Show guide
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving, comic homage to 1920s Broadway musicals, framed as a beloved old record played for the audience by an enthusiastic superfan. It is a musical about the joy of musicals themselves.
- Premiered
- 2006
- Composer
- Lambert & Morrison
- Genre
- Comedy
- Setting
- 1920s
The story of The Drowsy Chaperone
The show is presented as a fictional 1920s musical being listened to by a modern day narrator, whose apartment becomes the stage as the imagined production comes to life around him. Set within that vintage world, the story follows a glamorous bride to be, her fiance, and a colorful cast of theatrical archetypes on the eve of a wedding.
The frame device lets the show comment affectionately on the conventions and clichés of old school musical comedy even as it fully indulges in them. It is both a tribute to and a gentle spoof of the Jazz Age Broadway tradition.
The music and the makers
The score, credited to the songwriting team of Lambert and Morrison, is designed to sound like an authentic artifact of 1920s musical theatre, full of tap numbers, comic duets, and old fashioned romantic ballads. The songs are written to feel period accurate while still landing as genuinely funny and tuneful for a contemporary audience.
This is very much a comedy score, built for laughs and nostalgia in equal measure, celebrating the exuberant style of an earlier era of Broadway. Its success lies in how convincingly it recreates that vintage sound while poking gentle fun at its excesses.
The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway
The Drowsy Chaperone opened on Broadway in 2006, offering audiences a fresh, original take on the classic backstage musical comedy by wrapping it in a clever meta theatrical frame. Its wit and inventive structure made it a standout among original musicals of its decade.
Audiences have responded warmly to its combination of genuine affection for old Broadway and sharp comic sensibility, making it a favorite for those who love musical theatre history as much as musical theatre itself. It remains a charming reminder of why people fall in love with the art form in the first place.
Frequently asked
When did The Drowsy Chaperone open on Broadway?
It opened on Broadway in 2006.
Who composed The Drowsy Chaperone?
The score was written by the songwriting team of Lambert and Morrison.
What is The Drowsy Chaperone about?
It is framed as an old 1920s musical played for the audience by a devoted fan, whose apartment becomes the setting for the imagined show.
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