Spring musical will be “Pajama Game” March 14-16
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Theatre Department is proud to announce that in the spring of 2024 CHS will bring back a musical to Juergens Gym stage. After two seasons of theatrical dramas in the form of stage plays, Juergens Gym will once again come alive with the sounds of music, dancing, romance, drama, and comedy.
New Theatre Director, Steve Colonel, has announced that the 2024 Spring Musical will be “Pajama Game”. “Pajama Game” is a musical based on the 1953 novel, “7 ½ Cents” by Richard Bissell.
The book was written by George Albott and Richard Bissell, with the musical having music and lyrics provided by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The original dancing was staged by Bob Fosse in his chorographical debut.
Conditions at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory are anything but peaceful as sparks fly between new Superintendent, Sid Sorokin, and Babe Williams, leader of the union grievance committee.
Their stormy relationship comes to a head when the workers strike for a 7 ½ cent pay increase. That sets off not only a conflict between management and labor, but a battle of the sexes as well.
Vernon Hines, the efficiency expert at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, introduces the story, while inside the factory, workers are churning out PJ’s at a backbreaking pace.
Chester High School students Jaden Lopez and Megan Zimmer, who play Sid Sorokin and Babe Williams in the upcoming CHS production of “Pajama Game”, rehearse a scene Tuesday January 30. Both have leading roles in the 2024 CHS musical which opens Thursday March 14 and runs Friday March 15 and Saturday March 16. Jim Beers Photo
Sid Sorokin is the new superintendent that has just arrived from out-of-town. Prez, the union president is seeking a 7 ½ cent pay increase, while the Pajama Company President, Myron Hasler, refuses to give in to the union’s demands.
Katherine “Babe” Williams is the leader of the Union Grievance Committee. Babe and Sid are in opposite camps, yet a romantic interest is sparked at their first encounter.
Hines, the factory timekeeper, is in love with Gladys Hotchkiss, the company President’s Secretary, but he is pushing her away with his extreme jealousy.
This mixture of drama, love, conflict, and stress within the Sleep-Tite Pajama Company sets the table for an evening full of fun, romance, surprises, sadness, and a continuous roller-coaster of ups-and-downs throughout the show.
In the end, will Sleep-Tite Pajama employees get their desired pay increase? Will Babe and Sid come to a romantic agreement? Will the Grievance Committee finally be happy with the eventual conclusion to the strike? These and many other issues will be answered after two exciting acts of singing, dancing, dramatic dialog, fun, hilarity, and intrigue in “Pajama Game”!
Director Colonel noted that he will bring back a “live” orchestra to Juergens Gym for this production. The last several musicals at CHS featured music that was produced by CD’s. The orchestra consists of CHS students as well as several adult college-trained musicians.
Preparations for the musical began in earnest after the Christmas holidays. Auditions were held in November and music and scripts were made available in December. Rehearsals began in January for both cast members and the orchestra.
In addition to 20 cast members and a chorus of five additional members, there are also another group of numerous crew members preparing for the big event. Cast and Chorus members include:
The cast of “Pajama Game”, the 2024 Chester High School spring musical, poses for a quick photo at the end of a rehearsal. The curtain opens Thursday March 14 for the first of three nights of performances. Jim Beers Photo
CAST
Megan Zimmer: (Babe Williams); Leader of Union Grievance Committee. She falls in love with Sid.
Jaden Lopez: (Sid Sorokin) The factory Superintendent. He falls in love with Babe, and is on the opposite side of the union labor dispute.
Ary Shipley: (Gladys Hotchkiss) Hasler’s attractive, quick-witted secretary. She dates Hines and is chased by Prez.
Jason Sibley: (Hines) The factory timekeeper. He thinks Gladys flirts too much. He is always jealous.
Will Welge: (Prez) The head of the union. He is a skirt-chaser in spite of being married.
Tyson Jausel: (Joe) A factory worker & Prez’s right-hand man.
Liam Holland: (“Old Man” Hasler) The strict head of the pajama factory who keeps a secret.
Hannah Kaempfe: (Mabel) The mother hen of the factory & Sid’s secretary.
Kaci Trost: (Mae) A loud-mouthed member of the Grievance Committee.
Nico DeGuzman: (Brenda) A member of the Grievance Committee.
