News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

The Drowsy Chaperone 2006

Opened: May 1, 2006
Closing: December 30, 2007

The Drowsy Chaperone - 2006 Broadway History , Info & More


The Drowsy Chaperone is a hilarious and meta-theatrical musical that injects a dose of nostalgia and playful satire into the world of classic Broadway musicals. It follows Man in Chair, a reclusive musical fanatic obsessed with a long-forgotten 1928 show called "The Drowsy Chaperone." As he listens to the cast recording, the characters and music of "The Drowsy Chaperone" magically come to life in his living room.



The plot of "The Drowsy Chaperone" itself is a whirlwind of romantic entanglements, mistaken identities, and over-the-top drama. We meet a naive ingenue named Janet, a dashing (but perpetually shirtless) hero named Robert, a suspicious chaperone named Mrs. Tottendale, a hilariously flamboyant Latin lover named Adolphe, and a sassy and cynical showgirl named Kitty.



Through Man in Chair's witty narration and interjections, the audience is aware of the absurdity of the situations unfolding within the "show within a show." The musical pokes fun at classic musical tropes while celebrating their charm. The catchy score blends classic musical styles with unexpected influences like jazz and klezmer, adding to the playful and unpredictable atmosphere. Ultimately, The Drowsy Chaperone is a love letter to the golden age of musicals, delivered with a wink and a smile.


Get The Drowsy Chaperone Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

Rachel Bay Jones and Danny Burstein to Star in Indie Film RISE AND SHINE
by Josh Sharpe - May 21, 2024


According to new reports, Tony Winners Rachel Bay Jones and Danny Burstein will star alongside newcomer Ana Sharp in an independent film from Laura Somers called Rise and Shine. Based on a true story, the film follows Janice Steele and her daughter Terri who makes the transition from homeschool to public school. Janice, who was born with cerebral palsy and a developmental delay, inspires those around her in this new environment with her positivity.

Counting Up the Tony Awards Already Won by the 2023 Nominees!
by Team BWW - Jun 10, 2023


The 2023 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or seven!) - amongst them, they've gathered a total 79 awards!

PICTURES FROM HOME Box Office to Open Next Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 16, 2022


Celebrate the laughter and joy of the holidays with a special box office opening of Pictures From Home beginning Monday, December 19 at Studio 54 on Broadway, coinciding with the beginning of Hanukkah.     

Tickets Now On Sale for PICTURES FROM HOME Starring Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein and Zoë Wanamaker
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 10, 2022


Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway premiere of Pictures From Home. Three of the theatre’s most inventive, inspired and award-winning artists will return to the stage, bringing to vivid theatrical life a comic and dramatic portrait of a mother, a father and the son who photographed their lives.

Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein and Zoë Wanamaker Will Lead PICTURES FROM HOME on Broadway Next Year
by Stephi Wild - Oct 25, 2022


Pictures From Home is headed to Broadway in 2023 starring  Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein and Zoë Wanamaker and staged by award-winning director Bartlett Sher. Learn more about the play and how to purchase tickets here!

Danny Burstein Joins William Atticus Parker's Debut Film FORTY WINKS
by Michael Major - Aug 16, 2022


Tony winner Danny Burstein, Susan Sarandon, Justin Marcel McManus, John Turturro, Carmen Ejogo, Hart Bochner, Ben Shenkman, Leon Addison Brown, and Dan Finnerty all appear in a tale about a hypnotist blackmailed into becoming a hitman. Parker is an 18-Year Old Writer, Director, Actor, and Producer.

Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, and More to Lead SOME LIKE IT HOT on Broadway!
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 20, 2022


The classic comedy Some Like It Hot will begin performances on Broadway this fall! It was announced today that the new musical will begin performances on Tuesday, November 1 and officially open Sunday, December 11 at  the Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street).  Find out who's in the cast and on the creative team!

MOULIN ROUGE!'s Danny Burstein Wins 2020 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
by - Sep 26, 2021


Danny Burstein has won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for MOULIN ROUGE!.

Looking Back at MOULIN ROUGE!'s Danny Burstein and His Spectacular Spectacular Career
by Julie Musbach - Jul 25, 2019


Moulin Rouge is getting ready to officially can-can the night away on Broadway and as usual, we can't-can't get enough of star Danny Burstein. We're taking a dive into his career looking back at all the things he's brought to the Broadway stage!

THEATER: ALL THE MOVING PARTS to Feature Casey Nicholaw
by Julie Musbach - Jul 18, 2019


Tony-winning director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw is featured in this monthly episode of 'THEATER: All the Moving Parts', hosted by veteran journalist, Patrick Pacheco. Nicholaw has the remarkable distinction of having four shows running concurrently on Broadway: 'Book of Mormon,' 'Aladdin,' 'Mean Girls,' and "The Prom." Included among his many future projects is "Some Like It Hot."   

Exclusive Podcast: LITTLE KNOWN FACTS with Ilana Levine and Casey Nicholaw
by Little Known Facts w/ Ilana Levine - Jul 8, 2019


BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway actress Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her critically acclaimed show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny. Her twitter account @ilanalevine was named one of the ' 100 Twitter accounts to follow in 2018.

