Just as the Minnesota Fringe Festival was closing this past weekend, a Fringe-related show was opening down in Bloomington. The Drowsy Chaperone, presented by Artistry, actually has a history as a fringe festival show. This musical began its life as a spoof written for a bachelor party. One wedding later, the groom joined forces with the original team to adapt the work for the 1999 Toronto Fringe Festival. The result was enough to warm any Fringe team’s hearts: the show’s box office magic and favorable reviews attracted a second, post-Fringe run, which lead to a professional production, which finally lead to a successful 2006 Broadway run.

The incarnation of The Drowsy Chaperone that made its way to Broadway, and which is being performed by Artistry, is a 4-person effort: Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison wrote the music and lyrics, while Bob Martin (the original bachelor) and Don McKellar wrote the final book. Here’s a peek at Artistry’s staging:

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The Drowsy Chaperone plays through September 11 at the Bloomington Center for the Arts’ Schneider Theater.

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Basil Considine

Basil Considine is the Editor of the Twin Cities Arts Reader. He served as Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic for the Arts Reader's first five years before succeeding Hanne Appelbaum. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego.

Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017. He was previously the Regional Governor for the National Opera Association's North Central Region.

Latest posts by Basil Considine (see all)

• PREVIEW: Minnesota Opera Returns…to the Baseball Stadium? - September 24, 2020
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• FEATURE: A Monument Falls in St. Paul - June 11, 2020