Return to: Blog
DROWSY is a SPARKLING DELIGHT!
July 01, 2025

LOST NATION THEATER’S STORIES THAT RESTORE US SEASON CONTINUES WITH THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
‘“DOES WHAT A MUSICAL IS SUPPOSED TO: LIFTS YOU UP WHEN YOU’RE FEELING BLUE!”
all photos on this page courtesy of John Snell.
Did you ever get a wedding gift that became a Broadway sensation?
You did if you’re Bob Martin!
Cuz that's how The Drowsy Chaperone – a musical inside a comedy - came to be!
YES! It’s true!
The Drowsy Chaperone began life as a wedding present between theater friends – and 7 years later the fully-developed show won 5 Tony’s, 7 Drama Desks, and countless other awards!
Now the award-winning smash is onstage at Lost Nation Theater:
Thursdays-Sundays, July 17- August 3.
The Drowsy Chaperone is director Eric Love’s favorite musical.
He’s back at LNT not just to direct, but also to star in the song & dance extravaganza – that brims with one show-stopping number after another.
Here’s how it works:
Present day lonely theatre fan, “the Man in the Chair” (Eric Love), plays his favorite cast album.
“Theater Magic” makes those characters come to life on stage!
Can you picture it? It’s 1928.
Broadway Star Janet Van de Graff is about to give up the stage to marry the dashing Robert Martin.
Add to the mix his bumbling best man, her desperate producer attempting to sabotage the wedding, gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a daft hostess, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone - and you’ve got the recipe for pure madcap delight.
The Drowsy Chaperone’s has Show Tunes, Tycoons, Mafia Goons, and Looney Tunes!
In addition to Eric Love, Lost Nation Theater brings you a cast & creative team that’s simply “The Bees Knees!”
Returning to LNT:
Taryn Noelle “shows off” as Triple -Threat Broadway Star Janet Van De Graff; 
Kathleen Keenan belts out the title role.
Mark S Roberts returns to be the comically villainous producer Feldzig;
Ann Harvey is hilarious host Mrs. Tottendale;
Jennifer Sassaman captures the ditzy wannabe chorus girl Kitty.
Sam Empey (Addams Family/Prom) is George - our bumbling best man;
Caira Adams is Trix, the aviatrix, who saves the day!
They are joined by a gang of 20 actor-dancer-singers from across Vermont and the country, including:
Joshua Lopez as the Latin Lothario,
Alex Rushton as the dashing bridegroom,
Paul Ashton & Noah Schutzius are the goofy gangsters,
Eric Zengota is the best British Butler, the long-suffering Underling.
Plus our maids, butlers, reporters, and -yes- Monkeys!
Michael Abramov, Caira Adams, Lila Crowley, Jessica Della Pepa Clayton, Lydia Frew, Aidan Klein, Julia Perez, Zoe Russell, Madeleine Sassaman
Jen Greenwood is music director, Ryan Hendricks choreographs, Jessica Della Pepa is costume designer; John Paul Devlin handles scenic design; Laura Gist helps to lead the properties design; and Andrew Vachon is in charge of sound. Katie Genzer (director of The Revolutionists earlier this season) returns as Associate Director; Lydia Frew is our dance captain, and Angie Calfa is production stage manager.
-
“I eat, sleep, & breathe musical theatre and this raucous musical comedy is one of my absolute favorites! The 4th wall is shattered immediately by the Man In Chair talking directly to the audience. The plot is stupid, but this musical couldn’t be smarter. It’s replete with show-stopping dances and side-splitting scenes! The intimacy of LNT’s space will bring you right up-close to the action, a rare treat for a big musical. I’m Excited!!”
- Eric Love, actor & director