By Andrew Gans
and Kenneth Jones
16 Feb 2007

Summer Strallen

Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming London production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which begins previews May 14 at the Novello Theatre with an official opening June 6. As previously reported, Elaine Paige and Bob Martin will head the cast as, respectively, Drowsy and Man in Chair.

Paige and Martin will be joined onstage by Summer Strallen as Janet van de Graaff and Nickolas Grace as Underling. Other newcomers to the cast include Selina Chilton (Kitty), Enyonam Gbesmete (Trix), Cameron Jack (Gangster), John Partridge (Robert Martin) and Adam Stafford (Gangster). The ensemble will feature Nina French, Mark Goldthorp, Paul Iveson and Sherrie Pennington; Christopher Bennett, Vivienne Carlyle, Mark Dickinson and Lincoln Stone are swings. Further casting will be announced shortly.

Casey Nicholaw, who directed and choreographed the Broadway production at the Marquis Theatre, will repeat those same duties in London. The original musical comedy has Tony-winning songs by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a Tony-winning book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. The show won five 2006 Tony Awards.

The Drowsy Chaperone set designs are by David Gallo, costume designs are by Gregg Barnes, lighting is by Ken Billington and Brian Monahan, with sound design by Acme Sound Partners, orchestrations by Larry Blank and dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly.

The Drowsy Chaperone is being produced in the West End by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar, Stephanie McClelland and Barbara Freitag and Jill Furman.

"To chase his blues away," reads Drowsy Chaperone press notes, "a die-hard musical theatre fan drops the needle on his favourite cast album– the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. From the crackle of his hi-fi, the outrageously funny musical bursts to life in his living room. What follows is the rip-roaring tale of a pampered starlet determined to give up show business to get married while her ruthless producer is intent on sabotaging the nuptials! Add to this a Latin lover, a debonair groom, an English butler, a pair of gangsters disguised as pastry chefs and a very tipsy chaperone and all manner of mix-ups and mayhem are set to ensue."

Summer Strallen is currently nominated for an Olivier Award for her work as Maisie in The Boyfriend. Her other theatrical credits include Dick Whittington, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Guys and Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cats, Fosse and Scrooge.

Nickolas Grace has been seen onstage in Dick Whittington, Full Circle, The Chalk Garden, The Guardsman, Life Support and A Swell Party.

For ticket information call 0870 950 0935.