LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Kicks Off Tonight at Lakewood Theatre

The critically acclaimed La Cage aux Folles by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman opens at Lakewood Theatre Company tonight, May 3, 2013 with performances continuing through June 9, 2013.

Winner of multiple Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Revival, La Cage aux Folles is a timeless and deliciously funny tale of family values, unconditional love and, above all, the need to be proud of who we are.

La Cage features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly!, Mame, Mack & Mabel) and book by Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, Kinky Boots). The musical is based on the farce by Jean Poiret (which also inspired the Robin Williams / Nathan Lane movie The Birdcage). Jerry Herman's fabulous score includes "I Am What I Am," "The Best of Times" and "Song on the Sand." Critics call it an indisputable musical comedy classic.

Lakewood's production is directed by Greg Tamblyn and musical direction is by Alan D. Lytle. Performances continue through Sunday, June 9, 2013 playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 7:00 PM (May 5, 12 and 19), and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM (May12, 26 and June 2 and 9).

The theatre is located at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State St. in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices are $35/adults and $32/seniors. Other discounts are available for students and groups. For additional information and tickets, call the Lakewood Box Office at (503) 635-3901 or order online at www.lakewood-center.org.

The story: La Cage aux Folles tells the story of Georges (Leif Norby) the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin (Joe Theissen), who stars as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. Georges has a son, Jean-Michel (Sean Powell) that he and Albin have raised since birth.

The son is recently engaged to Anne (Beth Scheppke), the daughter of a right wing politician who wants to shut down all the clubs in Saint-Tropez. When the son brings his fiancée and her conservative parents (Kevin Connell and Pam Mahon) home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly!

To hide their lifestyle, Georges agrees to masquerade as "normal" when meeting the family of the bride-to-be. Jacob (Kevin Cook) the butler (who really wants to be called the maid) has to learn how to behave. But it is Albin who has other plans - with hilarious results.

La Cage aux Folles is a tuneful and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves.

Others in the cast include Joey Cote, Lyle Aranason, Nartan Woods, Jeremy Sloan, Carlos M. Quezada, Kevin Clark, Anthony Chan, Jameson Tabor, Vanessa Elsner, and Lindsay Schramm.

The creative team includes director Greg Tamblyn, musical director Alan D. Lytle, choreographer Cherie Price, set designer Glenn Gauer, costume coordinator/designer Margaret Chapman, lighting designer Drew Flint, sound designer Dan Hallberg, hair designer Jane Holmes, stage manager Felix Kelsy and producer Kay Vega.

Founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1952, Lakewood Theatre Company is a professional theatre dedicated to the study and presentation of drama in all its forms; the training and development of actors; and the creation, maintenance and operation of a theatre in which to present plays and other forms of entertainment. Lakewood Theatre Company is the oldest continually operated, not-for-profit theatre company in the Portland Metropolitan area. It annually provides more than 400 theatre artists the opportunity to learn and display their craft and attracts more than 40,000 people to its shows.

Pictured: Joe Theissen, Kevin Cook (aka Poison Waters), and Leif Norby in Lakewood Theatre Company's production of La Cage aux Folles, May 3 - June 9, 2012. Photo by Triumph Photography.

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