DEKALB, ILL, July 20, 2022 – If given the opportunity, how would you introduce to the world your favorite musical of all time? In Stage Coach Players’ (SCP) August production of the musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, one man reminisces while playing the original cast album of his favorite show from the 1920’s. Magically, the show comes to life while the man watches as his favorite show plays out if front of him. The Drowsy Chaperone, sponsored by Paw Lickin’ Good, opens August 18, 2022 and runs for two weekends.
A musical within a musical, The Drowsy Chaperone is directed by Steven Meerdink with musical direction by Sandra Josef. With book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, it is a hilarious send-off of American musical comedies of the 1920’s. It has been called the first great musicals of the 21st century.
The Drowsy Chaperone starts with the character, the Man in the Chair, seeking to cure his melancholy. To do this, he puts on the album to the recording of the fictional 1928 musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. Soon his dark and drab apartment is transformed into vibrant Broadway sets with bright lights and colorful characters dressed in extravagant costumes.
As the Man In the Chair makes wry comments about the musical, we descend into the musical comedy. It is the wedding day of tycoon Robert Martin and Broadway star Janet Van De Graaff, who is giving up her career in Feldzieg’s Follies. Something her producer is desperately trying to change her mind on. Add a couple gangsters, Janet’s alcoholic chaperone, Latin lover Adolpho and an aviatrix named Trix and the laughs come at a frantic pace.
The Drowsy Chaperone began its life as a spoof of the 1920’s musicals by the authors and several of their friends for a party. It was reshaped, found a backer and financed for the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. It eventually opened on Broadway in 2006 and subsequently was nominated for 13 Tony Awards winning in five categories including Best Original Score and Best Costume Design.
The Drowsy Chaperone is long on energy, show-stopping songs, and spectacular dance numbers. And laughs. Lots of laughs. Songs in the production include, “Fancy Dress,” “As We Stumble Along,” “Toledo Surprise,” and, “I Do, I Do in the Sky.” The original cast recording can be found on Spotify or individual songs are on YouTube.
Performances for The Drowsy Chaperone are August 18 – 20, 2022 and August 25 – 27, 2022, with a curtain time of 7:30 p.m. along with Sunday matinees on August 21 and August 28, 2022, with a curtain time of 2:00. Tickets are $20 each or $18 for seniors and children aged 13 and under. Tickets are currently on sale through the box office phone at 815-758-1940. To purchase tickets, visit our online website at www.stagecoachplayers.com. You can also call the SCP box office at 815-758-1940. The box office will open Sunday, August 4, 2022.
Thank you for being understanding as SCP navigates COVID-19 guidelines. For this production, masks are suggested but not required. If the state of Illinois guidelines change, our guidelines will change also. Thank you for helping us keep our patrons, cast and crew safe.
