The Stage

Paige returns to West End for Drowsy Chaperone

Published Friday 19 January 2007 at 10:30 by Nuala Calvi

Elaine Paige is to return to the West End to take the title role in five times Tony Award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone.

The production opens at the Novello Theatre on June 5 with previews from May 14 and is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Paige, who received an OBE in 1995 for services to musical theatre, commented: “I saw The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway and loved it and now I’m very excited about returning to the West End in this wonderfully funny, original new musical.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of a terrific ensemble piece and I think we’re all going to have a lot of fun.”

The Drowsy Chaperone tells the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married.

Bob Martin, who wrote the book along with Don McKellar, appears in the production as the character ‘Man in Chair’.

It is produced by Broadway-based Kevin McCollum, whose London theatre credits include Avenue Q and Rent.

McCollum, said: “The Novello is a wonderful house for the production, and along with the entire producing and creative team, I am thrilled that Ms Paige has agreed to be our Drowsy Chaperone here in the West End.”