Kelsey Grammer Confirmed to Star in Broadway Revival of La Cage
Five-time Emmy Award-winning star Kelsey Grammer has confirmed he will make his Broadway musical debut opposite the previously announced Douglas Hodge in the upcoming revival of La Cage aux Folles. The acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory will begin previews on April 6 and open on April 18, 2010, at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.
"I had a wonderful experience playing Henry Higgins in the New York Philharmonic's My Fair Lady in 2007, which made me long to perform in a musical on Broadway," Grammer said in a statement. "Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's wonderfully funny and touching show is about being true to yourself and the challenges you face as a parent, as a spouse and as a family. I cannot wait to work with Douglas Hodge and to sing these magnificent songs every night."
Grammer will play Georges, the owner/emcee of the St. Tropez nightclub where his partner, Albin (Hodge), stars as the drag queen headliner, Zaza. rammer has previously appeared on Broadway in Macbeth and Othello, but La Cage aux Folles will mark his Broadway musical debut. In addition to My Fair Lady, Grammer’s musical credits include the title role in Sweeney Todd at L.A.’s Reprise Series. His off-Broadway credits include Sunday in the Park with George at Playwrights Horizons, Plenty at the Public, A Month in the Country at the Roundabout and Quartermaine’s Terms. The actor is famous for his TV role as Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers, Wings and Frasier. For the role, Grammer won four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes and received an unparalleled 16 Emmy nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations and 16 SAG nominations. He won a fifth Emmy for his voiceover work in The Simpsons.
La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. This new production is directed by Terry Johnson and choreographed by Lynne Page. It features set design by Tim Shortall, costume design by Matthew Wright and lighting design by Nick Richings. Orchestrations are by Jason Carr. Wig and makeup design is by Richard Mawbey. Full casting will be announced soon.
