Shun Hing Group 65th Anniversary Sponsors LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

"At the hottest La Cage aux Folles Club, spectacular star Zaza and the Cagelles offer you the most enthralling and titillating song and dance ever!" The six-time Tony-winning Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles has graced countless stages around the world with its film adaptation garnering three Oscar nominations. The Hong Kong premiere of La Cage features a live music and enthralling music and dance, invoking the beguiling beauty of drag queens. La Cage aux Folles is adapted by Harvey Fierstein with music and original lyrics by Jerry Herman, translated and directed by Artistic Director Anthony Chan, with Cantonese lyrics translated by Chris Shum. The production is choreographed by Mohamed Drissi with music director Edgar Hung and singing supervisor Beilosi Fung. A 23-strong cast is led by guest artist Pichead Amornsomboon and Ko Hon Man, Jordan Cheung, Lau Shau Ching and Mercy Wong. The production runs from January 19th to 27th at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

La Cage aux Folles is about Albin (played by Pichead Amornsomboon) who is a star performer in a night club run by his lover Georges (played by Ko Hon Man). He has been living with Georges and his son Jean (played by Jordan Cheng). When Jean brings his fiancée and her conservative parents for dinner, Albin dresses up as "wife" to appease them, resulting in scenes after scenes of hilarity.

Translator and director Anthony Chan states: "La Cage aux Folles is richly entertaining, filled with comedic moments. In this show are fantastic songs and dances. The script posits that true love transcends sex and blood ties, prompting us to ponder prejudices today against same-sex marriage, cross-dressing and the self-identity of homosexuals. Such songs in the musical as 'I Am What I Am' and 'Best of Times' have become popular tunes in their own rights. Indeed, La Cage is a priceless 'cross-dressing' farce."

La Cage aux Folles received two Tony awards in 2005 and 2010 for "Best Revival of a Musical." Clive Barnes of The New York Post once praised this as Jerry Herman's "best musical yet-happier, more assertive, more buoyant than Hello Dolly!." The UK's Arts Shelf praised this work because "the costumes and makeup are simply an artificial front, behind which hides a gentle and fragile human being who just wants to be loved."

As part of the production's extension activities, the HKRep will host a talk by Chris Shum, veteran Cantonese lyric translator who also contributes to this production of La Cage. Shum will also interact with audience members in exploring sample lyric translations. He will be joined by singers Jarita Wan and Jonathan Soon, both of whom will demonstrate and share their insights into vocal technique. This free event that is open to the public on a first come, first served basis. It takes place on January 19th from 3 to 6 p.m. at the HKREP Black Box Theatre (8/F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre). To register:https://www.hkrep.com/la_cage_aux_folles-activity/

Translator and Director Anthony Chan

Anthony Chan is among the few distinguished theatre professionals in Hong Kong with expertise not only in playwriting and directing but also in set design, theatre education and stage management. To date, his scripts (including translations and adaptations) number more than a hundred; he has directed 81 productions and designed sets for 13 shows. A former Head of Directing and Playwriting at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), having served for 19 years at the institution, he has dedicated himself to nurturing a new generation of playwrights and directors. He also devised the institution's curriculum for the MFA degree in Drama (Directing) before his departure.

A frequent award-winner, Chan was named Artist of the Year by the Hong Kong Artists' Guild in 1991. Other accolades include "Outstanding Achievements of the Decade" (1994) and "Outstanding Translator-Silver Jubilee Commemorative Award" (2009) from the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies. His works had also received numerous awards from the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies and the Chinese Drama Festival.

Chan's scripts, each a microcosm of dramatic mastery, cover a wide range of topics, from his first masterpiece Metamorphosis under the Stars, to Footprint in the Snow ("Best Production" at the 10th Chinese Drama Festival, 2016), an adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus, the original musical Field of Dreams ("Best Overall Performance" at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, 2008), A Bowlful of Kindness, a nostalgic look at the good old days of Hong Kong. All are testaments to Chan's unique perspective and ability to shape words for the stage, as well as his enthusiasm and talent in the dramatic arts.

Since assuming the position of Artistic Director at the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKRep) in 2008, Anthony Chan has helmed such productions as Caligula (translator, director), A Flea in Her Ear (adaptor, director), Boundless Movement(director), Scrooge - the Musical (translator), Cao Yu's Last Soliloquy (playwright), Love's Labour's Won (playwright, director), Reverie of an Empire (playwright), 18/F Flat C (co-playwright, director), Wait Until Dark (translator, director),Hello, Dolly! - the musical (translator, director), Wolf in the House (director), The Imaginary Invalid (translator), 1894 Hong Kong Plague - the Musical (co-playwright), In Times of Turmoil (director), Buried Child (translator), Reincarnation of the Prunus Mume (playwright, director) and The Big Meal (translator, director). Adhering to the artistic mission of the HKRep, Chan contributes his talents in playwriting, directing and management, boosting productions of original local works and the Black Box Theatre, expanding the company's offerings such as the Reader's Theatre and Playwright Lab, fostering theatre literature studies, publication and education while strengthening international exchange. Always keen to discover the next generation of theatre artists, Chan has helped forge a new direction for the HKRep.

Chan obtained his MA from the University of Colorado at Denver, having received prior training in theatre, art and design. In June 2013, he was made an HKAPA Honorary Fellow. He is currently a member of the China Theatre Association and an assessor of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

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