Geoffrey Rush to Star in Australian Drowsy Chaperone

By Andrew Gans
24 Sep 2009

Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Tony Award winner Geoffrey Rush, seen on Broadway last season in Exit the King, will play Man in Chair in the Australian premiere of the Tony-winning The Drowsy Chaperone.

Variety reports that the Melbourne Theatre Company production will open in January 2010. Simon Philips will direct.

The cast will also feature artistic director Philips and Robyn Nevin.

The Melbourne Theatre Company season will also feature the stage adaptation of All About My Mother and The Grenade, a world premiere by Tony McNamara.

Geoffrey Rush won an Academy Award for his performance in "Shine" and was also Oscar-nominated for his roles in "Shakespeare in Love" and "Quills."

The Drowsy Chaperone has Tony-winning music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Gregg Morrison and a Tony-winning book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.