London Fringe Premieres THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, 9/23

Ovation in association with Alex Segal will present The London Fringe Premiere of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE by Lisa Lambert, Don McKellar, Bob Martin and Greg Morrison.  The Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical will also be presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.  Performances are scheduled to run 23 September 2010 - 31 October 2010.

Siobhan McCarthy, best known for her leading roles in Evita (West End, Original Cast), Mamma Mia (Original Cast & Olivier Award nomination), Chess (West End, Original Cast), Les Miserables (West End), On Your Toes (West End), Jesus Christ Superstar (West End), Medea (West End & Broadway), series regular Roisin Connor in Bad Girls (ITV) and most recently as Velma in
Hairspray (West End), stars as the alcohol-fuelled Drowsy Chaperone.

Joining her sees star of stage & screen of the past 30 years Michael Howe (Footloose, Chess, Grease & Billy Lawlor in the Original London cast of 42nd Street - all West End) as latin lothario Aldolpho; Ashley Day (Troy Bolton in the hit UK Tour of High School Musical, Evita & Mary Poppins - both West End, On The Town - ENO) as the debonair groom Robert; Amy Diamond (finalist in BBC's Over The Rainbow search for a Dorothy) as the starlet- turned-bride Janet & Matthew Lloyd Davies (Chicago & The Lion King - both West End) as the eccentric Man In Chair who is responsible for taking us on the journey into the world of his favourite musical.

Also in the cast of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE sees Gavin Keenan (Chicago, Beauty and The Beast, Cats - all West End) as George, Graham Lappin (Jesus Christ Superstar, Buddy - both UK Tour) as Mr. Feldzeig, Ursula Mohan (Joyce in On The Buses, Anne in London's Burning & hit UK
Tour of Dad's Army Marches On) as Mrs. Tottendale, Jo Parsons (Recent GSA Graduate) & Giovanni Spano (Mamma Mia, Footloose - both West End) as the Gangsters, John Rawnsley (Cats - West End, Dr. Dootlittle - Apollo Hammersmith/UK Tour) as Underling & Tanya Robb (We Will Rock
You, Tonight's The Night, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins - all West End, Starlight Express - UK Tour) as Kitty.

The most celebrated musical of the 2006 Broadway season, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, a completely original musical comedy, is swooping into Highgate with sequin-drenched costumes, dazzling choreography and tons of laughs.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is the tale of a modern day musical theatre anorak, known simply as "Man in Chair". To chase his blues away he drops the needle on his favourite LP - the 1928 musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone. From the first crackle, the musical magically bursts to life on-
stage telling the tale of the pampered Broadway starlet Janet who wants to give up showbiz to get hitched and her producer's attempts to sabotage her impending nuptials. Hilarious antics ensue with her chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorus girl, the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters masquerading as pastry chefs.

Seen in the West End in 2007, Ovation and Alex Segal are proud to bring this award-winning musical back to the stage and introduce it to the fringe.

Directed by: Racky Plews
Choreography by: Fabian Aloise
Musical Supervisor: Michael England Musical Director: Tim Whiting
Design by: Martin Thomas
Lighting Design: Howard Hudson
Casting by: Ellie Collyer-Bristow

Awards for The Drowsy Chaperone:
2006 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding
Lyrics, Outstanding Music & Outstanding Musical
2006 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical & Best Original Score

Performances will take place Upstairs at the Gatehouse, located at the Junction of Hampstead Lane & North Road, Highgate Village, London, N6 4BD. The musical will play Tuesdays - Saturdays at 7.45pm and Sundays at 4pm.

For more information call 020 8340 3488 or visit http://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/.

Ticket prices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays are £12 (Concs £10). Fridays & Saturdays are £16 (Concs £14).

The show runs approximately 115 minutes including interval.