playbill vip

A rare combination of originality and side-splitting hilarity, The Drowsy Chaperone boldly addresses a great unspoken desire in all of our hearts: to be entertained. If you’ve ever sat in a dark theater and thought, “Please, please theater gods, let it be good,” then this is the show for you.

This musical comedy is packed full of every gimmick, bit, cliché, and gag from musical theater’s golden age. Beginning with the “Man in the Chair,” every character is over-the-top, outrageous, and hilariously funny. I remember when I first saw this show; I fell in love with the production because I was laughing so hard and so much. When the lights came up, I was euphoric. When auditions for the first local production happened in 2008, I just had to be in the show (I played Mr. Feldzeig), even though it meant rehearsals after a full school day and every day rehearsals for Sequoia’s Fall musical production. Truth is, I still laugh every time I read the script & at every rehearsal. The music will have you humming and the dancing will have you tapping your toes.

The Drowsy Chaperone started out as a short spoof of 1920s musical styles, created for the bachelor party of Robert Martin and Janet Van De Graff. Yes, they are real people! Mr. Martin joined his bachelor party friends who had imagined the work, Don McKellar, Lisa Lambert, and Greg Morrison, as co-writer and originator of the “Man in the Chair” role. Nine years and many versions later, it arrived on Broadway in May 2006 and led all musicals in Tony nominations with thirteen, winning five.

On a personal note, this production marks a milestone for our production staff. Ten years ago, Britt, Lauren , Othello, PapaBear and I worked on “Once Upon a Mattress” together - our first joint venture for Sequoia High School Drama. We’ve collaborated on every musical since. It’s not often a team stays together like this, and I have the greatest respect and admiration for the talents and abilities of my collegues. I’d like to publicly thank each of them for all they’ve done ... and - if you get a chance – urge you congratulate them on the remarkable job they’ve done on this (and every) show.

Take Care,

Danny Broome