STAGE TUBE: Kelsey Grammer Chats LA CAGE, Tech and Role-Changing

Kelsey Grammer, who is about to make his Broadway musical debut in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, recently sat down with the Today Show's Kathie Lee and Hoda to discuss all things LA CAGE, including the intricacies of the show's elaborate tech and the challenges he faces switching roles just months into the run (opening as Georges, he will switch to the role of Albin around October). BroadwayWorld brings you his interview below.

The critically acclaimed Olivier Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES begins performances on Tuesday, April 6 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Opening night is Sunday, April 18.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES stars five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer as Georges and Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge as Albin, and also stars Fred Applegate (The Producers, Young Frankenstein) as Edouard Dindon/M. Renaud; Tony nominee Veanne Cox (Company, Caroline, or Change) as Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud; Chris Hoch (Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot, Shrek the Musical) as Francis; Elena Shaddow (Fiddler on the Roof, Fanny at Encores!) as Anne; A.J. Shively, a recent University of Michigan graduate, making his Broadway debut as Jean-Michel; with two-time Tony nominee Christine Andreas (My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, On Your Toes) as Jacqueline; Tony-nominee Robin de Jesús (In the Heights) as Jacob; with 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) as Angelique, Nicholas Cunningham (La Cage aux Folles/West End) as Hanna, Sean Patrick Doyle (Fiddler on the Roof national tour, Wig Out!) as Chantal, Yurel Echezarreta (West Side Story) as Phaedra, Logan Keslar (West Side Story/West End, On the Town/Paper Mill Playhouse) as Bitelle and Terry Lavell (Hairspray/Las Vegas, Smokey Joe's Café/national tour) as Mercedes. The production also features Christophe Caballero, Todd Lattimore, Dale Hensley, Caitlin Mundth and Cheryl Stern.

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 Broadway's biggest hits of the 1980s. It opened August 21, 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).

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