L Morgan Lee to direct THE DROWSY CHAPERONE concert for Carnegie Hall. Cox, Newell, Van Ness and more to star.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 1:29pm

Monday 10/20 at 8pm.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Laverne-Cox-Jonathan-Van-Ness-and-More-to-Star-in-THE-DROWSY-CHAPERONE-Concert-20250714

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 1:31pm

Omg I love this. 

[EvanHansen]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 1:59pm

This is so fun. About time this musical came back to New York too!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 2:59pm

This casting doesn't really make sense to me but for a one night only concert benefit it'll probably be fine.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 3:45pm

Amazing causes and all, but this lineup is comedy nightmare for this show and these parts. Drowsy deserves better. 

[Observation]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 3:47pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Amazing causes and all, but thislineup is comedy nightmare for this show and these parts. Drowsy deserves better."

 

Agreed... I'm intrigued(?) to hear Laverne's "As We Stumble Along." 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 3:49pm

Not necessarily a good cast for a full production, but for a concert, I think this is a lot of fun. 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 12:12am

Wut?

This was cast by picking names out of a phonebook randomly.

None of these folks can play comedy well....  And certainly not as well as the originals.

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 2:30am

Yeah, I think I will opt to simply recall the joy of the original production.  Such perfect casting and such great comedic timing from all the major players.

[A Stranger Here Myself]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 3:27am

When I read that “Cox” was going to be in THE DROWSY CHAPERONR, I got excited thinking it would be Veanne Cox playing the titular character (ha). It wasn’t until later I realized it was an all trans production. I think the intention behind it is awesome and it’s for a good cause, but even for a concert, it feels ridiculously miscast.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 4:32am

A Stranger Here Myself said: "When I read that “Cox” was going to be in THE DROWSY CHAPERONR, I got excited thinking it would be Veanne Cox playing the titular character (ha). It wasn’t until later I realized it was an all trans production. I think the intention behind it is awesome and it’s for a good cause, but even for a concert, it feels ridiculously miscast."

Ehhh, careful with the sweeping generalizations. It's for a good cause, absolutely -- but don't assume it's "all trans". Alex Newell and Jonathan Van Ness might like a word. And Betty Who, too. 

Updated On: 7/16/25 at 04:32 AM

[trentsketch]

Posted: 7/16/25 at 7:51am

The press release on Playbill says it's an all trans and non-binary cast. Newell is non-binary and Betty Who uses she/her pronouns but identifies as outside of the gender binary. Forgot Jonathan Van Ness. They use he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns. https://playbill.com/article/l-morgan-lee-will-direct-laverne-cox-alex-newell-peppermint-more-in-the-drowsy-chaperone-at-carnegie-hall

I think it's a cool idea for a one night concert and I'm curious to see how this group of actors plays the roles. I think other than Peppermint as Tottendale, I don't readily see these actors in these roles and that's exciting. Why Peppermint? Because I think she can pull off ditzy, confused, and just joyful. Betty Who as Robert Martin is a wildcard, for sure, and I'm intrigued. 

Updated On: 7/16/25 at 07:51 AM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 1:50pm

Updated On: 10/18/25 at 01:50 PM

[kurtal]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 5:34pm

It's on TDF.  Snagged myself a ticket.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 6:48pm

Anyone else going tonight? I got the TDF ticket and they put me in the $270 parquet seat for $42. I feel like I hit the lottery

[THDavis]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 11:17pm

quizking101 said: "Anyone else going tonight? I got the TDF ticket and they put me in the $270 parquet seat for $42. I feel like I hit the lottery"

Please report back!

[Observation]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 11:29pm

THDavis said: "quizking101 said: "Anyone else going tonight? I got the TDF ticket and they put me in the $270 parquet seat for $42. I feel like I hit the lottery"

Please report back!"

I know! I'm on pins and needles. I saw the bows on social media. I assume It's a matter of time before they start circulating.  

Looking forward to hearing Laverne's "As We Stumble Along." I know she can sing, but I'm interested to see what she did with it. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 11:46pm

I will post more when I get home because there is a lot to say. But one nugget I will drop is that they had a very special guest star as the electrician who fixes the power…BETH LEAVEL.

After her scene with Jonathan, she handed what looked like a small piece of jewelry to Laverne, gave her a hug, and bowed to her. The audience went NUTS. It was like Beyoncé bringing out Destiny’s Child, but for theater geeks

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 11:52pm

Looks like they only had a 10-piece orchestra, which is a little surprising for a concert production in a massive venue like Carnegie Hall (the original had 15).

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 6:31am

Okay, here are more thoughts: (Edited for pronoun correction)

I’m not overly familiar with the show but I knew the basic premise. 

