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Music Theatre of Madison Presents LA CAGE
By: Sally Henry Fuller Jan. 10, 2016
La Cage Aux Folles has a long history; it began as a French play, then became a popular French film. In 1984, the musical, inspired by the play and film, premiered on Broadway and won six Tony awards. In 1996, an American version of the film was made starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. The film was called The Birdcage, which is the English translation of La Cage Aux Folles. A Broadway revival was mounted in 2005, and another was imported from London in 2010 starring Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge.
While popular on the east coast, the show has seldom been performed in the Midwest. The story of La Cage Aux Folles does not differ very much between the above versions. Georges and his flamboyant partner Albin own a nightclub where Albin is the star performer. Georges also has a son, Jean-Michel, from a one night stand with a woman before meeting Albin. At the time of the show, Jean-Michel is in his twenties and engaged to marry a young woman whose father is a conservative politician.
His fiancee and her parents are coming to visit, which means Georges must pretend to be "normal," and that Albin has to disappear for the evening. Not about to be left behind, Albin comes up with a hilarious, impulsive solution that is ultimately a testament to love of all types. Albin will be played by Madison performer Robert A. Goderich, whose credits include work with the San Francisco Opera, Madison Opera, Four Seasons Theatre, CTM, and many more. He is joined by Doug Swenson as Georges. The cast also includes MTM alums Meg Aspinwall as Mme. Renaud, George Abbott III as Chantal, Lauren Gruber as Anne, Mark Huismann as Edouard Dindon, and Natalie Falconer as Jacqueline.
Remaining cast members are Marja Barger (Marie Dindon), Ethan Larsen (Jean-Michel), Jordan Humpal (Cagelle), Daniel Pietrangelo (Cagelle), Dennis Reichold (Francis), J. Adam Shelton (Jacob), and Jose Vega (Cagelle). The production is directed by Catie O'Donnell, with music direction by Kevin Blakeslee and Jennifer Hedstrom, and choreography by Marsha Heuer. La Cage Aux Folles is the first show of MTM's 2016 10th Anniversary Season. The company is one of Madison's longest standing professional theatres and focuses on lesser-known and seldom performed pieces featuring thought-provoking subjects. In its history, MTM has presented 10 Wisconsin premieres of musicals such as Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, and Hostage Song, as well as the Midwest premiere of 35MM. The company also produces readings of new musicals from authors across the country.
The season will continue with the Midwest premiere of Arlington, a one-woman piece about an army wife, from April 29-May 7 at Lakeside St. Coffeehouse, and will conclude with A New Brain, the story of a composer's fight to produce the perfect legacy, from July 8-16 at the Wisconsin Union. MTM holds additional special events throughout the year as well.
Complete information is available at www.mtmadison.com.
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