Audiences perk up for Tony Award-winning show

The most celebrated musical of the 2006 Broadway season, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a completely original musical comedy, will entertain Atlanta audiences during a special engagement beginning Tuesday and running through Sunday at The Fabulous Fox Theatre.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” tells the story of a modern day musical theater 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 on-stage 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. Man in Chair’s love of “The Drowsy Chaperone” speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theater.

The recipient of 13 major awards, “The Drowsy Chaperone” received more Tony Awards than any other musical of the 2006 season, including Best Book (Bob Martin and Don McKellar), Original Score (Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison), Costume Design (Gregg Barnes) and Scenic Design (David Gallo). The show is directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw (“Spamalot”) with music and lyrics by Tony Award winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Tony Award winners Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

The national tour launched in September 2007 with a return to Toronto, where it was the sleeper hit of the 1999 Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival before transferring to a hit commercial run at Toronto’s Winter Garden Theatre. The show comes to Atlanta as part of the blockbuster 2007–2008 season presented by Fidelity Investments Broadway Across America – Atlanta.

Georgia Engel (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Everybody Loves Raymond”) will reprise her role of Mrs. Tottendale for the tour. Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie, widely known for playing Gilbert Blythe in the popular “Anne of Green Gables” mini-series, will play the role of Man in Chair. Joining them are 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), Nancy Opel (The Drowsy Chaperone), Paul Riopelle (Gangster #1), Peter Riopelle (Gangster #2), and Richard Vida (George). Rounding out the cast are Kevin Crewell, Taylor Farrell, Tiffany Haas, Alicia Irving, James Patterson, Chuck Rea, Mason Roberts and Jennifer Swiderski.

The creative team for “The Drowsy Chaperone” features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Gallo, costume design by Tony Award winner Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington (Chicago) and Brian Monahan, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Larry Blank, dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly and music director/vocal arrangements by Phil Reno.

The show is produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag and Jill Furman.

Tickets for the show are on sale now and can be purchased for $21-57 through authorized ticket sellers at The Fox Theatre box office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 404-817-8700. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.

Performances are scheduled to take place Jan. 22-25 at 8 p.m., Jan. 26 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Jan. 27 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Visit www.drowsychaperone.com for more information on the show.

The Atlanta engagement of The Drowsy Chaperone is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America-Atlanta. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

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