How well do you know The Drowsy Chaperone? This quirky musical comedy, which premiered on Broadway in 2006, is packed with fascinating trivia, from its origins as a spoof to its celebrated Tony Award wins. Test your knowledge of the show's unique narrative style, its behind-the-scenes development, and the famous faces who brought it to life. Whether you're a casual fan or a musical theatre buff, there's always more to discover about this hilarious production.
International Productions
- The São Paulo production of The Drowsy Chaperone in 2013 was the first time the musical was translated into Portuguese.
- Geoffrey Rush, a prominent Australian actor, played the role of Man in Chair in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The Drowsy Chaperone in 2010.
- The Drowsy Chaperone premiered in Japan on January 5, 2009, marking its first translated production.
- The Drowsy Chaperone marked a return to the West End for Elaine Paige after a six-year absence when the show transferred to London.
Musical Composition
- The record that Man in Chair listens to skips at one point, humorously causing the last notes and dance steps of a song to repeat until the issue is manually corrected, blending real-life technology quirks with theatrical storytelling.
- The original Broadway cast recording of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' includes two bonus tracks not featured in the standard show, adding exclusive content for fans and listeners.
- During a pivotal moment in 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' the power goes out in Man in Chair's apartment, ironically right as the show's final chord is about to play, intensifying the dramatic tension of the scene.
- Trix, a pilot in 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' can perform marriages on board a plane and is capable of flying newlyweds directly to their honeymoons in Rio as detailed in the song 'I Do, I Do in the Sky.'
Notable Tours
- The Drowsy Chaperone was successful enough to have major productions in cities like London and Melbourne, and even toured across North America.
Production Facts
- Following its initial fringe show, Toronto producer David Mirvish financed an expanded production which led to further development and a larger theater showing.
- The musical's setting and characters hilariously parody the tropes and styles of 1920s American musical comedies.
- The Drowsy Chaperone's Broadway production featured unique talents like Sutton Foster as Janet and Georgia Engel as Mrs. Tottendale.
- One quirky element of the show occurs when Man in Chair has to switch records because he accidentally starts playing 'The Enchanted Nightingale' instead of the second act of The Drowsy Chaperone.
- The Broadway production had notable cast changes during its run, such as Bob Saget and John Glover taking over the role of 'Man in Chair'.
- Originally, the show had no 'Man in Chair' character; this role was added to serve as a narrator when the musical was redeveloped for the Toronto Fringe Festival.
- The show's structure plays with the concept of a 'show-within-a-show', as the audience experiences the entire musical through a record being played by the character known as Man in Chair.
- Man in Chair breaks the fourth wall by interacting with the audience, providing personal commentary and trivia about the musical he loves throughout the performance.
- At the end of 'The Drowsy Chaperone', cast members acknowledge Man in Chair for the first time, joining him in song during the reprise of 'As We Stumble Along'.
- The show opened on Broadway in 2006 and won five Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.
- The Drowsy Chaperone originated as a spoof of old musicals created for a stag party before being developed into a full musical.
