At the time of the spill, the actress was performing a number called "Accident Waiting to Happen." A spokesperson for The Ahmanson Theatre, which is producing the U.S. premiere of the musical comedy, confirmed the story — and the ironic song title.
"I kid you not," Nancy Hereford, press director of Center Theatre Group, told Playbill.com. "We got her immediately to an orthopedic specialist and she is now in a cast. She's a trooper and will continue with the show. Director Casey Nicholaw is working with her and though her role includes a lot of dancing and movement, Casey is pretty sure she'll still be able to do most of it. And, of course, that fabulous voice has not been disturbed one bit."
Previews for the show, about a rabid musical theatre fan who relates the story of his favorite 1920s musical — The Drowsy Chaperone — begin at the Ahmanson Nov. 10. The show, which Spamalot's Nicholaw is also choreographing, is Broadway-aimed.
Foster (Little Women, Thoroughly Modern Millie) plays the bride of the tale, in a cast (now literally in a cast!) that includes Bob Martin (as the narrator known as Man in Chair); Georgia Engel (as the actress who plays the show's dotty dowager); Danny Burstein (as the Latin lover), Linda Griffin, Edward Hibbert (as the butler), Troy Britton Johnson, Eddie Korbich (as the best man), brothers Garth Kravits and Jason Kravits (as actor-brothers who play gangsters), Beth Leavel (as the drowsy chaperone), Kecia Lewis-Evans (as the aviatrix), Angela Pupello, Jennifer Smith (as the ditzy chorine), Joey Sorge, Patrick Wetzel and Lenny Wolpe (the producer).
Performances continue to Dec. 24. *
The show within a show (within a show) has music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.
The musical begins with the introduction of a character named Man in Chair, who plays a rare recording of the 1920s-era show. As he tells backstage stories and the on-stage plot of the musical, the world comes alive around him. The daffy '20s show of the title (written by "Gable & Stein") centers on a grand wedding.
The scenic design is by David Gallo, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Ken Billington and Brian Monahan and sound design by Acme Sound Partners. Casting is by Bernard Telsey Casting and Amy Lieberman, C.S.A., hair design is by Josh Marquette, orchestrations by Larry Blank, dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly, music director/vocal arrangements by Phil Reno, technical supervision by Brian Lynch and Karen Moore is the production stage manager.
Opening night is Nov. 18.
The Drowsy Chaperone is billed as "a deliciously funny and affectionate love letter to the great musicals of the 1920s. A present-day musical theatre addict, the ultimate Everyfan, is eager to share his favorite Broadway musical, the fabled 1928 Gable and Stein musical The Drowsy Chaperone. As he places the rare cast recording on his hi-fi, The Drowsy Chaperone blooms to life on stage, telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to marry, her producer who sets out to sabotage the nuptials and the chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a couple of gangsters."
The Drowsy Chaperone was the sleeper hit of the 1999 Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival. After a sold-out run, a full production was presented at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre, where it was lauded by critics and cheered by audiences.
Tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone are on sale now, and are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.
