In the musical comedy about marriage, family and love, Mulheren (The Boy From Oz) and Balgord (Cats, Aspects of Love) play the ultra-conservative parents of Anne (Angela Gaylor), who is engaged to Jean-Michel (Gavin Creel), who was raised by a gay couple (Daniel Davis and Gary Beach) who run a nightspot populated by flashy folk such as Jacqueline (Williamson) and house "maid" Jacob (Washington). John Shuman plays Francis, the nightclub's stage mananger.
Performances for the Jerry Zaks-directed revival of the show by Jerry Herman (songs) and Harvey Fierstein (libretto) begin Nov. 10 toward a Dec. 9 opening at the Marquis Theatre. (This represents a slight change from the previously-announced first date of Nov. 7.)
The production will be set in present-day, not in the 1980s, when the musical first appeared.
The company will also include Adrian Bailey, Bryan Batt, Paul Canaan, Joey Dudding, Merwin Foard, Christopher Freeman, Patty Goble, Dale Hensley, John Hillner, Leah Horowitz, Clark Johnsen, Brad Musgrove, Eric Otte, Nathan Peck, Andy Pellick, T. Oliver Reid, Jermaine Rembert, Dorothy Stanley, Charlie Sutton, Will Taylor, Josh Walden and Emma Zaks.
Jerry Mitchell (The Full Monty, Never Gonna Dance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) will choreograph the flashy show, which includes nightclub numbers set in the titular French Riviera showplace. La Cage aux Folles is produced by James L. Nederlander, Clear Channel Entertainment, Kenneth Greenblatt, Terry Allen Kramer and Martin Richards.
Designers are Scott Pask (scenic), William Ivey Long (costume), Donald Holder (lighting), Peter Fitzgerald (sound) and Paul Huntley (hair). Musical direction is by Patrick Vaccariello, leading a 22-piece orchestra.
Based on a French film and play by Jean Poiret, La Cage "is a boisterous and uplifting celebration of family values. The musical tells the story of Albin and Georges, two middle-aged partners who run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez. Their outrageously resplendent peace turns to mayhem when their son announces that he is getting married — to the daughter of a local morals crusader!"
The original production opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on Aug. 21, 1983. It ran for 1,761 performances and won six Tony Awards including Best Musical.
On Sept. 26, general phone sales begin and the Marquis box office opens.
There will be an added performance Nov. 26 at 2 PM. Performances will play Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM. Note that during previews Tuesday performance are at 8 PM. There will be no matinee or evening performances on Nov. 24.
Tickets range $25-$100, and are available through Ticketmaster.com at (212) 307-4100.
For more information visit www.lacage.com.
