The wait is finally over for students and community members, as last night, they received their first look at the spring musical, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’.

Professor Edward Powers, director of the musical, decided to bring the show to Waynesburg after seeing the musical with the original cast.

“This musical is one that I saw the original cast on Broadway 12 years ago,” said Powers.  “It was such a lot of fun, I thought to myself I want to do this show sometime. It just felt right to do a show full of comedy and laughs. It is a pretty fluffy show; however, it is a show that salutes the idea of musical theatre.”

With many talented students across campus, according to Powers, he believes that showcasing that was one of the focuses of this particular show.

“As usual we wanted to spotlight our student talent, we have quite a bit of talent on this campus,” said Powers. “Being able to share that talent with our community, whether it be in song and dance or acting, it’s an exciting thing. Theatre, whether it is a musical or a play, presents something about life and the human condition.”

Powers highlighted what ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ will offer for the audience from both a life and theatre perspective.

“In this play, we have a character that lives alone in his apartment, he loves the idea of musical theatre,” said Powers. “He is watching a show and he becomes able to interact with it.  How many times have we gone to see a musical or play and think how great it would be to be up there with them. This man has a chance to do that.”

The man who interacts with the musical theatre show is known as “the man in the chair”. Ronald Loebker, senior computer science major, plays him and will offer a way for the audience to become part of the play.

“It is a very funny show, people should expect to laugh,” said Loebker. “It’s a very farcical show, a little bit of slapstick, some puns and just humor. I believe it is a fun story, but light.”

Mandi Pascarella, junior, youth ministry major, is playing ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ in the musical.

“Expect to feel like the best friend of the character,” said Pascarella. “Ronnie’s character [the man in the chair] is in his apartment and talks to you as if you are one of his friends. By the end of the show, you’re one with his character.”

Robert Martin, is portrayed by Ed DiOrio freshman, sports broadcasting major.

“Robert Martin is a bright figure in the show, he’ll bring comedic value, as do a lot of other characters in their own way,” said DiOrio. “He is very involved in the plot line.”

The cast and crew are small in numbers, which many of the actors have and enjoyed and viewed as beneficial for all involved.

“This cast has been amazing, it’s a smaller show than I’ve done in the past here,” said Pascarella. “The number that auditioned basically got in the cast and it’s been nice because everyone is so close with everyone else. There hasn’t been a real competitiveness factor, we’ve all just been here and gotten to know all the new people.”

According to DiOrio, he enjoys the ability to be close with all of his fellow actors and actresses.

“Back in high school I didn’t know all of the names of our cast, but it is nice to know everyone,” said DiOrio. “That is one of the reasons I like the smaller aspect of theatre here at Waynesburg.  You develop a family in whatever club you do, but you really get to know each other with the 19-person cast and 7-8-person crew and then the director and music director.”

‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ will run through March 24 at the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online or at the show.

“The cast is exciting, the show is clever,” said Powers. “Some people think theatre isn’t for me, but it is. We enjoy stories and we enjoy ones that tell us something about human life. These students have put in a lot of time, and it takes hours and hours to make something look easy and because of those things these student actors deserve the support of the community and the campus community.”