La Cage aux Folles announces additional cast

The critically-acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage aux Folles has announced additional casting for the forthcoming Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning musical, opening at the Longacre Theatre on 18 Apr 2010, following previews from 6 Mar and currently booking through to 5 Sep 2010.

Joining five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer as 'Georges' and Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge as 'Albin' will be A.J. Shively, a recent University of Michigan graduate, making his Broadway debut as 'Jean-Michel'; Tony nominee Veanne Cox (Company, Caroline, or Change) as 'Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud'; Tony-nominee Robin de Jesús (In the Heights) as 'Jacob'; two-time Tony nominee Christine Andreas (My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, On Your Toes) as 'Jacqueline'; Elena Shaddow (Fiddler on the Roof, The Woman in White, Fanny at Encores!) as 'Anne'; Chris Hoch (Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot, Shrek the Musical) as 'Francis'; Heather Lindell (Hairspray) as 'Colette'; Bill Nolte (The Producers, 1776) as 'Tabarro' and David Nathan Perlow (White Noise) as 'Etienne.'

Also starring as the notorious and dangerous Cagelles will be Nick Adams (A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, Chicago), Nicholas Cunningham (La Cage aux Folles/West End), Sean Patrick Doyle (Fiddler on the Roof national tour, Wig Out!), Yurel Echezarreta (West Side Story), Terry Lavell (Hairspray/Las Vegas, Smokey Joe's Café/national tour) and Logan Keslar (West Side Story/West End, On the Town/Paper Mill Playhouse). The production also features Christophe Caballero, Todd Lattimore, Dale Hensley and Cheryl Stern.

More casting will be announced soon. Rehearsals begin 1 Mat 2010.

The production marks the Broadway musical debut for five-time Emmy Award-winning star Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) and the Broadway debut for his co-star, Douglas Hodge, recreating the critically heralded performance for which he won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Further casting is to be announced.

La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. This freshly reconceived production is choreographed by Lynne Page and directed by Terry Johnson.

Georges (Kelsey Grammer) is the suave owner of a glitzy drag club on the French Riviera. Partnered romantically with his high-strung star performer, Albin (Douglas Hodge), the pair live a charmed life—until Georges' son announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative right-wing politician who's coming to dinner.

The original production of La Cage aux Folles was one of the biggest Broadway hits of the 1980s. It opened 21 Aug 1983 at the Palace Theatre, where it played for over four years and 1,761 performances. The show won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical, Best Score (Jerry Herman) and Best Book (Harvey Fierstein).

The Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage aux Folles played from 23 Nov 2007 to 8 Mar 2008, earning across the board raves and opened at the West End's Playhouse Theatre on 30 Oct 2008 where is played until the 2 Jan 2010. The musical was nominated for seven 2009 Olivier Awards, winning for Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for Douglas Hodge.

"This joyous show deserves every hurrah and standing ovation it receives." (Daily Telegraph); "Suddenly, the West End sparkles...a production that delights." (The Times); "Fantastic revival" (Independent); La Cage is a belter of a night out." (Daily Mail).

The creative team 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.

La Cage aux Folles is being produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman, David Babani for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Fran and Barry Weissler and Robert Bartner / Norman Tulchin.