Every once in a while, Broadway gets a little too full of itself and needs to be taken down a peg or two. In such event, a show like The Drowsy Chaperone is born to spoof and parody the conventions of musical theater until they beg for mercy. Or more; sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Chaperone is a show within a show, following the daydreams of a reclusive musical theater fanatic as he listens to the soundtracks from his favorite shows. In addition to poking fun at established theatrical troupes like Love at First Sight and Mistaken Identity, Chaperone is also a tribute to the Jazz Musicals of days gone by. For all the show’s jokes and silliness, musical theater has a profound effect on the main character, and its ability to transport people out of the mundane and ordinary features heavily.

After its 2006 debut, The Drowsy Chaperone won 14 awards, including a Tony for Best Book in a Musical and a Drama Desk for Outstanding Music, which basically means the show is great in both score and dialog. It’s been produced all over the United States, Canada, and a number of other countries. There has even been a previous Seattle production over at the Fifth Avenue Theater.

This time, The Drowsy Chaperone is being brought to the Emerald City by Seattle Musical Theater, the same people who recently produced a new musical version of Don Giovanni. SMT’s production team has a habit of creating excellent shows, as Giovanni handily displayed. They are talented professionals, and whatever they have in store this time is sure to please.

The show runs from February 11th through March 5th, and tickets are available here. Seattle Musical Theater itself is located at 7120 62nd St inside the Magnuson Community Center over in Sand Point. Anyone looking for great theater should attend; they won’t be disappointed.