Players Theatre in Sarasota stages 'The Drowsy Chaperone'

"The Drowsy Chaperone" took an unconventional route to the Broadway stage. It started as a piece created for a stag party for a friend of some of the writers, then went to the Toronto Fringe Festival, then (in an expanded and less bawdy version) opened in a small theater in Toronto, then went a larger theater in that city -- and then finally made it to New York.

Once it got there, though, it made a splash, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score.

It's next up from the Players Theatre in Sarasota. Its three-week run starts Thursday.

The show is an affectionate send-up of 1920s musicals. It's often referred to as a parody, but the creators say they consider it more as an homage.

The story starts with a man playing a cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical, and then reminiscing about what happened on stage and backstage during the show. The show comes to life as he speaks, and leads to a tap number, a rousing inspirational anthem, comedy routines, bad jokes, pastiche tunes, hoary ethnic songs, and a deus ex machina (with a propeller) filling the stage throughout the exposition.

Details: Jan. 14-31, the Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 16, 19-22, 28-30; 2 p.m. Jan. 17, 24 and 31; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23. Tickets: $25-$30; $12 students under 24 with ID. Information: 941-365-2494, theplayers.org.

--Marty Clear

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Players Theatre in Sarasota stages 'The Drowsy Chaperone' ."