Box office success and favourable notices led Mirvish in 2001 to finance further development and produce a full-scale version at Toronto's 1000-seat Winter Garden Theatre. įollowing the Fringe staging, Toronto commercial theatre producer David Mirvish financed an expanded production at Toronto's 160-seat, independent Theatre Passe Muraille in 1999. When the show was reshaped for the Toronto Fringe Festival, Martin became a co-writer, creating Man in Chair to serve as a narrator/commentator for the piece. In its first incarnation, there was no Man in Chair, the musical styles ranged from the 1920s to the 1940s, and the jokes were more risqué. The Drowsy Chaperone started in 1997, when Don McKellar, Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison and several friends created a spoof of old musicals for the stag party of Bob Martin and Janet van de Graaf. 6.4 Subsequent North American productions.Vocal Range: Ab3 – Eb5Īge Range: 20-35: Men and women who play a variety of roles including servants, reporters, and wedding guests. She is sassy, sleek and a take charge kind of gal. A big and brassy jazz style voice. He is stoic, dry-humored and sarcastic. Vocal Range: Ab2 – G4Īge Range: 25-40: The brave and brash female aviator. Tottendale’s unflappable butler and manservant. Vocal Range: G3 – Db5Īge Range: 40-60: Mrs. She is absolutely charming, bubbly and oblivious to the confusion her behavior generates in other people. Strong comedic skills and must sing and dance well (soft shoe). She is flighty, eccentric, often times forgetful, and funny. Vocal Range: Db3 – Gb4Īge Range: 40-60: A wealthy widow who is serving as hostess to the wedding on her estate. Vocal Range: Bb3 – F5Īge Range: 25-45: Posing as pastry chefs, intending to collect from Feldzieg, must be strong vaudeville type comedians who dance well. Vocal range: Db3 – Db4Īge Range: 20-35: Feldzieg’s dim-witted girlfriend who wants to be a star. Vocal Range: F3 – Bb4Īge Range: 35-50: Old Hollywood producer type (Ziegfeld-esque), loud and aggressive. A#2 – G4Īge Range: 25-35: Robert’s anxious best man, a typical period sidekick type. Vaudeville-style acting and fake Spanish/Italian accent required. He is confident, vigorous, and a buffoon. Vocal Range: C3 – Ab4Īge Range: 30-40: A womanizing cad who is very impressed with himself. A leading man type with strong singing and excellent dancing skills, including strong tap and also must roller skate (blindfolded). Vocal Range: G3 – EbĪge Range: 25-35: The dashing, ever-cheerful groom. Dance and special skills (acrobatics, juggling, etc.) a plus. She loves being the center of attention and is the consummate 1920s starlet.

Attractive, vivacious, outgoing personality. Vocal Range: F3 – D5Īge Range: 25-35: Star of Feldzieg’s Follies who is conflicted about giving up her life on the stage to marry Robert Martin. She serves as the comic foil to Adolpho and is the epitome melodramatic diva.

She must have terrific comic timing and a huge belty voice. He is onstage for the entire show.Īge Range: 35-50: Janet’s alcoholic companion and friend. Above all, this role requires a strong actor who can sing a little and dance some. His recording of “The Drowsy Chaperone” brings the show to life as he narrates. The ages represent the characters age, not necessarily the age you need to be!) :)Īll the characters are very 'vaudeville' and are over-the-top 20's style actors (except for the Man In Chair).Īge Range: 35-55: Musical theatre aficionado who mourns the end of the Golden Era.

Drowsy chaperone characters