- The sound mixing was terrible during the beginning as Van Ness was setting up the premise of the show and introducing the characters/actors. It was sometimes hard to hear the performers over the orchestra and it took about 1-2 songs for the mix to find its balance. The audience going wild, while thrilling, did make it even harder.

- Although very little about their presence screams conflicted ingenue, Alex Newell showed up and reliably belted their ta-tas off including a very epic “Show Off”.

- Betty Who was excellent as the put-upon fiancé, and was quite fun during “Cold Feets”, bringing a fun jazzy quality that served her well in Hadestown.

- Laverne, I thought, was great as the title character. Her two big shining moments were “…Stumble” and “Aldopho’s Song”. During Stumble, what she didn’t have in terms of high notes, she made up for with a slightly sleazy energy similar to their Frank from that TV version of RHPS.

- CHRIS. RENFRO. Chris Renfro. Chris Renfro. By and large the breakout star of the evening as Aldopho. He came in guns blazing and ready to be both Latin lover and bumbling fool. Having only seen him in Oh, Mary, that man has a set of PIPES. Seriously, any production of this show needs to immediately start ringing his phone to get him on board. His chemistry with Laverne during his own song. 

- Dylan Mulvaney was an absolute hoot as Kitty. It reminded me so much of an Ellen Greene-kewpie doll type who could explode at any second and I was LIVING. I kinda need her as Audrey in LSOH as soon as possible 

- Peppermint was good as Tottendale, especially during the spit takes but got lost a few times and hit some sour notes (partly to blame on the sound mix)

Overall, it was a pretty solid and well done and I’m proud of L Morgan for throwing a hoot of a night together in 5 days.

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 06:31 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 8:47am

The sound mix is almost always bad for those one nighters at Carnegie Hall. I remember complaints galore out of Follies, Dolly, and Anyone Can Whistle from those sitting upstairs. The hall itself isn’t made for musical theatre or amplified sound, and sound mixers have to know a show about as well as a castmember.

Usually sounds good from the first half of the floor section because you can hear it live. 

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 08:47 AM

[auroraspice62]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 9:16am

Anyone have a picture or a list of the orchestra names and instrumentation? TIA!

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 09:16 AM

[getatme]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 12:15pm

quizking101 said: "- CHRIS. RENFRO. Chris Renfro. Chris Renfro. By and large the breakout star of the evening as Aldopho. He came in guns blazing and ready to be both Latin lover and bumbling fool. Having only seen him in Oh, Mary, that man has a set of PIPES. Seriously, any production of this show needs to immediately start ringing his phone to get him on board. His chemistry with Laverne during his own song."

Chris Renfrow uses they/them pronouns.

But I had to jump to echo this sentiment. Whatever the ticket price, it was worth it for Renfro's performance. Truly stole the show out from under every single person onstage, Newell included. Sexy, hysterical, committed, with a gorgeous voice. They're an absolute star and the second they entered I was in stitches and it just kept building and building. Absolutely delightful.

The sound mix was pretty bad throughout in the second tier, but the cast was having a ball on that stage and while I don't think most of them would cut it in a full production, it worked exceptionally well for the purposes of the evening. Betty Who, Alex Newell, Dylan Mulvaney, and the 2 gangsters were really great fun. What Laverne Cox lacks in vocal prowess, she more than makes up for in presence and comedic timing.

Also have to say everyone looked gorgeous last night. Peppermint, Laverne, Dylan, Alex, etc. Beautiful group of people.

Overall, it was a really wonderful evening. Imperfectly performed, but wonderful to see a group of trans/nonbinary performers filling the stage of Carnegie Hall to deliver some queer joy at a time when the country and the world need it most.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 12:26pm

Apologies - I’ll fix that. Serves me right for posting half my thoughts at 3am and then falling asleep only to finish them later.

[kurtal]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:24pm

Chiming in to add my praise to the event overall.  Yes, it was a little sloppy, and the sound mixing was terrible throughout, but everyone was having a great time, and I did, too.  And it is not lost on me how important it is to see a stage full of trans and nonbinary performers in a joyful piece of theatre right now.

My specific thoughts pretty much echo what's already been shared.  Chris Renfro was the superstar of the evening.  Alex Newell did what Alex Newell does to great effect.  Laverne Cox was a far better comedic performer than I expected.  Dylan Mulvaney was absolutely giving Ellen Greene.  Peppermint was a hoot.  I also want to shout out Gio Coppola and Futaba as the Gangsters, whose timing and chemistry was very impressive given how little time they had to rehearse.

If you want to support Breaking the Binary, check out their website (https://www.btb-nyc.com/)