Jerry Herman’s dazzling musical La Cage Aux Folles is back on Broadway starring five-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer making his Broadway debut as George opposite Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge as the drag queen Albin, who performs as Zaza at their downstairs club. The two make for a nice match as the gay owners of a Paris nightclub in the intimate heartfelt production directed by Terry Johnson, which began life at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London in late 2007 winning rave reviews before moving to the West End the following year.
The hit 1983 musical, which won numerous Tony Awards, has a clever book by Harvey Fierstein that tugs at the heart strings and unforgettable songs by the maestro Herman like “I Am Who I Am,” “Look Over There,” and “The Best of Times.” But even though the show was mounted on Broadway just five years ago, winning a Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, Johnson’s scaled down fresh approach is a resourceful delight giving the evening a seedy realistic appeal that was missing from the big glossy earlier versions. Anytime Jerry Herman is in town is a cause to celebrate, so if you are in the mood for a four star musical entertainment check the surprisingly tough drag queens known as the Cagelles, who do their act nightly at La Cage Aux Folles.
La Cage Aux Folles is now playing at the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. For tickets call Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or online at www.telechargecom/lacage
Photography: Barry Gordin
Backstage @ The Longacre Theater
