Cast announced for ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

Contributed report

EAST HADDAM — Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce the cast of the spirited musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. This high-speed spoof will run Sept. 21 through Nov. 25 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam.

In this hilarious valentine to show tunes and show people, a forgotten Jazz Age musical comes to life in the living room of a diehard theater fan. As he eagerly spins his favorite cast album, a fizzy vintage show suddenly appears, exploding with song, dance and pure entertainment. Our quirky narrator fills the plot holes, with laugh-out-loud results. Packed with showstopping numbers and larger-than-life characters, here’s a Tony Award-winning spoof that will have everyone falling in love with zany musical comedy.

“The Drowsy Chaperone: features a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.

This exuberant musical is made possible in part by support from Eversource Energy, Amica Insurance and Robinson+Cole.

Man in Chair will be played by John Scherer, who is no stranger to Goodspeed Musicals. Past Goodspeed favorites include “By Jeeves,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” and “George M!” His previous Broadway credits include “Lovemusik,” “By Jeeves” and “Sunset Boulevard.”

Ruth Gottschall will play the charming Mrs.Tottendale. Gottschall has numerous Broadway credits including “Mary Poppins,” “The Music Man,” “A Funny Thing…Forum,” “The Goodbye Girl” and “Cabaret.” Most recently, Gottschall performed as Maggie Jones in the Bucks County Playhouse production of “42nd Street.”

Jay Aubrey Jones will play the beloved butler Underling. Jones’ Broadway credits include “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Cats.” Jones returns to the Goodspeed stage where he previously performed in “Anything Goes” and “Gotham.” His TV and film credits include Fox’s “Gotham,” “The Michael J. Fox Show” and “Shortcut to Happiness.”

Clyde Alves is making his Goodspeed debut as the groom-to-be Robert Martin. His Broadway credits include “On the Town” (Ozzie), the recent revival of “Anything Goes,” “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” “Oklahoma,” “Bullets Over Broadway” and “The Music Man.” He received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer in 2000.

Tim Falter returns to Goodspeed Musicals to play the role of George. He performed in the National Tour of “Some Like It Hot” and has appeared in the showstopping off-Broadway show “Cagney.” Falter’s regional credits include Gary LeJeune in “Noises Off,” Bobby in “Crazy for You” and Phil Davis in “White Christmas.” His past Goodspeed hits include “42nd Street” and “Singing in the Rain.”

James Judy will play Feldzieg. Judy’s Broadway credits include “Jekyll and Hyde” and the Tony Award-winning “Into the Woods.” James appeared on the National Tour of Disney’s “Newsies.” His past Goodspeed credits include Joe Boyd in “Damn Yankees” and Mr. Shalford in “Half a Sixpence.”

Gangster 1 will be played by Blakely Slaybaugh in his Goodspeed debut. He appeared on the Broadway show “Cirque du Soleil Paramour.” Blakely has also been seen on the national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” and as Pinocchio in “Shrek the Musical.”

Joining Blakely will be his brother Parker Slaybaugh as Gangster 2. This is also Parker Slaybaugh’s first time performing with Goodspeed Musicals. Parker’s Broadway credits include “Holiday Inn” as Charlie Winslow. He performed in the National Tours of “Hello, Dolly!” as Barnaby Tucker and “Oliver!” as Charley Bates. Parker has worked in various magical shows at Walt Disney World.

John Rapson will play Aldolpho. Rapson performed in the Broadway production of “Les Misérables, and in the national tours of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” and “Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Tour.”

Making her Goodspeed debut, Ruth Pferdehirt will play Kitty. Pferdehirt appeared on the national rours of “Elf ” and “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.” Her regional theatre credits include Missy in “9 to 5,” Paulette in “Legally Blonde” and Ruth in “Godspell.”

Stephanie Rothenberg will play Janet Van de Graaff. Rothenberg’s Broadway credits include “War Paint,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” .Rothernberg has performed in the world premieres of “Roman Holiday” as Princess Anne, “Sense and Sensibility: The Musical” as Elinor and in “Frog Kiss” as Princess Clementine.

Broadway veteran Jennifer Allen will take on the role of The Drowsy Chaperone. Allen’s Broadway credits include “Bridges of Madison County,” “Sister Act,” “Memphis,” “Cats,” and “Guys and Dolls.” She has performed in the national tours of “Cabaret,” “Brigadoon” and Jerome Robbins’ “Broadway.” She returns to Goodspeed Musicals, where she previously performed the role of Mama in the 2007 production of “High Button Shoes.”

Trix, the Aviatrix will be played by Danielle Lee Greaves. Her Broadway credits include “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Hairspray,” “Rent,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Show Boat.” Greaves performed in the national tours of The Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess,” “The Lion King” (Cheetah) and “Rent” (Benny and Angel) tours.

The ensemble includes Abby Church, Bryan Thomas Hunt, Evan Mayer and Gabi Stapula. The swings will be Hallie Brevetti and James Spencer Dean.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” will be directed by Hunter Foster, who co-wrote Goodspeed Musicals “The Circus in Winter” and directed last season’s hit “A Connecticut Christmas Carol.”

The Drowsy Chaperone will run Sept. 21-Nov. 25. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2 p.m.), Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., with select performances at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available through the Box Office at 1-860-873-8668, open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter @goodspeedmusicl, Instagram and YouTube.