'La Cage Aux Folles' Begins Performances at the Playhouse Theatre Tonight 10/20

Chocolate Factory Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, David Ian Productions, The Ambassador Theatre Group, David Mirvish, Tulchin/Bartner and Jamie Hendry will present La Cage aux Folles with music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein. It is based on the Play La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret

The Cast features Tracie Bennett, Ben Bunce, Darren Carnall, Nicholas Cuningham, Alicia Davies, Ben Deery, Adrian Der Gregorian, Nolan Frederick, Leanne Harwood, Douglas Hodge, Matt Krzan, Denis Lawson, Robert Maskell, Iain Mitchell, Gary Murphy, Stuart Neal, Jason Pennycooke, Dane Quixall, Duncan Smith, Paula Wilcox

It is directed by Terry Johnson.

Previews being Monday October 20th 2008 with an official opening on Thursday October 30th.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's record-breaking, sold out production of La Cage Aux Folles has begun rehearsals for its transfer to the West End for a strictly limited season at The Playhouse Theatre previewing from 20th October, with press night on 30th October.

Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson are joined by Tracie Bennett in the role of Jacqueline who has recently been seen in her Olivier Award winning performance in Hairspray, and Paula Wilcox in roles of Mme Renaud and Mme Dindon. Paula is best known for her roles in TV's The Liver Birds and Man About The House.

Douglas Hodge will be reprising the role of Albin, for which he won unanimous critical acclaim, and is joined by Denis Lawson in the role of Georges.

Douglas Hodge's recent credits include: Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls opposite Ewan McGregor (Piccadilly), Titus Andronicus (Globe), Dumb Show (Royal Court, Olivier nomination), Pericles (National Theatre) and more than ten Pinter plays including Moonlight and The Caretaker in the West End. Film credits include Vanity Fair, Mansfield Park and Scenes of a Sexual Nature. His television credits include regular roles in Spooks and Redcap.

Denis Lawson's stage credits include Oleanna (Duke of York's), Lust (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Volpone (Almeida) Pal Joey (Albery) and Mr Cinders (Fortune), for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Film credits include The Star Wars Trilogy, Providence, Local Hero and The Man In the Iron Mask. His many roles in television include Holby City, The Passion, Robin Hood and Bleak House.

La Cage aux Folles proved an enormous hit with audiences when it opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory at the end of last year. All tickets for the run sold out in advance of opening night. Due to popular demand, the production has been reconceived for The Playhouse Theatre. La Cage aux Folles is booking through until January 10th 2009. Exclusively at The Playhouse Theatre, audiences members aged 18+ will be able to purchase cabaret seating at the front of the stalls and experience La Cage aux Folles from within.

The idyllic existence of Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star of the La Cage aux Folles club, is threatened when Georges' son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician, who wants to close down the local colourful nightlife! With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent, they all decide to take drastic action to hide their lifestyle...but can they keep it up?

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.

Jerry Herman's (Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel and Mame) fabulous score includes I Am What I Am, The Best of Times and Song on the Sand.

The original production opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway on 21st August, 1983 where it became the biggest new American musical of the decade. It ran for 1,761 performances and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book of a Musical. The show's song "I Am What I Am" became an instant hit in the pop charts and was recorded by a variety of artists, including Gloria Gaynor and Shirley Bassey.