MTI is delighted to invite you to "stumble along" and "show off" with THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - now available for general licensing! Apply now for performances to take place no earlier than April 1, 2010.

A Tony winner for Bob Martin and Don McKellar's  book and Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison's score, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a madcap romp that features an energetic 1920s pastiche score and a book filled with hilarious one-liners and classic musical comedy gags.  It centers on "Man In Chair" who invites us to hear his beloved Original Cast Recording of that hit musical from the 1920's entitled "The Drowsy Chaperone." As the record "plays", the show springs to life and we find ourselves in the cock-eyed world of shipboard romance and intrigue as played by the debonair actors and fabulously glamorous actresses from the Original Cast. . . complete with ongoing commentary from our devoted "Man In Chair."

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE offers a sentimental, sweet, hilarious and sometimes surprising look at the impact that musical theatre can have on a person - and the pure, unbridled joy it can bring.

In fact, author Bob Martin - Mr. "Man in Chair" himself is brimming with enthusiasm in this video announcement (which also features a success story from Music Theater of Wichita's artistic director):



While a  purely ensemble show, there are plenty of opportunities for cast members to have their time in the spotlight.  Every principle character - and there are many - gets at least one featured number, while Man In Chair, who never leaves the stage, is a non-singing role.  There are only two real dance numbers; one's a tap number for two people, and the other involves the whole cast, but is very vaudevillian in nature.   Man In Chair doesn't need to be a dancer in any way; in fact, it might be better if he's not.  Consequently, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a good show for a high school with a comedic actor who otherwise wouldn't be fully comfortable in a musical, as well as a community theatre with strong musical comedy actors at its disposal.

The entire show takes place in Man In Chair's apartment, so that set can remain onstage. The actors portraying the show-within-a-show will need props, but feel free to let audiences use their imaginations.



Ron Gibbs, Managing Director of Stages St. Louis, calls THE DROWSY CHAPERONE “the sleeper of sleepers for us. Because it was an unknown title in the Midwest we expected modest business in a bad economy, but because it is truly ‘the musical for people who love musicals’, word of mouth created business like we have never seen – starting after the opening weekend! It broke all box office records!”

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE delighted Citadel Theatre audiences

Joshua Semchuk  of Citadel Theatre in Alberta, Canada, had similar success with THE DROWSY CHAPERONE:

“Citadel Theatre and Edmonton audiences loved THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. There were standing ovations every night and every comment was positive about the songs, the characters, the acting, and the music.”

To license THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, check out its MTI show page. View photos from the original Broadway production and discuss THE DROWSY CHAPERONE on its MTI ShowSpace page. Click here for an analytical look at how THE DROWSY CHAPERONE's inventive structure enhances the story.