Martin and Paige to Star in London Drowsy Chaperone; Vinyl Version of Broadway Cast Album To Be Released

Bob Martin and Elaine Paige will star in the London production of the Tony Award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which will begin performances on May 14 at the Novello Theatre and will open officially on June 6. As on Broadway, the show will be directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. No other casting has yet been announced.

Martin, who co-wrote the musical’s book, will reprise the role of “Man in Chair”, for which he received a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award. Paige will play the show’s title character. Well known for her London performances in such musicals as Evita, Cats, and Chess, Paige also starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and on Broadway, and she played Mrs. Lovett in the New York City Opera production of Sweeney Todd.

The Drowsy Chaperone has a book by Martin and Don McKellar, and a score by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. The show’s Broadway designers — David Gallo (sets), Gregg Barnes (costumes), Ken Billington and Brian Monahan (lighting), and Acme Sound Partners (sound) — will repeat their duties for the London production, which will be produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitg, and Jill Furman.

In related Drowsy news, a 33rpm vinyl version of the original Broadway cast album will be released by Ghostlight Records on Wednesday, February 14. This will mark the first time in nearly 20 years that a Broadway cast recording will be issued as a vinyl LP. The limited-edition item is priced at $50, and a portion of the proceeds from sales of the album will benefit The Actors’ Fund of America.

The 13-track vinyl version of the cast recording contains added scene dialogue and is packaged as an album that features vintage cover artwork, Broadway production photos, printed lyrics, liner notes, and a bonus CD of the LP’s content. The album will be available for purchase exclusively at the Marriott Marquis Theatre, where The Drowsy Chaperone is playing. It can also be pre-ordered by visiting the website www.GhostlightRecords.com.