Broadway Moves West
A seasoned Broadway director and choreographer leads The Drowsy Chaperone.
Honeymoon funds and household miscellanea make good wedding gifts, but nothing tops surprising your soon-to-be-married friends with an original musical. Even better: imagine your musical gift becomes a Broadway hit and eventually wins several Tony awards.
It isn鈥檛 the escapist fantasy of a musical theatre lover 鈥� it鈥檚 the true origin story of "The Drowsy Chaperone." Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison and Don McKellar wrote and presented performers Bob Martin and Janet van de Graaf with a 1920s-style musical parody as a wedding gift. The show went on to become a success.
Now, new faculty member Stephen Brotebeck directs this effervescent comedy filled with song and dance at the .
鈥淔or me, the musical is about escaping,鈥� Brotebeck said, noting that anyone can identify with the show鈥檚 lead character, the Man in the Chair (played by Jacob Brent, Master of Fine Arts in musical theatre candidate). 鈥淓veryone has a means of escape, and for the Man in the Chair, it鈥檚 musicals.鈥�
A musical in a comedy
The show takes place in a small New York City apartment where the Man in the Chair retreats into his record collection. With him, we become immersed in a 1920s musical comedy called 鈥淭he Drowsy Chaperone鈥� and characters begin to emerge from every nook and cranny of the apartment. Audience members can expect a lively staging with a few eye-popping surprises.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something for everybody in the show,鈥� Brotebeck said, taking care not to reveal too much. 鈥淭he design is stellar, the costumes are looking amazing, I think it鈥檚 going to blow people away.鈥�
A new face
"The Drowsy Chaperone" is Brotebeck鈥檚 色情视频 directorial debut, but his professional directing and choreography credits range from regional theatre to Broadway. He is most passionate about developing new work, which makes 色情视频鈥檚 MFA Musical Theatre program a natural fit for him.
鈥�Rob Meffe, the MFA program head, and myself are both committed to the early development of new musicals,鈥� Brotebeck said. 鈥淲ith '' last semester, and hopefully more projects this year, that鈥檚 my favorite thing about this program.鈥�
Aside from the beach and impeccable weather, Brotebeck appreciates San Diego for its local theatre.
鈥淚 love the vibrant theatre community here. I鈥檓 just starting to meet some of the other theatre directors in town, and I鈥檓 excited to meet more of them,鈥� he said.
More information
"The Drowsy Chaperone" opens March 4 and runs through March 13. Tickets can be .
