‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ Sets New York Benefit Concert With Laverne Cox, Jonathan Van Ness, Peppermint, Alex Newell & More

A one-night-only concert of The Drowsy Chaperone will be taking place at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, October 20th at 8:00pm ET featuring a star-studded all-trans and non-binary cast. The performance will be presented as the kick off to the fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival.

via: Variety

Laverne Cox, Jonathan Van Ness, Betty Who and Alex Newell are among the bold-face names who will star in a one-night-only benefit concert of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” featuring an entirely trans and non-binary cast. This production will be held at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 20.

This concert marks the show’s first major New York presentation since the original 2006 production, which starred Bob Martin, Sutton Foster and Danny Burstein. The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment. “The Drowsy Chaperone” features music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Martin and Don McKellar.

This production will feature Newell, the Tony-winning star of “Shucked” and “Glee,” as Janet; pop star Betty Who as Robert; “Queer Eye” breakout Jonathan Van Ness as Man in Chair; trans activist Joslyn Defreece as Underling; Laverne Cox, an Emmy nominee for “Orange Is the New Black,” as Chaperone and RuPaul’s “Drag Race” winner Peppermint as Mrs. Tottendale.

Directed by Tony Award-nominee L Morgan Lee (“A Strange Loop”), “The Drowsy Chaperone” will kick off the fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre festival. Founded in 2022 by George Strus, Breaking the Binary Theatre aims to employ and amplify the work of transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ artists. This year’s edition will take place from Oct. 20 through Oct. 26. All net profits from the concert will benefit Breaking the Binary Theatre, Trans Lifeline and Black Trans Liberation.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d make it to Carnegie Hall. ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ follows a fan of the theatre who uses their favorite cast recording to pick them up when they are feeling blue; needless to say, that concept of art (particularly theatre) as a healing tool has been on my mind as this current administration’s assault on transgender rights continues,” says Strus. “In the midst of these attacks, our community continues to ‘stumble along’ and channel that frustration and rage into art, community support, and mutual aid.”