Photo Coverage: Theatre in the Park's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

The era of the happy musical - with a little romance, big production numbers and catchy show tunes - is featured as Theatre in the Park's next summer production, "THE DROWSY CHAPERONE".

The musical opens tonight, June 17 and runs through Sunday, June 19, and then continues its run Wednesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 25. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and the gates to the seating bowl open at 6:30 p.m.; the show begins at 8:30 p.m. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is rated G for the entire family to enjoy.

"For "The Drowsy Chaperone" TTIP is partnering with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, collecting canned goods for its holiday shop that serves 3,200 families. Those who donate when they come to the theatre receive a coupon for free popcorn.

Under the direction of TTIP veteran David Hastings, "THE DROWSY CHAPERONE" features an all-local cast of talented performers. Elise Peterson is vocal director and Pam Williamson is conductor with choreography by Jay Coombes.

Winner of five Tony® awards including Best Original Score, "THE DROWSY CHAPERONE" is a loving send-up of the musicals of the Jazz era. The story surrounds a "Man in a Chair," who has settled in to listen to his favorite record - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - a fictitious musical of the 1920s. In this show-within-a-show, the Man puts his record on to shake his blues away and the musical comes to life in his apartment. The Man takes the audience through the comedic tale of a glamorous showgirl on the eve of her wedding to a tycoon. Mixed in to the musical tale is a roster of fun-loving, zany characters the couple encounter along the way - the disorganized best man, a spacey hostess and her stoic butler, a muddled producer and his ditzy female sidekick, two gangster posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and a slightly intoxicated Chaperone.

"The show is just entertainment," said Director Hastings. "The Man in Chair says the show allows him 'a little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world.' It gives us 'a little something for when you're feeling blue.' And that is what we are trying to do. We all have our own problems in life. Sometimes you just need something fun to help you escape for a while. 'THE DROWSY CHAPERONE' can be that escape for you," Hastings said.

This is Theatre in the Park's (TTIP) 47th season of musical entertainment featuring talent from all over the Kansas City metropolitan area. Up next on the TTIP stage is the epic chronicle of a group of dancers musical journey to the stage in A CHORUS LINE (July 1-3, 6-9), followed by the colorful biblical tale of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (July 15-17, July 20-23). The TTIP season concludes with everyone's favorite nanny MARY POPPINS, a co-production that will play under the stars at TTIP and on stage at the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center. MARY POPPINS plays at TTIP beginning July 29 through July 31, and Aug. 3-6 after its run at the White Theatre that starts on July 9.

TTIP is holding the line on prices for the 2016 season with general admission only $8, youth $6, and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). Limited reserve seating and parking is available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights of performance.

The Johnson County Christmas Bureau

Established in 1960, The Johnson County Christmas Bureau provides holiday assistance to low-income residents of Johnson County. Items of warmth and sustenance are provided at the Holiday Shop, to pre-qualified neighbors, by appointment. JCCB's low-income neighbors can select groceries, personal care and household supplies, children's clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, coats, toys, gifts, and books pegged to family size, age, and gender. All items are new with the exception of books and coats.

For its 2016 Holiday Shop, JCCB plans to serve almost 13,000 individuals representing over 3,200 families as well as more than 1,000 nursing home residents. For this year, The Christmas Bureau needs canned food to distribute at the holiday shop; partnering with TTIP will help the nonprofit get a great start in stocking the shop. For more information, to make cash donations, or to volunteer, please visit www.jccb.org.

MOVIES IN THE PARK will return for only one buck! Titles are available on the TTIP website, www.theatreinthepark.org/movies; next up is Disney's 2015 live action film "Cinderella," on Tuesday, June 25. On movie nights, gates open at 7:30 p.m. with movies starting at 8:30-8:45 p.m., depending on sunset.

The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee, KS, and is a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. TTIP is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for more than four decades.

For more information including entire show synopses for all 2016 TTIP productions, please visit http://www.theatreinthepark.org.