The Players Theatre Presents: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Familiarly known as The Birdcage)

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (familiarly known as the movie “The Birdcage”) is funny, glitzy, saucy, and sentimental: a night of  laughs, love, illusions, and truths. What happens when the son of a middle-aged gay couple brings home the daughter of an arch-conservative politician — and her parents — for dinner? Farcical adventures ensue!

The Players Theatre Company proudly presents this award-winning show using a live band. Set on the French Riviera, this beloved 1983 Broadway musical tells the story of a middle-aged, show business gay couple who must pretend to be straight for one night to dupe the conservative political family of their son’s fiancée. Jerry Herman’s musical won six Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book (by Harvey Fierstein) and is as hilarious as ever. It’s been revived on Broadway and in London multiple times. La Cage is the only musical to win the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical twice (2005 & 2010), and also the only show to win a Best Musical award for every staged Broadway production. The story was later adapted into the film The Birdcage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

Synopsis and cast:

Georges (Jonathan Duttweiler) is the owner and master of ceremonies at his St. Tropez drag nightclub, “La Cage aux Folles”. He and his spouse of 20 years, Albin (Mark Dureza), live above the nightclub with their flamboyant “maid”, Jacob (Cameron Collier). Albin is a drag queen and the star performer at La Cage aux Folles known as “Zaza”,  along with the sparkling chorus line “Les Cagelles” (drag performers) singing and dancing lively musical numbers (Colton Land, Danielle Stringfellow, Roger Ramirez, Jamie Glass, Zoe Bullard, Carlos Soto, and Garrett Harvey as the Stage Manager).

Georges’ 24-year-old son Jean-Michel (Kyle Clevenger) arrives home with the news that he is engaged to Anne Dindon (Kyle’s fiancée in real life, Madison Mapes). Unfortunately, her father, Edouard Dindon, (TJ Poulos) is head of the “Tradition, Family and Morality Party”, whose stated goal is to close the local drag clubs. A dinner and overnight visit are arranged for Anne’s parents to meet their daughter’s future in-laws (her mother, Marie, played by Kim Lambright). Jean-Michel pleads with Georges to tell Albin, along with his flamboyant behaviors, to make himself scarce for the visit, and for Georges to redecorate the apartment in a more subdued fashion. Jean-Michel also asks Georges to invite his real mother, Sybil (an absentee mother), from a fling Georges had many years before, to dinner in Albin’s stead.

After several attempts, Georges finally tells Albin of Jean-Michel’s plan and Albin is deeply hurt, singing I Am What I Am, stating that he is proud of who he is and refuses to change for anyone. The next morning, Georges suggests to Albin that he dress up for dinner as macho “Uncle Al” and, with the help of local friends, Georges successfully teaches Albin to abandon his flamboyancy. The apartment is chastely redesigned and Georges introduces “Uncle Al” to Jean-Michel. They’re informed that Sybil cannot attend, the Dindons arrive, they dine at a local chic restaurant owned by their friend, Jacqueline (Justine Gray), and one hilarious faux pas leads to another.

Treat yourself by joining us at The Owen Theatre downtown Conroe June 9th through the 25th for an evening of powerful music, high-kicking dance, glitzy costumes, and a touching portrayal of love and family.