The Drowsy Chaperone: Janine LaManna, Jo Anne Worley and Mara Davi to join cast

The Drowsy Chaperone welcomes three new cast members this evening: John Glover, Janine LaManna and Janet Van De Graaff.

Janine LaManna will play Janet Van De Graaff and Jo Anne Worley will play Mrs. Tottendale and Jonn Glover assumes the role of The Man in Chair.

John Glover assumes the role of the 'Man in Chair' from original cast member Bob Martin, who left the show 11 Mar 2007 to head up the London cast of The Drowsy Chaperone, which is to play at London's Novello Theatre from 14 May 2007. During the interregnum created by Bob Martin's departure Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie performed the role.

LaManna assumes the role of Janet Van De Graaff from original cast member Sutton Foster who made her last performance on 15 Apr 2007. Foster has left the show to play Inga, Young Dr Frankenstein's female assisstant, in Mel Brook's new musical Young Frankenstein. Lamanna will play Janet Van De Graaff through to 29 Jul 2007, when she will be replaced by Mara Davi, who is currently making her Broadway debut playing the role of Maggie in A Chorus Line.

Jo Anne Worley assumes the role of Mrs. Tottendale from original cast member Georgia Engel. Engel played her final performance on 1 Apr 2007. Understudies Stacia Fernandez and Linda Gabler have alternated in the role during the interregnum.

Jonathan Glover was last seen on Broadway in Tartuffe (1996 revival). His many Broadway credits include Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) for which he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He currently plays Lionel Luthor in the TV series Smallville.

Janine LaManna was last seen on Broadway playing Nickie in Sweet Charity (2005 revival), her other Broadway credits are The Look of Love (2003), Seussical (2000), Swing! (1999), Kiss Me, Kate (1999 revival) and Ragtime (1998).

Jo Anne Worley was last seen on Broadway playing Miss Lynch in Grease (1994 revival), her other Broadway credits are Prince of Central Park (1989), Hello, Dolly! (1964) and The Billy Barnes People (1961). She is known to many for her many years on the Television show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in.

The current cast also features: Danny Burstein (Adolpho), Peter Bartlett (Underling), Troy Britton Johnson (Robert Martin), Eddie Korbich (George), Garth Kravits (Gangster 2), Jason Kravits (Gangster 1), Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone), Kecia Lewis-Evans (Trix), Jennifer Smith (Kitty) and Lenny Wolpe (Feldzieg).

The Drowsy Chaperone opened at the Marquis Theatre on the 1 May 2006, following previews from the 3 Apr 2006, where it is currently booking to 30 Serp 2007.

The musical opened to mixed notices. The New York times said "Small and ingratiating musical" and the New York Post called it a "little, horrifyingly pastiche musical. However, The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "The happiest surprise of the Broadway season� and The Associated Press called it "a disarming, delightful souffl� ." www.newyorktheatreguide.com reviewer, Polly Wittenberg wrote, when the play finished "I was delighted to be outside in fresh air."

You can read more of what the critics said here

The Drowsy Chaperone won five 2006 Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards and four Outer Critics Circle Awards.

To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair' (Bob Martin) drops the needle on his favorite LP � the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. From the crackle of his hi-fi, the musical magically bursts to life on stage, telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married, her producer who sets out to sabotage the nuptials, her chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters who double as pastry chefs.

The Drowsy Chaperone features music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. The production is directed and choregraphed by Casey Nicholaw.

Set design is by David Gallo, with costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Ken Billington and Brian Monahan and sound by Acme Sound Partners.