‘Pajama Game’ tickets are now on sale at CHS Office
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Theatre Department musical. “Pajama Game” opens its curtains in just 9 days. After a two year break from producing musicals, this year CHS will bring back a musical to Juergens Gym Stage.
CHS also has a new Theatre Director in Steve Colonel, CHS Band and Choral Director. Colonel, who will retire from teaching in 2026 decided to take on the role of Theatre Director to bring musicals back to the fore front as a final challenge in his waning years at CHS.
When asked what inspired him to become the new Theatre Department Director, Mr. Colonel said, “I was watching my niece in her musical in Park Ridge, Illinois, and the more I watched the show, the more I realized how much I missed being involved in the shows.”
“I knew there was a need for a director for the Theatre Department, and I felt I still had something worthwhile to offer.”
The rest is recent history as Mr. Colonel has resurrected the Theatre Department and brought back musicals, the first of which opens next week, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday March 14, 15, and 16, on CHS Juergens Gymnasium Stage.
Colonel said, “When I agreed to take the position, I committed to produce this year’s show (2024), and the last two shows of my high school teaching career (2025 and 2026).
Megan Zimmer (Babe Williams) and Jason Sibley (Hines) rehearse their lines for a scene in the upcoming Chester High School Musical, “Pajama Game”, which opens Thursday March 14 and runs for three nights Thursday March 14, Friday March 15, and Saturday night March 16 at Chester High School’s Juergens Gym Stage. The curtain opens each night at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at the CHS Office. Prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Jim Beers Photo
This year’s musical is “Pajama Game”, a comedy based on the 1953 novel, “7 ½ Cents” by Richard Bissell. The musical originally opened on Broadway almost 70 years ago on May 13, 1954, and has stood the passage of time for seven decades.
The musical has earned all types of awards over time including Tony Awards, Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Actress Best Revival of as Musical (2006), Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album Award (2007), and more.
Chester High School’s production opens next Thursday March 14 at 7:00 p.m. and runs for three nights, March 14, 15, and 16, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The curtain opens each night at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale in the Chester High School Office (618-826-2302). Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Seating is located in three different areas including Floor Seats, Orange Bleacher Seats (2 rows) and Bleacher Seats (all wooden bleacher areas).
All offer different advantages and disadvantages. The price is the same for all seating. Floor seats and Orange Bleacher seats can be pre-ordered and reserved. Bleacher seats are first come-first served.
The cast and crew members as well as “live” orchestra, have been working hard to bring the audience a top-notch performance that will bring laughter and cheer to everyone’s faces throughout the entire evening!