A starting date has now been set for Robert Goulet's run in La Cage aux Folles. The legendary crooner will take over as Georges, the less flamboyant member of the musical's central couple, on April 15th.Goulet was announced as a replacement for Daniel Davis a few days ago. Although no official reason has been given for Davis' March 27th dismissal, rumors have flown of backstage antagonisms between Davis and co-star Gary Beach. Understudy John Hillner will go on until Goulet takes over.Goulet, equipped with a swoon-inducing baritone, first soared to fame as Lancelot in 1960's Camelot; he would later play Lancelot's romantic rival King Arthur in a 1993 revival. Goulet won a 1968 Best Actor Tony for his role in the musical The Happy Time, and again returned to Broadway as a replacement for Philip Bosco in Moon Over Buffalo. His long resume of regional theatrical credits includes Little Women, Sunshine Town, Thunder
Rock, The Optimist, Dreamgirls, Carousel, Finian's Rainbow, Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes, The Pajama Game, Beggars Opera, Bells Are Ringing, Meet
Me in St. Louis, I Do, I Do, On A Clear Day, Kiss Me Kate, The
Fantasticks, South Pacific and Man of La Mancha.
Goulet is equally well-known as a star of recordings and Las Vegas shows; he won a Best New Artist Grammy Award in 1963. He has also had experience in TV and film. Goulet became famous as Trapper Pierre on Howdy Doody in the mid-1950's, and has headlined and guest-starred on numerous variety specials. Film credits include the animated Gay Purr-ee, Beetlejuice, Scrooged and Naked Gun 2?.La Cage aux Folles, the revival of the 1984 Jerry Herman-Harvey Fierstein smash, started previews on November 11th 2004, before opening on December 9th at the Marquis Theatre. The show, directed by Jerry Zaks and featuring choreography by Jerry Mitchell, stars Gary Beach, Gavin Creel, Angela Gaylor, Ruth Williamson, Michael Mulheren, Linda Balgord and Michael Benjamin Washington.Tickets to La Cage aux Folles can be ordered through http://www.ticketmaster.com
