La Cage aux Folles: Harvey Fierstein to play Albin

Four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein is returning to Broadway, starring as 'Albin,' in the 2010 Tony Award-winning revival of La Cage aux Folles from 15 Feb 2011.

Fierstein won the 1984 Tony Award for writing La Cage aux Folles, but this will be his first time appearing in the show.

Fierstein's co-star will be announced soon.

The current stars of La Cage aux Folles, five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer as 'Georges' and Olivier and 2010 Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge as 'Albin,' will depart the production on 13 Feb 2011.

When it was first announced that La Cage aux Folles was coming to Broadway, starring Kelsey Grammer as 'George,' it was rumored that Grammer would assume the role of 'Albin' when British co-star Douglas Hodge departed the show. We now know this will not be happening.

La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. This production is choreographed by Lynne Page and directed by Terry Johnson, who won a 2010 Tony Award for his helming of the production.

"I've loved watching this new production of La Cage and think director Terry Johnson and the wonderful company at the Longacre have really mined the material for its humor as well as its heart and humanity," Fierstein commented. "I'm thrilled to get the chance to play Albin a mere twenty-five years after creating him. It will be a challenge to follow in the footsteps of all the brilliant actors who have portrayed the role before me. But I do have one secret weapon - I know how to reach the author for rewrites."

La Cage aux Folles opened at the Longacre Theatre on 18 Apr 2010, following previews from 6 Mar and is currently booking through to 13 Feb 2011.

The musical currently stars Kelsey Grammer as 'Georges,' Douglas Hodge (Albin/Zaza), Kelsey Grammer (Georges), Fred Applegate (Edouard Dindon/ M. Renaud), A.J. Shively (Jean-Michel), Allyce Beasley (Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud), Robin de Jesús (Jacob), Christine Andreas (Jacqueline), lena Shaddow (Anne), Chris Hoch (Francis), Heather Lindell (Colette), Bill Nolte (Tabarro), David Nathan Perlow (Etienne) and Matt Anctil (Angelique)'

Also starring as the 'Cagelles' are Matt Anctil as 'Angelique,' Nicholas Cunningham as 'Hanna,' Sean Patrick Doyle as 'Chantal,' Yurel Echezarreta as 'Phaedra,' Logan Keslar as 'Bitelle' and Terry Lavell as 'Mercedes.' The production also features Christophe Caballero, Todd Lattimore, Dale Hensley, Caitlin Mundth and Cheryl Stern.

La Cage aux Folles recently made Tony Awards history as the first show to ever win the Tony Award three times for best production. The classic musical comedy by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein originally won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical. A Broadway revival won two 2005 Tony Awards including the Best Revival of a Musical prize. La Cage aux Folles won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, as well as Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical (Douglas Hodge) and Best Director of a Musical (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 21 Aug 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).

The new production of La Cage aux Folles played from 23 Nov 2007 to 8 Mar 2008 at the Menier Chocolate Factory, befire transferring to the West End's Playhouse Theatre on 30 Oct 2008, where it was nominated for seven 2009 Olivier Awards, winning for Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for Douglas Hodge and won the 2009 Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production opened at the Longacre Theatre on April 18, 2010.

La Cage aux Folles features set design by Tim Shortall, costume design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Nick Richings and sound design by Jonathan Deans.