Since I've been following the progress of The Drowsy Chaperone, I thought it would be okay to mention the latest news on said show. Apparently there isn't an empty theater available for Drowsy. Real estate issues are not new to developing shows. Apparently Never Gonna Dance had trouble getting a theater on its desired timeline, and ended up taking a theater prematurely (the only time available) and having to forgoe its pre-Broadway run (which might have resulted in changes...), and with disastrous consequences for the show.

Fingers crossed for Drowsy!

According to this article in Playbill:

The Drowsy Chaperone, the new musical comedy that was greeted with laughter, applause and encouraging reviews in its U.S. debut in Los Angeles, ends it scheduled pre-Broadway run there Dec. 24.

What's next for the comic show about a maven of musicals who sits down in a chair and tells the audience the hilarious tale of his favorite 1920s musical?

Following the Nov. 10 to Dec. 24 run at the Ahmanson, during which director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw made some tweaks to the show, producers are working on plans to bring it Broadway -- but it's not clear how soon that can happen. All Broadway theatres (the ones appropriate for the show, anyway) are spoken for at the moment.

The show's commercial producers are Roy Miller, Kevin McCollum and Bob Boyett.

A daffy, spoofy comic musical would add unique zest to a 2005-06 Broadway season that has so far brought the new musicals Jersey Boys (a pop bio show that audiences are wild for), The Color Purple (the musical social tapestry drawn from Alice Walker's novel), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (the bio revue starring the Broadway legend). The season still promises Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Lestat (the Anne Rice vampire romance now in a tryout run in San Francisco), Ring of Fire (the new musical featuring songs of Johnny Cash), Tarzan (the Disney musical), and The Wedding Singer (the musical comedy based on the film of the same name). Translation: With its flappers, salty commentary about musical fans, backstage intrigue and broad jokes, there is nothing in the current season quite like The Drowsy Chaperone.

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