SHN Presents 'Drowsy Chaperone' 7/22-8/17

 SHN is pleased to announce that THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the five-time Tony Award-winning musical within a comedy, will play the Orpheum Theatre beginning Tuesday, July 22nd through Sunday, August 17th. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is presented as a part of the 2007-2008 Citibank Best of Broadway season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets go on sale Sunday, May 18th.

This effervescent show-within-a-show is a loving tribute to Broadway musicals and speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theater. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE tells the story of a modern day musical theater addict known simply as "Man in Chair". To chase his blues away he drops the needle on his favorite LP – the 1928 musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone. From the crackle of his hi-fi, the musical magically bursts to life on-stage telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married, her producer who sets out to sabotage the nuptials, her chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters who double as pastry chefs.

The recipient of thirteen major awards, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE received more Tony Awards® than any other musical of the 2006 season, including Best Book (Bob Martin and Don McKellar), Original Score (Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison), Costume Design (Gregg Barnes) and Scenic Design (David Gallo).

Casting for the North American tour will feature film and television star, Georgia Engel ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Everybody Loves Raymond") who reprises her Broadway role of Mrs. Tottendale for the tour. Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie, who is widely known for playing Gilbert Blythe in the popular "Anne of Green Gables" movies, plays the musical-loving Man in Chair.

Joining them are Cliff Bemis (Feldzieg), Andrea Chamberlain (Janet Van De Graaff), Robert Dorfman (Underling), Fran Jaye (Trix), Mark Ledbetter (Robert Martin), Marla Mindelle (Kitty), James Moye (Aldolpho), Nancy Opel (The Drowsy Chaperone), Paul Riopelle (Gangster #1), Peter Riopelle (Gangster #2), and Richard Vida (George). Rounding out the cast are Megan Nicole Arnoldy, Kevin Crewell, Tiffany Haas, Alicia Irving, Jody Madaras, Chuck Rea, Mason Roberts and Jennifer Swiderski.

The creative team for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE features scenic design by Tony Award® winner David Gallo, costume design by Tony Award® winner Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago) and Brian Monahan, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, orchestrations by Tony Award® nominee Larry Blank, dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly, and music director/vocal arrangements by Phil Reno.

To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to http://shnsf.com/podcast/index.asp and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.

Tickets for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE will range in price from $30 to $99 and beginning Sunday, May 18th tickets can be purchased online at shnsf.com, through Ticketmaster by calling (415) 512-7770 and at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers. On Monday May 19 tickets will also be available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th St., Mon-Sat 10am – 6pm). Groups of 20 or more may order now by calling Group Sales at (415) 551-2020. To learn more THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm

SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres—San Francisco's premier theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theater series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway. For information on all SHN shows, please visit shnsf.com.

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