Actor takes on character’s brash diva tendencies in new musical
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TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News – Gabrielle Chapman, a senior in the Palatka Junior-Senior High School Musical Theatre Department, will perform her last show, “The Drowsy Chaperone, A Musical Within A Comedy,” which will start at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“All in the family” is what comes to mind when Gabrielle Chapman thinks about her past two years with the Palatka Junior-Senior High School Musical Theatre Department.
“I have loved being able to have the chance to perform for others and be on stage,” the Palatka Junior-Senior High School senior said. “I love getting to feel like I’m part of the family that the group has created.”
And part of the family she is.
Gabrielle’s first play with the theater group was “Aladdin” when she was 16.
“I had the opportunity to play Princess Jasmine,” Gabrielle said. “Personally, my favorite would have to be ‘Aladdin.’ This show has always held a special place in my heart as it was my first show. And it was a magical experience getting to play a princess and perform for the first time in front of people. I realized in ‘Aladdin’ just how much I loved getting to be a part of the shows.”
She has been cast as “The Drowsy Chaperone” in the group’s spring show of the same name but with the line “A Musical Within A Comedy” added.
The show was written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar with music by Greg Morrison and Lisa Lambert and lyrics by Greg Morrison and Lisa Lambert.
The show will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Jim Pignato Theatre at the C.L. Overturf Jr. District Center, 1100 S. 18th St. in Palatka. Other showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and May 10-11. Matinees will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and May 12.
The tickets cost $15 in advance at Ralph’s House of Flowers, 605 St. Johns Ave., Suite 101, or $20 at the door, if available.
The show is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International and is under the direction of Jim Pignato.
According to Pignato, the show won five Tony awards, including Best Music and Best Book of a Musical, in 2006.
“The show is a salute to the Vaudeville shows of 1928 with pure madcap fun with the world of yesteryear,” he said.
Gabrielle said the most challenging aspect of her upcoming part is trying to accurately emit a diva persona and confident sense of attitude the part requires throughout the whole play.
“My character is a carefree diva, often because she’s intoxicated and … doesn’t care what anyone thinks and always steals every scene she is in,” she said.
Pignato said Chapman has been in the last four shows with the musical theater department and has been delightful during every production.
“She has a wonderful, mature singing voice and is a pleasure to work with,” he said.
Gabrielle is looking forward to singing a few numbers in the show and dancing in the big number, “Toledo Surprise.”
“I really get the chance to show what I can do when I get to sing and perform as a diva in my number called ‘As We Stumble Along,’” she said.
According to Gabrielle, she has been taking music lessons with her vocal teacher, Beth Frank, since she was 8. She also received some acting lessons from Logen Cheatham, a former Palatka High Theatre Department student.
When the curtain closes on “The Drowsy Chaperone” on May 12, Gabrielle knows she will miss the time she spent with such amazing people after school as well as the joy of being on stage and playing such amazing parts.
“When I am up on stage, that is truly when I feel my most comfortable,” she said. “I am naturally a very shy person in reality and I can have a bit of a hard time raising my voice. But when I get out on stage, I feel like I can do anything. I believe I have definitely become more confident not only in myself but in my abilities.”
Gabrielle remembers wanting to be a part of theater since she was young, having grown up watching plays and seeing the magic behind them.
“That’s when I found I had a love for singing and felt truly confident in my element,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be on stage one day and share my love of music with others.”
Gabrielle said she appreciates Pignato for the opportunities he has given her. She shares that appreciation with the community behind the scenes who help make the show a success.
“I have felt very blessed to have worked under Mr. Pignato and appreciate all of his hard work and dedication he puts into his shows,” she said. “I’ve had the chance to make such amazing friends and meet such wonderful people that I will hold dear and cherish for the rest of my life.”
