Seasoned actor sits down for new role

This term’s theatrical production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” features Brandon Watkins, a freshman here at Mt. Hood, as the lonely narrator who retells his favorite musical.

Watkins plays Man In Chair, one of the most important characters in the play. Though only a freshman, he brings experience and talent. Starting in the seventh grade, Watkins has joined 12 drama productions, starting with “Wipeout,” in the role of Freddy the Sea Turtle.

He credits Centennial High School theater teacher Kelly McCarty for how far he has come in the theater world.

“She inspired me throughout all of my four years in high school,” Watkins said. “I went from ensemble characters to Shrek my senior year.”

Under McCarty, Watkins played the lead roll of Shrek in “Shrek the Musical,” during his senior year at Centennial. He said “it was hilarious … it went through a lot of trials in Shrek’s life – like looking to be accepted for who he was. It was amazing to play a role like that.

Now, Watkins enjoys his meaty part in “Chaperone.”

“It’s got everything. It’s funny, it’s got (a) musical, but it also has a lot of heart and emotion in it, too, dealing with lots of important topics,”
he said. “The Man in Chair, he loves musicals and talks about his favorite musical. Throughout the show he is narrating what happening in his mind as he listens to the record ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ ”

Opening with a page-and-a-half of monologue, Watkins starts the play showing off his memory skills.

Describing his fellow cast in the show, he credits Merry Bishop as “the perfect person to play Drowsy. She is hilarious – not to mention, my best friend” who also attended Centennial High, he added. “In terms of storyline, Janet Van de Graaff would probably be the most important character (Drowsy) because ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ is technically about Janet,” he said.

While Watkins is technically playing the leading role, he called Janet as “the romantic lead. Her character is the show girl, she is everything. She can sing, she can dance, she can act, she’s just the all-around star,” he said.

However, it is another character in the production, Kitty, who works for Mr. Feldzieg (the acting troupe’s producer), whom Watkins loves most. “Her journey throughout the entire show is just hilarious, and I enjoy watching it every time we rehearse it,” he said about the character.

Watkins plans to continue in Theatre Education.

“I want to teach theater and direct shows starting at the high school level and moving my way up to the college level,” he said – doing the very thing that McCarty helped him with at Centennial, and MHCC theater instructor Mace Archer is teaching him now.

In his wildest dreams, however, Watkins hopes to be on Broadway.

Giving advice for other students in the theater world, Watkins explained, “You’re going to get more ‘Nos’ then ‘Yes,’ but the Nos will help you.

“Don’t be shy, you can’t be shy, you have to break out of your comfort zone. Let theater take you places.”

The Drowsy Chaperone opens on Feb. 20., and will be showing Feb. 20-21 and Feb. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 1, at 2 p.m. Tickets  start at $10.