Producing a musical is fraught with challenges. Adding dance routines takes that to another level. Not to worry for Hannah Styron and Cass Hept, the choreographer and stage manager, respectively, for Virginia Peninsula Community College’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Both prefer shows that are dance-intensive.
“I’m a dancer, so I love shows that are way more dancey,” said Styron, adding she’s more comfortable dancing than singing or acting.
Hept enjoys the process.
“I have no rhythm, so I enjoy watching her herd cats and getting everything together,” they said. “It’s kind of nonsensical at first, and then it turns into this wonderful bit of choreography at the end of it.”
Both have extensive experience at the College, as students and performers.
Styron graduated from VPCC in 2021 with an associate degree in liberal arts. In 2018, she was in a VPCC show for the first time and has participated in just about every production since in various on- and off-stage roles. She teaches at Hampton Roads Academy and is a dance instructor at Poquoson Dance Academy.
Hept, whose first show at VPCC was more than 10 years ago, was a student at the College from 2012-15, working on a liberal arts degree. They have also held various roles, including assistant stage manager, stage manager, stagehand and performer. Hept also works with the Williamsburg Players and is a geotechnical material testing lab manager for Dulles Geotechnical and Materials Testing Services in Hampton.
Styron said the biggest challenge is working with so many performers who have a wide range of abilities.
“There are a lot of people on stage,” she said. “A handful of them have some dance training and then others don’t.”
The trick is making sure those differences aren’t obvious in the finished product.
For Hept, it’s more about capturing the choreography, getting the notes together “and then just making sure that people are quiet behind stage, which I’m not the best at.”
Having more dance, said Styron, brings another layer to the experience.
“Dance has always just been storytelling, but through movement,” she said, adding it’s another way to communicate what is going on in a scene. “It’s like lighting or sound effects or anything like that. It adds to the show.”
Hept agrees.
“I like seeing all the different media or forms of storytelling, and just having that extra layer,” they said. “You have one experience watching a movie, another experience doing a play, another experience reading a book, or even doing an audio-book.”
Despite the challenges, both are loving the experience.
“Even with however many shows I’ve done here and however many shows I’ve done outside of this, I genuinely think this is one of my favorite casts to work with,” Styron said. “They’re all so super willing to do whatever. They all really enjoy working together, and we just have fun. I’ve had more fun in these rehearsals than I think I’ve ever had in shows that I have done here, and I really love that.”
She said the summer operas are fun because they are often silly, but this show is fun because of the people.
Hept enjoys watching the growth of the cast members, starting with the read-through and going to opening night.
“Seeing the difference between the two and watching them grow … it’s really cool,” they said. “It is really fun to be a part of that and watch that happen.”
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is a Canadian musical described as “show within a show.” It won five Tony Awards. Performances will be held Nov. 12-15 at the Dr. Mary T. Christan Theatre on VPCC’s Hampton Campus. Showtimes are Nov. 12, 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available here.
