North Allegheny High School presents spring musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone"

North Allegheny High School will present its spring musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the high school March 2-6, all at 7 p.m.

This is the first larger-scale spring musical since before the pandemic hit, with a larger student cast and an orchestra pit, according to director David Schmiech.

There are 58 on stage and 40 musicians in the pit, with lots of student involvement on and off stage, he said.

Comparatively, the fall musical featured 24 on stage with no orchestra, he said.

Senior Gannon Sprinkle, 17, plays the lead character, who is ambiguously titled as “man in chair.”

“He’s a very eccentric old man who loves musicals very much,” Sprinkle said.

The character takes the audience through one of his favorite musicals by playing his favorite cast album, Sprinkle said.

“He’s so funny, so sarcastic, witty and cynical in a way,” said Sprinkle, of McCandless.

It features 1920s swing and jazz mixed in with modern comedy. It’s short and a lot of fun, said Schmiech, who also teaches choir and other music courses at the high school.

“Drowsy Chaperone is a show everyone will find something to love about,” he said. “I can’t imagine anyone leaving without laughing.”

Fellow senior Benjamin Welsh, of McCandless, plays “Underling,” a fancy butler for an older woman. He’s a character within the old man’s favorite musical. Welsh enjoys how the butler is uptight but then loses “his cool” because of his employer.

Senior Nathan Lam plays tenor sax and clarinet in the musical pit. “The Drowsy Chaperone” has lots of variety in it — slow songs mixed with some upbeat tunes, he said.

For anyone wondering what it’s like playing in an orchestra pit, Lam, 17, said he enjoys it.

“It’s a fun experience being to play during the songs and watching them dance. You see the whole show from a whole different perspective than sitting in the audience,” said Lam, of Franklin Park.

Being able to pair the music with action on stage makes it interesting for junior Maddie Whitewolf, 16, who plays the cello.

“You get to see how it all comes together. The music is different than I ever played before,” said Whitewolf, of McCandless.

This is Sprinkle’s fourth and last musical, calling it a “bittersweet,” but “I’m really excited to put it on stage.”

Like Sprinkle, Welsh, 17, is in his final musical, having been in three at the high school previously.

He is happy that his last musical isn’t too heavy but a “light-hearted, fun type of show.”

While his performance is important, “The Drowsy Chaperone” lets them have fun with their characters and “have a good time,” Welsh said.

“It’s not a popular one, but it’s a show that everyone will enjoy,” Schmiech said.

Tickets cost $16 and can be purchased through the North Allegheny School District at northallegheny.org or through showclix.com.