The Department of Theatre and Dance will present The Drowsy Chaperone, the delightful award-winning musical comedy, in winter 2026. 

The production runs Feb. 26, 27, 28 and March 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 18 and March 7 at 2 p.m. in the Main Theatre, Wright Hall.  

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Golden Age of the Broadway musical.

As the show opens, a man in a chair puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical, and as the man tells the audience about the musical, the recording comes to life. The musical within the musical’s plot mixes in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone: all combining to create madcap delight.

Hailed by New York Magazine as “The Perfect Broadway Musical,” The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre. 

Granada artist-in-residence Rhett Guter will direct and choreograph with music direction by guest artist Patrick Burns. Instructor Ian Wallace designs the scenery, alum Tasa Gleason (MFA, dramatic arts, ‘20) designs the costumes, Assistant Professor Ethan Hollinger designs the lighting and Megan Kimura is the sound designer. Undergraduate student Mario Sandoval is the stage manager and Mikayla Freeman is the assistant choreographer.

Tickets will go on sale at the beginning of winter quarter. 

The Department of Theatre and Dance is part of the UC Davis College of Letters and Science. For information about other department productions, visit theatredance.ucdavis.edu.