Overview
Synopsis
Georges is the owner of the La Cage Aux Folles nightclub, which features a drag show starring his partner and the love of his life, Albin. After twenty years of un-wedded bliss, Georges and his partner Albin face the hardest challenge of their relationship, yet: meeting their son, Jean-Michel’s fiance’s parents. Albin has always raised Jean-Michel, Georges’ biological son, as his own. But when Jean-Michel falls in love and becomes engaged to the daughter of an ultra-conservative, anti-gay politician, Georges feels compelled to try to present a more “traditional” family to Jean-Michel’s potential in-laws. When Albin tries and fails to take on a masculine persona in the role of Uncle Al, he gets more creative in order to find a way to be part of the “meet the parents” experience. Based on Jean Poiret’s 1973 French play of the same name, the multi-Tony award-winning La Cage Aux Folles is a musical filled with delightful spectacle and great heart.
Show Information
- Book
- Harvey Fierstein
- Music
- Jerry Herman
- Lyrics
- Jean Poiret
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Jean Poiret’s 1973 French stage play of the same name
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1983
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- st. tropez, france, summer in the 1980s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Show Origins
La Cage aux Folles is based on Jean Poiret’s 1973 French stage play of the same name. The play was a massive success in France, running for nearly 1,800 performances. It was later adapted into a 1978 French-Italian film, also titled La Cage aux Folles, which became a global hit and led to two sequels.
By the early 1980s, producer Allan Carr (famous for Grease) saw the potential for a Broadway musical adaptation. The project was eventually developed by Jerry Herman,
to read the context for La Cage Aux Folles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The musical is set in Saint-Tropez, a vibrant coastal town in the south of France, where the glittering drag nightclub La Cage aux Folles is the heart of the nightlife. The club is owned and run by Georges, who also serves as the master of ceremonies. ("La Cage Aux Folles") Its headliner, the glamorous and larger-than-life Albin, performs as Zaza and is adored by the club’s performers, known as the Cagelles—a lively troupe of drag dancers. The Cagelles then dazzle the audience in a
to read the plot for La Cage Aux Folles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act I
- Prelude – Orchestra
- *We Are What We Are – Georges and Les Cagelles
- *(A Little More) Mascara – Albin and Les Cagelles
- *With Anne on My Arm – Jean-Michel and Georges
- *With You on My Arm – Georges and Albin
- Song on the Sand – Georges
- La Cage aux Folles – Albin, Jacqueline and Les Cagelles
- I Am What I Am – Albin
Act II
- Song on the Sand (Reprise) – Georges and Albin
- Masculinity – Georges, Albin, Monsieur Renaud, Madame Renaud and Tabarro
- Look Over There – Georges
- Cocktail Counterpoint – Georges, Edouard Dindon, Mme. Dindon and Jacob
- *The Best of Times – Albin, Jacqueline and Company
- Look Over There (Reprise) – Jean-Michel
- *La Cage aux Folles (Reprise) – Georges
- *Finale – Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
Performance of gender expression, often when men imitate or exaggerate a feminine style.
Dislike of or prejudice against gay people.
The accepted generic term for the LGBTQ+ theatre movement.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
