Engel, Kressley & Larsen Lead DROWSY CHAPERONE at Ogunquit Playhouse, 6/9-6/26

The Ogunquit Playhouse will present The Drowsy Chaperone from June 9 through June 26, 2010 starring Bravo's Carson Kressley as the Man in Chair and The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Gloria Engel as Mrs. Tottendale, the role she created for the original Broadway production. This new musical comedy was the darling of the Tony Awards, winning the most statues in 2006, including Best Sets and Costumes - the very same sets and costumes will be featured in the Ogunquit Production. Broadway veteran Liz Larsen also joins the cast as the Drowsy Chaperone.

This show-within-a-show begins when a die-hard musical fan, Kressley, imagines performers coming to life in his shabby apartment whenever he plays his favorite cast album, a 1928 hit called "The Drowsy Chaperone." Throughout the performance the musical bursts to life as the Man in Chair continuously brings the audience in and out of the fantasy. Audiences are instantly immersed in the glamorous, hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast and the audience soaring into the rafters.

Helming the Ogunquit production as Director is Casey Hushion who worked under Casey Nicholaw on the original Broadway show. Among her many Broadway and national credits, she is the Assistant Director of In The Heights, winner of 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical, for both the Broadway and the National Tour. Casey is currently the Associate Director of the Broadway workshop of Elf and recently worked as Associate Director of the new musical Minsky's at the Ahmanson Theatre. She is also currently the Artistic Director of the North Carolina Theatre.

Carson Kressley is probably best known for his Emmy Award winning work on the breakout Bravo network hit, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" as well as for hosting Lifetime's highest rated and critically acclaimed reality show, "How to Look Good Naked."

Georgia Engel is best known to audiences as Georgette Baxter from the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," for which she received two Emmy nominations. Georgia launched her theatrical career playing Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly with Ethel Merman and has gone on to a very successful Broadway and Television career. In addition to "MTM" she starred in four more television series, most notably as Shirley Burleigh in the ABC comedy, "Coach."

Liz Larsen was last seen in Ogunquit as Miss Adelaide in the smash hit Guys and Dolls. This Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominated actress has appeared in many Broadway productions including Damn Yankees, A Little Night Music and Fiddler on the Roof. Her television appearances include "Law and Order, Special Victims Unit," "Third Watch," "Sopranos" and "Sex and the City."

The Ogunquit Playhouse season continues with The Sound of Music, June 30 through July 24; Sunset Boulevard, July 28 through August 14; Monty Python's Spamalot, August 18 through September 11; Chicago, wraps up The Playhouse season, September 15 through October 24 featuring Sally Struthers in the roll of Matron "Mama" Morton.

The Ogunquit Playhouse is America's Foremost Summer Theatre producing the finest Broadway musicals each season, with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from June 9 to October 24, 2010. Main Stage tickets prices range from $49-$67 per show. Gift Certificates and Season Subscriptions are also on sale now. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season, visit our website www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Tickets on-line or through the box office at 207-646-5511.