A musical within a play, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musicalThe Drowsy Chaperone with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, directed by Eve Keller with music direction by Sarah Marie and choreography by Ashley Douglas, taps onto the Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s stage November 8 through December 7, 2025 to close out the 20th season of YES productions. Produced by Cori Goldberg, Karin Klein, and Kasi Peters, this witty, affectionate parody of 1920s musical comedies celebrates the joy of theater while poking fun at its clichés, and features a 21-member all-youth cast, ranging in ages from 14 to 18.
Regarded as “a musical within a comedy,” The Drowsy Chaperone begins when a modern day, die-hard musical theater fan known simply as “Man in Chair” plays his favorite cast album, the fictional 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone on his turntable. As the overture begins, the musical comes to life in his studio apartment, telling the frothy tale of a brazen Broadway starlet giving up her life on the stage to marry her true love, and her producer so desperate to keep his showgirl that he will go to great lengths to stop the nuptials. With an elaborate cast of over-the-top characters, including the dashing groom, his best man, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, the Latin lover, and a drunken chaperone, this musical boldly addresses the universal desire in everyone’s heart to be entertained.
The YES program at The Morgan-Wixson Theatre is welcoming several newcomers to the youth musical in this production and is excited to have many veteran performers on the stage, with actors from several neighborhoods surrounding Santa Monica. The cast features (in alphabetical order): Henry Anderson, Finnley Blaine, Jacob Carlin, Cat Casas, Maia Goldberg, London Hartmann, Joaquin Hosfeld, Cole Huang, Rahland Keller, Chase Klein, Molly Levitt, Lily Moss, Mia Negrete, Amelia Olson, Shai Painter, Felicity Peters, Catalina Ramirez, Harper Sawicki, Evan Simonowitz, Anna Stillman, and Aydin Washington. Rahland Keller, who plays Man in Chair, is in his senior year and this will be his last youth musical with the YES program after having acted in fifteen YES productions.
The Drowsy Chaperone performances take place November 8 through December 7 on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., with select Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. at The Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Tickets are adults $25, seniors and students $20, and children 12 & under $16, available at www.morgan-wixson.org or by calling (310) 828-7519. Easy, free parking is available a block west of the theater, at street meters, and in the local neighborhood but please read all parking signs carefully. There are lots of great restaurants within walking distance.
The Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s YES Program’s 21st season starts in January and continues with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Snow White and The Prince, and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.
Directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson with Fred Barton conducting the 18-piece ARTCO Orchestra, showstopping songs and dances will be performed during Broadway Showstoppers by stars of the stage and screen, featuring Michael Feinstein, Joely Fisher, Dermot Mulroney, and John Stamos, along with leading men and women from over 25 Broadway musicals including (in alphabetical order) Marsha Bagwell, Benai Boyd, Kay Cole, Misty Cotton, Carmen Cusack, Jason Graae, Tyler Hanes, Kerry O’Malley, Leo Manzari, Madison Claire Parks, Jenna Lea Rosen, James Snyder, Diane Vincent, Lauren Worsham – and 12 extraordinary dancers!
Broadway Showstoppers will also feature a special performance from ARTCO’s pre-professional training program for kids, The ARTCO All-Stars, an extraordinarily talented company of 24 of LA’s most gifted young performers.
Tickets start at $40 with a special gala package available for $149, which includes the Best Seats in the house and a champagne and dessert post-show reception with the cast. Tickets can be purchased at www.WMMTS.com or by calling the Saban box office at (888) 645-5006 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Saban Theatre is located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills 90211.
All Roads Theatre Company, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is LA’s newest Equity professional theatre company. Its mission is producing plays, musicals, concerts, and new works in venues of all sizes in the Los Angeles area and beyond. ARTCO is also dedicated to providing educational outreach, arts training, and theatre appreciation for students of all ages through classes, workshops, performance opportunities, and interactive experiences relating to the company’s productions.
Making its debut in February 2024 with a sold-out production of the Herry Herman/Michael Stewart musical Mack & Mabel starring Dermot Mulroney, Jenna Lea Rosen, and Caroline O’Connor, ARTCO then presented its first Broadway Showstoppers benefit and, earlier this year, One For My Baby, a world premiere musical starring Broadway’s Lana Gordon and Luba Mason that will soon be seen in concert in London’s West End.
Looking forward to 2026, ARTCO will be presenting the Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents cult musical Anyone Can Whistle at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood (April 24–May 3). International star Caroline O’Connor will head the cast.