His Own Special Creation! Scribe Harvey Fierstein to Headline La Cage Revival

Four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein is headed back to Broadway in a role he knows well—because he wrote it—drag diva Albin/Zaza in La Cage aux Folles. Fierstein will join the current Broadway revival of the show for a limited run of 12 weeks beginning February 15, 2011, opposite a co-star to be announced soon. Current La Cage stars Kelsey Grammer and Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge will depart the roles of Georges and Albin on February 13.

“I’m thrilled to get the chance to play Albin a mere 25 years after creating him,” Fierstein said in a statement. “It will be a challenge to follow in the footsteps of all the brilliant actors who have portrayed the role before me. But I do have one secret weapon—I know how to reach the author for rewrites.” In addition to his 1984 Tony Award for writing the book of La Cage, Fierstein received a Best Actor Tony for appearing in drag as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. His other Tonys were for writing and starring in Torch Song Trilogy, a play that also included elements of drag.

In addition to Fierstein’s book (based on the play by Jean Poiret), La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Terry Johnson’s current Broadway production won the 2010 Best Revival Tony as well as Tonys for Johnson’s direction and for Hodge’s lead performance. The musical made Tony Awards history as the first show to ever win the Tony Award three times for best production (for the 1984 original production, the 2005 Broadway revival and the current revival).

Fierstein most recently appeared on Broadway in his musical A Catered Affair and as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He also headlined a national tour of Fiddler. He is currently writing the books for the stage musicals of Kinky Boots, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; and Newsies, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman.

In addition to Grammer and Hodge, La Cage aux Folles currently stars Fred Applegate as M. Dindon/M. Renaud, Alyce Beasley as Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud, Chris Hoch as Francis, Elena Shaddow as Anne, A.J. Shively as Jean-Michel, Christine Andreas as Jacqueline, Robin De Jesús as Jacob, Heather Lindell as Colette, Bill Nolte as Tabarro and David Nathan Perlow as Etienne.