THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Opens at Peninsula Players Theatre 7/25

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, will produce the entertaining, Tony Award-winning "The Drowsy Chaperone" July 25 through August 12. This silly, yet smart, musical comedy, featuring music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, will delight audiences with its show-stopping song and dance numbers.

The score of "The Drowsy Chaperone," by Second City alumni Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, lovingly spoofs musicals of Broadway's Golden Age and is a loving tribute to the power theater and music have to lighten a person's mood. The main character, known as "Man in Chair," turns to his double-album recording of a long-beloved musical whenever he's feeling blue.

"This delightful little show takes the audience on a ride with two stories," said director and choreographer Matt Crowle. "We get to enjoy a record-come-to-life goofball, madcap send-up to the musical comedies of the 1920s, with all of the high-jinx, wordplay and weddings you can stand. But what's super special about this particular show is that the entirety of the musical is delivered and curated by our emcee for the evening, 'Man in Chair.' As we watch him delight in sharing this record with us, we gradually come to understand why this particular show is so important to him."

As the narrator, played by Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler, listens to the recording of his favorite musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone," his apartment transforms into a glittering champagne-and-caviar world overflowing with songs, romance, comedy and lively tap dance numbers.

"The Drowsy Chaperone's" story centers around glamorous showgirl Janet, the Broadway star of Feldzieg's Follies, who is on the verge of abandoning her career for her love, the dashing and debonair Robert. As their wedding draws near, Feldzieg tries to sabotage the nuptials to save the show - and his neck from two jovial gangsters disguised as pastry chefs. Meanwhile, Janet's martini-loving chaperone is tasked with keeping the bride and groom apart while surrounded by a harried best man, an overly ambitious chorus girl, a very misguided Don Juan, a brash aviatrix, an absent-minded dowager and her unflappable butler.

"The Drowsy Chaperone" is the winner of five Tony Awards (including Best Book and Best Original Score) and seven Drama Desk Awards. Vinkler has assembled a multi-talented cast of singers, dancers, comedians and award-winning actors from around the country. Many members of the cast and design team have been nominated or received Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award for their theatrical stage work.

This delightful and sparkling musical-comedy started life as a one-time performance/wedding gift to actors Bob Martin and Janet Van De Graaff. Martin joined the other creators to revive the show for the Toronto Fringe Festival and created the role of "Man in Chair." New York producers became interested in the musical comedy and mounted a production in Los Angeles, which led to its Broadway opening on May 1, 2006. Matt Crowle ("Peter and the Starcatcher") returns to Peninsula Players to choreograph and direct the cast of 16, alongside Music Director Valerie Maze ("Bridges of Madison County," "The Full Monty.")

Crowle spent the winter performing as Rooster in Skylight Music Theatre's production of "Annie" while Maze served her first year as Music Director and Conductor for Elon's Music Theatre program in North Carolina. Her credits also include many seasons with Lyric Opera of Chicago and productions with Portland Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Harrisburg Opera Association, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre and California Opera.

"Matt is an incredible dancer, choreographer and comedic performer, and I am very excited to see him work his magic on this funny, entertaining musical," Vinkler said. "He has a very talented cast of singers and dancers to collaborate with, all of whom have extensive experience and a lot of exuberant energy to bring to Door County audiences."