Known for his ability to play dark and menacing, including his voracious turn as the venal billionaire Lionel Luthor on TV's "Smallville," Glover will become salty, eccentric and slightly vulnerable in the Tony-winning musical comedy in April, when he takes over the narrator/guide role from Bob Martin.
The show's Tony-winning co-librettist Martin will leave the the Marquis Theatre and re-create his role in the West End production this spring.
Exact dates of Martin's exit and Glover's entrance in the five-time Tony-winning musical comedy will be announced shortly.
Although nothing official has been announced, Sutton Foster, who also stars in Drowsy, is expected to exit this spring when her contract expires.
A North American tour of the musical will launch in fall 2007. Glover returns to the New York stage, after receiving Drama Desk, Drama League and Lortel Award nominations for his critically acclaimed performance in Jon Robin Baitz's play The Paris Letter for the Roundabout Theatre Company. Glover won a 1995 Tony Award for the dual role of John and James Jeckyll in Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion!, and also re-created his roles in the film version.
Last season, Glover appeared in the world premiere of Terrence McNally's play Some Men at the Philadelphia Theatre Company and received a Barrymore Award nomination. He is a five-time Emmy Award nominee.
The London staging of The Drowsy Chaperone (which will also star Elaine Paige) begins previews on May 14 at the Novello Theatre.
Directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw (Spamalot), with music and lyrics by Tony Award winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Tony Award winners Bob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone began Broadway previews April 3, 2006, and opened on Broadway on May 1, 2006.
"To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair' drops the needle on his favorite cast album – the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone," according to the producers. "From the crackle of his hi-fi, the uproariously funny musical magically bursts to life on stage. We are instantly immersed in the hilarious tale of a glamorous bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally) and the audience (metaphorically) soaring into the heavens. Man in Chair's infectious love of The Drowsy Chaperone speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theatre."
The show is produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag and Jill Furman.
Visit www.drowsychaperone.com.
