The Drowsy Chaperone

Character Breakdown

Man in Chair (M/X)

Playing Age: 35 - 60

The show’s narrator and its emotional anchor. An agoraphobic musical theater superfan who guides the audience through his vinyl recording of his favorite musical: The Drowsy Chaperone. He spends his days living in his own imagination and nostalgia, as he finds modern life dreary and depressing. He is constantly looking to escape to a simpler, better time. He is witty, sassy, and deeply lonely, scanning the audience constantly for their approval. He is flawed, but not unlikeable. This role requires an actor with good comedic timing, strong improvisational skills, and a willingness to work with the audience as his primary scene partner.

Vocal Range: Baritone

Dialect: General or contemporary Northeastern American, British RP, or Canadian. No working class dialects.

Janet Van De Graaff (F/X)

Playing Age: 20 - 35

Janet is a famous Broadway leading lady who is giving up the stage to marry the love of her life, Robert Martin. She’s torn between giving up her “life of glamour” for love and choosing the stage. She’s charming, cunning, extremely vain, and a knock-out triple threat. This role requires an actor who is an excellent dancer and singer with great comedic timing and tongue-in-cheek humor. 

Vocal Range: Mezzo-soprano, strong belter

Dialect: General American / Transatlantic 

Robert Martin (M/X)

Playing Age: 25 - 35

Robert is the earnest, slightly oblivious groom who is set to marry Janet, his greatest love, despite some pre-wedding jitters. He’s devoted, though not immune to seduction, and very much unaware of all of the scheming behind the scenes as he prepares for his wedding day. Maybe he’s just a bit of a himbo. This role requires an actor who is a good dancer and singer with a strong sense for physical / farcical comedy. You will be required to tap dance and ride around on roller skates for this role, though experience in tap and/or roller skates is not a requirement. Please, however, indicate on your audition form if you’re experienced in tap and/or roller skates.

Vocal Range: Baritenor

Dialect: General American / Transatlantic

The Drowsy Chaperone (F/X)

Playing Age: 30 - 45

Janet’s inebriated escort, ironically present to keep the bride in line before the wedding. She’s drunk most of the time and can steal every scene she’s in while barely being able to stand. Her role as a caretaker is mostly ironic: her comic bravado and presence usually complicate situations for all of the other characters. She exudes excess, and her character is reminiscent of the slowly fading stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, which makes her, of course, Man in Chair’s favorite character in the show. This role requires a strong singer and decent dancer with an ability to be grandiose and glamorous while also deeply endearing. 

Vocal Range: Mezzo-soprano (strong belter)

Dialect: General American / Transatlantic

Aldolpho (M/X)

Playing Age: 30 - 45

The self-infatuated Latin lover who is hired to seduce Janet in order to ruin the wedding. He’s inconceivably confident in his own abilities, though he’s also the victim of many a pratfall throughout the show. He is, above all, a parody of the “romantic hero” trope, and in his behavior and dialect there shouldn’t be a single thing that can trace him to a particular “Latin” culture. He is a walking stereotype. This role requires a strong singer with a great sense of physical / farcical comedy and strong voice and speech skills. 

Vocal Range: Baritenor

Dialect: Stereotypically “Latin,” however you may interpret that.

Mrs. Tottendale (F/X)

Playing Age: 70 - 85

The forgetful, constantly tipsy hostess of the mansion in which the wedding takes place. She floats through the plot of the musical in a merry mood but is completely oblivious to all the chaos happening around her. She has a relationship with her quietly suffering Butler Underling that is one of unspoken desires. She’s an archetype of old high society. She’s ditzy, though never without showing genuine love and warmth toward her guests. This role requires an actor with strong comedic instincts.

Vocal Range: Alto

Dialect: General American or British RP

Underling (M/X)

Playing Age: 45 - 65

Mrs. Tottendale’s overworked butler who tries to manage the absurdities happening under the roof of his boss’s mansion to no avail. He delivers many dry one-liners that cleverly cut through the melodrama of the scenes they’re in. He has a restrained desire for Mrs. Tottendale and serves as the “straight man” in many scenes with bizarre situations and characters. This role requires an actor with dry comedic timing and decent singing skills.

Vocal Range: Baritone

Dialect: General American or British RP

Feldzieg (M/X)

Playing Age: 40 - 65

The scheming Broadway producer who will stop at nothing to ruin Janet’s wedding so he can retain his biggest star and box office draw. While conjuring up a plan to get the wedding called off, Feldzieg also has to deal with Kitty, a dim actress aspiring to be Feldzieg’s new leading lady. The role is reminiscent of the classic “cigar-smoking-rough-talking-scheme-plotting-executive-in-suit” and should be played as such. The role requires a strong actor with decent dancing skills.

Vocal Range: Baritone

Dialect: New York (Queens or Long Island)

Kitty (F/X)

Playing Age: 20 - 30

A brassy chorus girl who is determined to become Feldzieg’s next leading lady. Her steadfast ambition is both endearing and absolutely played for laughs, as it sometimes manifests itself in over-the-top diva behavior. Despite her scheming to get Janet’s job, she’s ultimately just comedic relief instead of a villain who needs to be taken seriously. This role requires an actor with excellent comedic timing and very good vocal and dance skills.

Vocal Range: Soprano

Dialect: New York (Bronx or Brooklyn)

Gangsters 1 & 2 (M/X)

Playing Age: 25 - 40

Two mobsters who pose as pastry chefs in order to track how Feldzieg’s scheme is going and protect their financial investments in Janet’s stardom. They’re classic “tough guys” who threaten violence a lot, yet that violence never materializes. They’re often the subjects of broad physical and verbal comedy throughout the show and serve as archetypal depictions of “gangsters” on stage. These roles require two actors with a good sense of comedic timing and good dancing skills who will have to craft two performances that are almost identical and act in sync with one another throughout the show.

Vocal Range: 1 Tenor, 1 Baritone

Dialect: New York Italian

George (M/X)

Playing Age: 25 - 35

Robert’s best man and the person responsible for making the wedding go as smoothly as possible. He is loyal, decent, sometimes a bit clueless, and tasked with keeping Robert calm before the wedding. This role requires an actor with good comedic timing and strong singing and dancing abilities. You will be required to tap dance for this role, though experience in tap is not a requirement. Please, however, indicate on your audition form if you’re experienced in tap.

Vocal Range: Tenor 

Dialect: General American / Transatlantic

Trix the Aviatrix (F/X)

Playing Age: 25 - 35

The show’s deus-ex-machina device. Trix is a glamorous pilot who arrives by plane in the first and last scenes of the show and saves the day. She’s a confident heroine with a heart of gold who whisks the show’s characters away to a happy ending in Rio de Janeiro. This role requires an actor with very strong singing abilities.

Vocal Range: Mezzo-soprano, strong belter

Dialect: General American / Transatlantic

Ensemble (M/F/X)

Playing Age: 20+

The show will feature 4-8 ensemble members per cast who will be heavily featured throughout the show. They will be playing roles such as wedding guests, paparazzi, reporters, and featured dancers.