots of laughs, great dancing and singing, and, as the Man in the Chair says, “a little tune to take with them.”
Are tickets still available? Do any of the proceeds benefit the Stage Raiders?
We still have plenty of tickets available. Since HCT is bearing most of the costs of the production, they will receive the proceeds. However, they are planning to make a donation to the Stage Raiders.
What is the greatest benefit of pooling school and community talent and resources like this?
The true reward for the Stage Raiders is the opportunity to grow by being in a production with outstanding local talent. We also hope to benefit by expanding our audience base, especially as the HCT crowd sees what our high school group is capable of.
What else would you like to add?
Nothing really, but come see the show and bring a friend!
Show Dates & Tickets
The Drowsy Chaperone will be on stage at the Habersham Central High School Fine Arts Auditorium, August 4-7.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students/children. Tickets may be purchased online through the Habersham Community Theater website or by calling the box office at (706) 839-1315.