Annah Helvey-Ahring: (Poopsie) A factory girl & union activist.
Luke Kennedy: (Max) The Salesman.
Brodie Mattingly: (Pop) Babe’s kind and agreeable father.
Jessica Ixcoy: (Virginia) A factory girl and union activist.
Josh Casteel: (First Helper)
Haley Hoskin: (Sandra)
Mirra Krieg: (Carmen)
Grace Kirkpatrick: (Charlene)
Amelia Terry: (Mara)
Toby Gercis: (Ann)
CHORUS
Cailey Bainter
Trinity Jones
Kendall Nanney
Hannah Stueve
Olivia Vasquez
CHS Theatre Director, Steve Colonel (right), Assistant Director, Aden McFarland (left) and Lighting Director, Rylie McDonough (middle) watch rehearsal and take notes Tuesday January 30 in the CHS band room during rehearsal for the upcoming CHS musical, “Pajama Games”. The musical opens Thursday March 14 and runs Friday and Saturday March 15 and 16 on CHS Juergens Gym Stage. Jim Beers Photo
DIRECTOR
Steve Colonel
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Steve Colonel
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Aden McFarland
LIGHTING DIRECTOR
Rylie McDonough
The event will take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 14, 15, and 16. Performances will be in the evenings with the curtain opening at 7:30 p.m. each night. There will be no Sunday or matinee performances.
Tickets will be available a month before the first performance. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets will be located for sale in the Chester High School office.
“Pajama Game” has earned numerous awards and award nominations since its original opening in 1955. These awards include the following:
Original Production (1955)
Tony Awards:
Best Musical (Won)
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Carol Haney) (Won)
Best Choreography (Won)
2006 Broadway revival
Tony Awards:
Best Revival of a Musical (Won)
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara)
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Megan Lawrence)
Best Director of a Musical (Kathleen Marshall
Best Choreography (Kathleen Marshall (Won)
Best Orchestrations (Dick Lieb and Danny Troob)
Best Scenic Design (Derek McLane)
Best Costume Design (Martin Pakledinaz)
Drama Desk Awards:
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara)
Outstanding Director of a Musical (Kathleen Marshall)
Outstanding Choreography (Kathleen Marshall) (Won)
Outstanding Orchestrations (Danny Troob and Dick Lieb)
Outstanding Sound Design (Brian Ronan)
Outer Critics Circle Awards:
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara)
Outstanding Featured Actor (Peter Benson)
Outstanding Featured Actress (Megan Lawrence)
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Kathleen Marshall)
Outstanding Choreography (Kathleen Marshall (Won)
Outstanding Costume Design (Martin Pakledinaz)
Theatre World Award: (Harry Connick, Jr.) (Won)
2007
Grammy Award: Best Musical Show Album
Note: Unless the award category above was labled (Won), it was just nominated.
“Pajama Game” is a wonderful combination of drama, comedy, romance, dancing, and lots of great music. Musical selections and those cast members performing them include the following:
Act 1
“The Pajama Game Opening”, Hines
“Racing with the Clock”, Factory Workers
“A New Town is a Blue Town”, Sid
“I’m Not at all in Love”, Babe and Factory Workers
“I’ll Never Be Jealous Again”, Mabel and Hines
“Hey There”, Sid
“Racing With the Clock (Reprise), Factory Workers
“Sleep-Tite”, Company
“Her Is”, Gladys
“Once a Year Day”, Sid, Babe, and Company
“Her Is” (Reprise), Prez and Mae
“Small Talk”, Sid and Babe
“There Once Was a Man”, Sid and Babe
“Hey There”, (reprise)
ACT II
“Steam Heat”, Hines
“The World Around Us”, Sid
“Hey There” (Reprise), Babe
“If You Win, You Lose”, Sid and Babe
“Think of the Time I Save”, Hines and Factory Girls
“Hernando’s Hideaway”, Gladys and Company
“The Three of Us (Me, Myself, and I)”, Hines and Gladys
“7 ½ Cents”, Prez, Babe, and Factory Workers
“There Once Was a Man (reprise), Sid and Babe
“The Pajama Game Finale”, Full Company
“Pajama Game” promises to be an enjoyable evening of acting, music, dancing, and drama as the employees of the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory work through their business and personal issues to what will hopefully be a successful and satisfying ending!