BWW TV: Joining 'The Drowsy Chaperone's' National Tour

Having performed its out-of-town tryout at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, the Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone has returned to the Center Theatre Group for a limited run ending July 20, 2008, before continuing on its First National Tour around the country.

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone has music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison with a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

The show "tells the story of a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair.' To chase his blues away he drops the needle on his favorite LP – the 1928 musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone.  From the crackle of his hi-fi, the musical magically bursts to life onstage telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married, her producer who sets out to sabotage the nuptials, her chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters who double as pastry chefs. In no time, the hi-jinks begin and the fun spins completely out of control," according to press notes.

BroadwayWorld's own James Sims recently sat down with two of The Drowsy Chaperone's stars at the Ahmanson Theatre, Jonathan Crombie, reprising his role from the Broadway production as Man in Chair and Nancy Opel as the title character, making her touring debut.

Rounding out the cast are Georgia Engel reprising her role of Mrs. Tottendale, Cliff Bemis (Feldzieg), Andrea Chamberlain (Janet Van De Graaff), Robert Dorfman (Underling), Fran Jaye (Trix), Mark Ledbetter (Robert Martin), Marla Mindelle (Kitty), James Moye (Aldolpho), Paul Riopelle (Gangster #1), Peter Riopelle (Gangster #2) and Richard Vida (George), Megan Nicole Arnoldy, Kevin Crewell,Tiffany Haas, Alicia Irving, Jody Madaras, Chuck Rea, Mason Roberts and Jennifer Swiderski.

Tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Music Center.  The Ahmanson Theatre is located at the Music Center of Los Angeles County, 135 N. Grand Avenue, in downtown L.A.  And for more from James Sims visit www.simsscoop.com.