The New York Daily News is reporting that in a surprise twist, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES star Kelsey Grammer, who had been announced to play the role of Georges, will in fact be doubling as both leads, Georges and Albin, in six month stints.
Grammer will open the production in April as nightclub owner Georges. He will switch roles six months in and play camp cabaret singer Albin.
Grammer tells the New York Daily News: "La Cage, of course, is such a classic. I adored it. It always held a place in my imagination. And then last year I saw its newest incarnation in London. So the way we're doing this is, when we open I'm doing the role of Georges. In six months, I switch over to playing Albin...It really means I must memorise the whole show. But the brain is a muscle that's supple and responsive. I find the best way is to memorise the emotion. The words then fall into place. If your emotions are muddled, nothing works."
To prepare the task, the star reveals: "We started rehearsals this week, so I'm into getting in shape. Stepped up my cardio workouts, doing weights, trying to get my arms up. And I'm practising singing. I have a voice teacher."
Rehearsals on Monday and BroadwayWorld.com was on hand for an exclusive photo shoot. Click here to see the the first photos of the show's cast!
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will open starring five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer as Georges and Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge as Albin, with A.J. Shively, a recent University of Michigan graduate, making his Broadway debut as Jean-Michel; Fred Applegate (The Producers, Young Frankenstein) as Edouard Dindon/M. Renaud; 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, 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; Fred Applegate as Edouard Dindon and M. Renaud 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.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES begins previews on Tuesday, April 6 and opens on Sunday, April 18 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). The production is now on sale through Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or at www.telecharge.com/lacage. Also visit www.lacage.com for a special video introduction from Kelsey Grammer and the Cagelles.
