La Cage aux Folles | |
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Music | Jerry Herman |
Lyrics | Jerry Herman |
Book | Harvey Fierstein |
Basis | La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret |
Productions | 1983 Boston (tryout) 1983 Broadway 1984 US Tour 1984 US Tour 1986 West End 1987 US Tour 1993 US Tour 2004 Broadway 2008 West End 2010 Broadway 2011 US Tour 2017 UK Tour |
Awards | 1984 Tony Award for Best Musical 1984 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 1984 Tony Award for Best Original Score 2005 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical |
La Cage aux Folles (French pronunciation: [la kaʒ o fɔl]) is a musical with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein.
Based on the 1973 French play of the same name, the show tells the story of a gay couple, Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his romantic partner and star attraction; farcical adventures ensue when household dynamics intersect with an ultra-conservative politician.
Opening on Broadway in 1983, La Cage broke barriers for gay representation by becoming the first hit Broadway musical centered on a homosexual relationship. The show's act one finale "I Am What I Am" received praise as a "gay anthem" and has been widely recorded.
The original production ran for more than four years (1,761 performances), and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.
The success of the musical spawned a West End (London) production and several international runs. Subsequent revivals have garnered considerable success, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in both 2005 and 2010, as well as the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in 2008.