The Marriott Theatre presents La Cage aux Folles
Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, kicks off their 40th anniversary 2015 season with one of Broadway's all-time biggest hits, La Cage aux Folles. The 11-time Tony Award-winning musical, the first to win Best Musical three times, previews January 28, opens February 4, and runs through March 22. Based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret and inspiration for the popular film The Birdcage starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams, the beloved musical features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (Mame, Hello Dolly!) and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Newsies, Kinky Boots). Multi-Jeff Award nominee Joe Leonardo (The Marriott Theatre: The Light in the Piazza, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Grand Hotel: The Musical, Sweeney Todd and Me and My Girl) directs. La Cage aux Folles stars Jeff Award-winners Gene Weygandt as "Albin" (Chicago Fire; National Tour of Wicked and Big: The Musical; The Marriott Theatre's Me and My Girl and A Day in Hollywood - A Night in the Ukraine) and David Hess as "Georges" (The Marriott Theatre's Shenandoah; Broadway National Tours of Sweeney Todd and Annie Get your Gun), with Musical Direction by Ryan T. Nelson and the Marriott debut of Choreographer Melissa Zaremba.
Set against the glamorous background of a St. Tropez nightclub, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better-or-worse, get a taste of both when Georges' son Jean-Michel makes a shocking announcement: he plans to marry the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician. Chaos ensues when the two completely opposite families meet, and Albin's familiar, flamboyant habits get in the way at every turn. Feathers get ruffled and households upended in this poignant tale of one family's struggle to stay together, stay fabulous and above all else, stay true to themselves. A classic musical comedy, La Cage aux Folles brims with sparkling costumes, spectacular dance numbers and a glorious score including "The Best of Times," "I Am What I Am," and "The Song on the Sand."
La Cage aux Folles also features Marriott favorite Brian Bohr as "Jean-Michel", Elizabeth Telford as "Anne," Joseph Anthony Byrd as "Jacob," Susan Moniz as "Jacqueline," Fred Zimmerman as "Edouard Dindon," and Anne Gunn as "Marie Dindon." Additional cast includes Larry Adams, Jameson Cooper, Clayton Cross, Adam Estes, Javier Ferreira, Emily Glick, Zachary L. Gray, Monique Haley, Jordan Fife Hunt, Raymond Interior, Jhardon DiShon Milton, Liz Norton, Jason Richards, J Tyler Whitmer.
Lead Artistic Director Aaron Thielen heads up the La Cage aux Folles production team. Set Design is by Tom Ryan, Costume Design by Nancy Missimi, Lighting Design by Jesse Klug, Sound Design by Bob Gilmartin and Properties Design by Sally Weiss.