May 20, 2025
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Broadway musicals lauded in ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

By KANE COUNTY

Angelo O’Dierno (from left) of Rockford, Sarafina Vecchio of Huntley, Terry Christianson of St. Charles, Brett Baleskie of Naperville, and Amy DeLamoreaux of Streamwood are the lead actors in “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Elgin Community College. (Provided photo)

ELGIN – Elgin Community College Musical Theatre will perform a joyful send-up to 1920s musicals during its spring production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "The Drowsy Chaperone."

Performances will be held in the ECC Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and Feb. 24; Saturday and Feb. 25; and at 3 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 26.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets for all performances in the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Box Office located in the arts center. Box office hours are noon-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call 847-622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.

About the show

Winner of the 2006 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score, "The Drowsy Chaperone" is described as a "musical within a comedy." It begins when a diehard musical theater fan (Angelo O'Dierno, Rockford) puts on his favorite cast album. The musical bursts to life in his living room, and the audience is transported to a 1928 Broadway theater and into "The Drowsy Chaperone," a play-within-a-play crammed full of every gag and gimmick from the golden age of musicals. The audience is introduced to a host of characters including Broadway starlet Janet Van De Graff (Amy DeLamoreaux, Streamwood), her dashing fiancé Robert Martin (Brett Baleskie, Naperville), Janet's drowsy chaperone (Sarafina Vecchio, Huntley), and Adolpho, a European ladies man (Terry Christianson, St. Charles).

"This musical has that old vaudeville feel," said director and choreographer Konnie Kay of St. Charles. "It's a hilarious, clever, and heartwarming show, and we can't wait to share that joy with audiences."

Serving as music director for the production is John G. Slawson, DMA, professor of music at ECC and artistic director of ECC Musical Theatre productions. Several area actors will perform in the show, including Eric Nelson of Geneva; Jenna Karr, Brandon Raasch, Matt Scharlau, Michael Sherry and Taylor Sherry, all of St. Charles; and Justin Green of South Elgin.