La Cage aux Folles to be Revived in London

Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's 1983 musical La Cage Aux Folles will be revived at London's Menier Chocolate Factory this fall. Performances are set to begin on November 23 and an official opening is scheduled for December 3. No casting has been announced.

Based on a French play and later film by Jean Poiret of the same name which, in turn, inspired the 1996 hit film The Birdcage, La Cage aux Folles tells the story of Albin and Georges, two middle-aged partners who run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez. Their outrageously resplendent peace turns to mayhem when their son announces that he is getting married—to the daughter of a local morals crusader.

The original production opened at Broadway's Palace Theatre in 1983 and ran for 1,761 performances. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show opened at London's Palladium in 1986 with the Tony Award-winning Broadway star George Hearn as Albin and the late Denis Quilley as Georges and ran for 301 performances. It was revived on Broadway in a different production in 2004.

The Menier production, the show's first professional London revival, will be directed by playwright and director Terry Johnson, making his musical theatre directing debut.