“A.J. Helfet, who earned many laughs as Seymour’s boss and the owner of the flower shop, Mr. Mushnik, also impressed audiences. Helfet’s physical prowess appeared in every bumbling step he took — particularly while dancing. His line delivery remained consistently funny (even if it did pander to Jewish stereotypes a bit). His number with Seymour, “Mushnik and Son,” really allowed both actors to flaunt their training — they sang, danced and slapsticked like pros.” –Excerpt fromDaily Trojan
A.J. played a Miss Saigon-loving superintendent with a Scottish burr in USC Musical Theatre Repertory’s entirely student directed, choreographed, and designed production of The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. It is a parody of American musical comedy of the 1920s and tells the story of a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan. As he plays the record of his favorite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit The Drowsy Chaperone, the show comes to life onstage as he wryly comments on the music, story, and actors.
