The Red and Black Players were in their final few days of rehearsal until the premiere of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School. There will also be showings at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, both at the middle-high school as well, located at 25 Chaney Ave.

The play first debuted in 1998 and was written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. The play is set in the 1920s and follows a man in a chair as he puts on his favorite record, which is a cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical.

At that point, reality becomes fuzzy as the man’s recording comes to life. He looks on as various characters dazzle and entertain the audience. These include two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, three gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and, of course, an intoxicated chaperone, according to a press release on the musical.

Without giving too much away, the plot centers on the wedding of Broadway star Janet Van De Graaff and her wealthy fiance, Robert Martin. Janet is about to leave show business to marry, but her chaperone, a drowsy and tipsy woman, inadvertently causes chaos. The plot thickens with some stunning twists and turns from the other characters, such as the egotistical Adolpho. Meanwhile, Robert is convinced that he’s not good enough for Janet and contemplates running away.

From left, sophomore Ava Facteau, as Trix, and sixth grader Sam Mozdzier and junior Ghost Switzer, as staff, rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

The two-act play is a comedy within a musical. The characters have personalities larger than life, which the students have been working to perfect the essence of. Throughout the various scenes, the man in the chair — who is played by Tupper Lake senior Ayden Rabideau — offers quips and other humorous takes on what is playing out on stage behind him.

This year, the Red and Black Players have dual-casting for some roles, as students trade back and forth with each other between who is on-stage playing the character throughout the production.

According to a press release, this year’s cast features: Rabideau as Man in Chair; Sophia Staves and Hannah Barber as the Drowsy Chaperone; Aubrey Nadeau and Lacey Pickering as Janet; Haylee Callaghan and Bryce Richer as Robert; John Fallon as George; Niko LaVigne as Aldolpho; Noah Switzer and Jack Dukette as Feldzeig; Eliza Bujold and Ghost Switzer as Kitty; Nevaeh Toohey and Caydence Flagg as Mrs. Tottendale; Oliver Roberts as Underling; Sean Wood, Ash Barber, and Joelle Bedore as the Gangsters; Ava Facteau and Hannah Barber as Trix the Aviatrix; and the following students in various other roles: Yana Kucipak, Lance Schaffer, Gabby Frenette, Annabella Baker, Ashton Baker, Henry Bedore, Tori Hudak, Maria Martinez-Gates, Sam Mozdzier, Cailyn Norton, Mallory Snyder and Delainee Wilson.

Stage crew for “The Drowsy Chaperone” are Hannah Callaghan, Alison Richer, Claire Snye and Mariah Young. The lighting crew includes Wilbur Humberstone and Maurice Fortune.

Stage director George Cordes and music director Elizabeth Cordes are again joined by their own intrepid team: lighting and tech director David Naone, assistant director Danielle LaMere, and choreographer Kendall Davison. They are assisted with this production by Samuel Brown. This production also continues a return to a live pit band, featuring an all-star lineup of musicians.

Freshman Aubrey Nadeau as Janet and sophomore John Fallon as George rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

The Red and Black Players have a storied history and tradition in Tupper Lake. This is their 19th year of presenting musical theatre. In 2024, students put on a production of “Legally Blonde The Musical.” In 2023, it was “Seussical, The Musical.”

Earlier shows include “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR,” “Footloose: The Musical,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Godspell,” “Anything Goes,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “All Night Strut: A Jumpin’, Jivin’, Jam!,” “Back to the 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” “Annie,” “The Boy Friend” and “Bye, Bye Birdie.” In 2020, they canceled their production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the press release.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens and will be available at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Tupper Lake Middle-High School sophomore Niko LaVigne as Adolpho rehearses for “The Drowsy Chaperone” Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Cast members rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Junior Haley Callaghan and freshman Aubrey Nadeau rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Senior Hannah Barber as Trix the Aviatrix, Sophomore Niko LaVigne as Adolpho and senior Sophia Staves as Drowsy Chaperone rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Freshmen Noah Switzer and Eliza Bujold as Feldzeig and Kitty rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Tupper Lake Middle-High School senior Nevaeh Toohey as Mrs. Tottendale rehearses “The Drowsy Chaperone” Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Freshman Noah Switzer as Feldzeig and sophomore Niko LaVigne as Adolpho rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Tupper Lake Middle-High School Senior Ayden Rabideau as Man in Chair rehearses “The Drowsy Chaperone” Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Sophomore Niko LaVigne as Adolpho and senior Sophia Staves as Drowsy Chaperone rehearse for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Monday night. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)