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The Arts

Kirkwood Grad stars in St. Ambrose U Theatre

By October 1, 2010November 16th, 2018No Comments

Anthony Stratton Cast in production of Drowsy Chaperone

Kirkwood Community College graduate Anthony Stratton has been cast a role in a Tony Award winning musical at St. Ambrose University. Stratton will play in the comedy musical The Drowsy Chaperone in early October.

The 2010 graduate was actively involved in Kirkwood Theatre, acting in multiple shows including Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical, Big River and Guys & Dolls. He played in The House of Blue Leaves as a crazy AWOL army son, Ronnie Shaunessy and was nominated as an Irene Ryan candidate for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) for his role as Alexis Voinov in The Just.

Stratton credits the Kirkwood Theatre/Music department stating, “I was always able to explore my creativity as an actor, dancer and vocalist and was given amazing opportunities to push myself to places I didn’t know I was able to get to as an actor. I took my first year of voice lessons from Allison Holmes which I can greatly credit as an experience that helped my audition and eventually led to my role in The Drowsy Chaperone.”

Stratton’s new production is a comedy/musical that opened on Broadway in 2006, winning five Tony Awards including Best Book of a Musical. It begins with a man referred to as “Man in Chair,” telling the audience he’s suffering from a “non-specific sadness.” As a remedy, he listens to his favorite record, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and is immediately transported to the 1920s Jazz Era.

Stratton is cast the role of “Underling,” a butler of the party hostess Mrs. Tottendale. Underling’s character is misplaced amongst the chaos of the musical because of his grounded persona and dry humor.

The show opens in Allaert Auditorium at St. Ambrose University Friday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. with additional shows October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and October 10 at 3 p.m.