Drowsy Chaperone Tour- now with intermission?

[beach2732]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:00pm

I saw the Drowsy Chaperone tour yesterday for the third time and it had one noticeable difference- an intermission. A friend of mine saw it a week earlier (in a different tour stop) and it was still a one act show. I'm just curious if anyone knows why the show was changed. Thanks.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:03pm

Some non-equity tour houses ask for an intermission so they can sell concessions. No joke.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:06pm

I saw it a year ago & it was 2 acts.

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:16pm

DRS is right. They make a lot of money that way. The same thing happened with the Spelling Bee tour.

[beach2732]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:34pm

Thanks! That actually makes a lot of sense!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:06pm

So does the "intermission" in the show now happen after the real intermission?

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:24pm

I don't like the idea of this having an intermission. He's listening to a cast album and talks through the intermission. It makes no sense to have an intermission and then have Man in Chair have an intermission of his own.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:30pm

I saw the Equity tour and I longed for an intermission. The show, as wonderful as it is, feels a tad too long without one.

I saw Spelling Bee in off-Broadway previews with an intermission and preferred it that way. Jose Llana went around the lobby and actually sold concessions. It was hysterical.

[sondhead]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:55pm

While 25th not having an intermission didn't bother me (purely because I enjoy watching that show so much) I find it funny that there are two Finn shows that he practically WROTE an intermission into but presented them intermissionless.

25th... between Prayer of the Comfort Couselor and Chip's Lament

A New Brain... Between "Change" and "Yes" (this one is particularly bizarre to me.. there couldn't be a more natural spot for an intermission, right down to the act one closing song... and they don't have one?)

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 9:02pm

The MTI Putnam script indicates an optional intermission between Comfort Counselor and Chip's Lament.

The real oddity is the cut song, "Why We Like Spelling." Intended as an Act 1 finale, apparently, it used to close before the intermission. Now, its musical introduction appears in the licensed show- as a brief faux-entr'acte, playing Chip onto the stage with his concessions box.

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 10:58pm

"Why We like spelling" at least according to a friend who MD'd on the tour was never actually part of the show. It was written as a promotional song.

Now I could have SWORN it was in the show when I saw it in Chicago. My friend told me that wasn't possible.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:00pm

Will someone please answer the question about WHEN the intermission comes in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE?

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 8:38am

I didn't realize this show was still touring (or touring again). Does anyone know if the end of March the definitive end of the tour? I live on the East Coast and would love to catch the show again if it comes back!

[beach2732]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 11:02am

The curtain (as usual) came down after Toledo Surprise. Man in Chair said something like: "And now it's time for intermission. I'm going to go pee, and you should too!" Then he left the stage, and there was a 15 minute intermission. When he came back out for act two, he gave his speech that usually happens during the "intermission" (including the "I hate intermissions" part), and then, realizing he had to pee again, put on the record for us to listen to while he left.
Updated On: 2/15/10 at 11:02 AM

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 11:39am

Was confused after seeing it. I'd checked it out on Wikipedia before seeing the tour stop in Nashville last week. Wik lists it as a 1-act show, so I was perplexed when the intermission arrived.

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/15/10 at 2:06pm

Why We Like Spelling's official conductor's score indicates it as song number 10 or 11, making it seem as though it were indeed part of the show at some point.

[RemlapLBC]

Posted: 2/16/10 at 12:19am

When it played pre-Broadway at the Ahamanson in Los Angeles, it had an intermission, so it wouldn't be too hard to add it it back.

Generally shows without an intermission scare me as it seems they are cut because too many people were leaving and not coming back for the second half.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/16/10 at 2:17am

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE was perfect without an intermission...because when you're SUPPOSED to be having an intermission, Man in Chair comes out and TALKS about how intermissions interrupt the flow of a show and distract you. Of course, HE'S doing that very thing, and it's hilarious.

Anyway, whatever. I could watch that show performed backwards and I'd love it.

Thanks for the info, beach!

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 2/16/10 at 3:48pm

Yes, the tour ends in March, in Reno, NV

[Geridith]

Posted: 2/16/10 at 7:10pm

The pre-Broadway run didn't have an intermission. I worked on the show, still have my script and score.

[SuddenlyTrey]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:36pm

The Venue in Nashville requested an intermission. It was only added for this one stop.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:55pm

It's true, they make a fortune during intermission.

Other shows have added them regionally. A Chorus Line and 1776, just to name two.