Drowsy Chaperone: Bob Martin vacates the role of 'Man in Chair' on 11 Mar 2007

Bob Martin is to vacate the role of the 'Man in Chair' on the 11 Mar 2007 in the Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone.

Martin is leaving the show to head up the London cast of The Drowsy Chaperone, which is to play at London's Novello Theatre from 14 May 2007.

As previously announced, the role of the 'Man in Chair' is to be played by John Glover from 17 Apr 2007. Understudies Jay Douglas and Patrick Wetzel are expected to share the role during the interregnum.

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.

Though no official announcement has been made, it is now known that Sutton Foster, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Janet Van De Graaff in the musical, will be leaving the show in the spring. Foster has recently signed a contract to play Inga in Mel Brook's musical Young Frenkenstein, opening on Broadway in the fall of 2007.

To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theatre addict known simply as 'Man in Chair' 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 current cast features: Peter Bartlett (Underling), Danny Burstein (Adolpho), Georgia Engel (Mrs Tottendale), Sutton Foster (Janet Van De Graaff), 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), Bob Martin (Man in Chair), 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 26 Aug 2007.

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

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.