Pajama Production

Klein performs the last musical on the original stage.

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Throughout the history of Klein many plays and many actors have walked across the stage like Peter Pan, Rumors, Leading Ladies, and Into the Woods which was nominated for a Tommy Tune Award in 2013 for best musical. The Pajama Game is the last play to be performed on the original Klein stage.

The Pajama Game is a story about union workers in the early 60s working in a pajama factory called Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory who demand a 7 ½ cent raise, but the management of the factory is resisting the offer. While this conflict goes on a romance sparks between the new superintendent, Sid, played by junior Jonathan Lammey and the leader of the union, Babe, played by junior Marshae Morris. Eventually management agrees to the raise and peace returns to the factory as well as in Sid and Babe’s love life.

“We don’t have a part in choosing the play,” said senior Johathan Martin. “That is all the directors. We have three awesome directors: we have Mrs. Domino who is the drama head in charge of all of it. We have Mr. Bradshaw who is the tech theater head. And then there is Mr. Hengum who is senior director of awesomeness and he does everything and everything. Those three directors get together at different times of the year and talk about what play they want to see performed that year.”

Even though students don’t have a choice in what production goes across the stage. They still put a lot of work into their craft.

“One of the perks of being in a musical like this is meeting new friends and learning new things in a different environment. However, spending 20 hours a week working on things like this is a downside. But I don’t mind the time commitment,” said Morris.

Time is a reoccurring theme between many members of the play. Saying that they spend 20 hours or more a week on each production, between getting the set ready, wardrobe, and practicing lines, the students in Klein drama have their hands full.

“We don’t have that many props and the set doesn’t move as much, so there isn’t a lot of set up time,” said freshmen Ian Tonroy. “But when it comes to costume and wardrobe, for boys it takes about 30 minutes to an hour, but for girls it takes about one to two hours.”

Students, parents, teachers, and thespians alike attended The Pajama Game and reviews ranged from excited to disappointed.

“I think the acting and singing in general was really good,” said freshmen Sarah Maschke “I took part in building some of the set and background and seeing everyone’s hard work come together was fun.” However, some students were not as satisfied as others

“The dancing and singing was pretty basic and the singing was ok,” said senior Patricia Singh “I liked the concept of the play, but I feel like it wasn’t as good as the others that have been performed here.”

Now that the last piece of the new Klein building is expected to be finished by the end of the school year, including the new theater/ auditorium, drama students have an input on being the first students to use it. “I am going to be a senior next year and I am really excited to be one of the first seniors on the new stage,” said Morris.

The soon-to-be senior as well as other members of Klein Drama also share in the enthusiasm of a new stage.

“I am really, really excited to see the new stage. I think it’s going to be a new and nice facility,” said freshman Ian Tonroy. “I feel really honored and privileged to be able to walk across that new stage as part of Klein Drama.”