Counting Off the Tony Awards Already Won by the 2019 Nominees!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 8, 2019


The 2019 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or nine) - amongst them, they've gathered a total of 69 awards!

Tina Fey and More Among Lineup for MEAN GIRLS at BroadwayCon
by Julie Musbach - Dec 18, 2018


BroadwayCon has announced the award-winning Mean Girls cast and creative team has joined the BroadwayCon 2019 lineup.

TV: Stars Get Pinned! Go Inside the 10th Annual Broadway Salutes with Danny Burstein, Nicolette Robinson & More!
by Nicole Rosky - Nov 18, 2018


The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) presented the tenth annual Broadway Salutes ceremony earlier this week at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th St). BroadwayWorld was there, and we're taking you inside the big day below!

Photo Coverage: Inside the 10th Annual BROADWAY SALUTES, Hosted By Danny Burstein, With Performance by Nicolette Robinson
by Walter McBride - Nov 14, 2018


The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) presented the tenth annual Broadway Salutes ceremony on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th St).

Danny Burstein to Host BROADWAY SALUTES; Special Performance by Nicolette Robinson
by Julie Musbach - Oct 11, 2018


The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) announce that the tenth annual Broadway Salutes ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th St).

Photo Flash: Sutton Foster Headlines Westport Country Playhouse's 2018 Gala
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2018


Tony Award-winning Broadway and television star Sutton Foster headlined Westport Country Playhouse's 2018 Gala on Saturday evening, September 8, performing Broadway standards and contemporary tunes with a trio of musicians.

Sutton Foster To Headline Westport Country Playhouse's September Gala
by Julie Musbach - Jun 13, 2018


Tony Award-winning Broadway and television star Sutton Foster will headline Westport Country Playhouse's 2018 Gala on Saturday evening, September 8, performing Broadway standards with a trio of musicians. "Sutton effectively stops whatever Broadway show she's in with her amazing combination of talents in dance, song, and a wicked sense of humor," said Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. "She's a dazzling throwback to the great Broadway stars of yesteryear." 

VIDEO: 30 Days of Tony! Day 9- Casey Nicholaw Shows Off with THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
by A.A. Cristi - May 20, 2018


On Day 8 of 30 Days of Tony we celebrate the man behind Mean Girls, Casey Nicholaw, who is nominated this year for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography!

They're Already Winners... Counting Off the Tony Awards Already Won by the 2018 Nominees!
by Danielle Gutierrez - Jun 9, 2018


The 2018 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or nine) - amongst them, they've gathered a total of 88 awards!

Idina Menzel and Casey Nicholaw to Be Honored at 2018 Drama League Awards
by Julie Musbach - Mar 13, 2018


The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) will honor three powerhouses of the American theater community at the 84th Annual Drama League Awards, set for Friday afternoon, May 18, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, and Christopher Sieber Will Bring THE PROM to Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Jan 28, 2018


It was announced today that the hilarious new Broadway musical comedy THE PROM will star Tony Award Nominee Brooks Ashmanskas (Something Rotten!), Tony Award Winner Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone), two-time Tony Award Nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek the Musical), Caitlin Kinnunen (Bridges of Madison County), Isabelle McCalla (Aladdin), Michael Potts (Jitney), Angie Schworer (The Producers), Courtenay Collins (Broadway Debut) and Josh Lamon (Groundhog Day) and will officially open on Broadway on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at a Shubert theater to be announced.

Ken Ludwig's ROBIN HOOD! Extends Again at The Old Globe
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 8, 2017


The Old Globe today announced that due to popular demand, the exciting Globe-commissioned world premiere comedy Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood! has now extended again, through September 10! This is the second and final extension for the hit show, which previously announced a one-week addition through September 3. The production plays in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Single tickets start at $45 and are on sale now.

Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park and Kate Rockwell to Play 'The Plastics' in Broadway-Bound MEAN GIRLS Musical; Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Jul 27, 2017


Producers Lorne Michaels and Stuart Thompson have announced casting for the world premiere of the Broadway-bound new musical Mean Girls with a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the Paramount Pictures film; music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Daniel Reece, Michael Boatman, Kevin Cahoon, Meredith Garretson, Paul Whitty and More Line Up for Ken Ludwig's ROBIN HOOD! at The Old Globe
by BWW News Desk - Jul 22, 2017


The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team of an exciting Globe-commissioned world premiere comedy, Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood!

The Drowsy Chaperone History

Other Productions of The Drowsy Chaperone

1998   Toronto Reading
Toronto
1999   Toronto Toronto Fringe Festival Production
Toronto
1999   Toronto La Passe Muraille Production
Toronto
2001   Toronto Developmental Production
Toronto
2004   New York National Alliance for Musical Theatre Presentation
New York
2005   Los Angeles US Premiere
Los Angeles
2006   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
2007   West End London Production
West End
2007   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
2018   East Haddam, CT (Regional) Goodspeed Musicals Revival
East Haddam, CT (Regional)

The Drowsy Chaperone - 2006 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Bob Martin
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Don McKellar
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lyrics Lisa Lambert
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lyrics Greg Morrison
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Lisa Lambert
2006 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Greg Morrison

Videos