La Cage aux Folles to begin performances at the Longacre Theatre from 6 Apr

London�s critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy La Cage aux Folles will open on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on 18 Apr 2010, following previews from 6 Apr.

This freshly reconceived production won the 2009 Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for star Douglas Hodge, who will make his Broadway debut as 'Albin.'

The Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage aux Folles played to critical acclaim from 23 Nov 2007 to 8 Mar 2008, before moving to the West End�s Playhouse Theatre on 30 Oct 2008, where it is still playing.

�This joyous show deserves every hurrah and standing ovation it receives.� (Daily Telegraph); "Suddenly, the West End sparkles...a production that delights." (The Times); "Fantastic revival" (Independent); La Cage is a belter of a night out." (Daily Mail).

La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play, La Cage aux Folles, by Jean Poiret. The production is choreographed by Lynne Page and directed by Terry Johnson.

The production features set design by Tim Shortall, costume design by Matthew Wright and lighting design by Nick Richings. Orchestrations are by Jason Carr. Wig and makeup design is by Richard Mawbey.

Further casting and production information will be announced soon.

La Cage aux Folles is being produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman, David Babani for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Fran and Barry Weissler and Robert Bartner / Norman Tulchin.

Douglas Hodge earned the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as 'Albin,' who with his partner 'Georges' owns the eponymous St. Tropez nightclub where he stars as his glamorous drag persona, 'Zaza.'

Hodge will make his Broadway debut with La Cage aux Folles. His theatre credits also include 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Titus Andronicus,' 'Dumb Show' (Olivier nomination). His film work includes 'Vanity Fair,' 'Scenes of a Sexual Nature' and the upcoming 'The Descent 2.' His television work has included roles in 'Mansfield Park,' 'Middlemarch' 'Men of The Month' 'True Love' 'Red Cap' 'It Could Be You' 'The Way We Live Now' and 'Spooks.'

Terry Johnson (Director) is a multi-award winning playwright and director and is Literary Associate at the Royal Court Theatre. He has been honored with nine major British Theatre awards, including two Olivier Awards and two Evening Standard Theatre Awards. In recent years, he has had 10 productions running in London�s West End, including 'Rain Man,' 'Whipping It Up,' 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo�s Nest,' 'Hitchcock Blonde,' 'Entertaining Mr. Sloane,' 'The Graduate,' 'Dead Funny,' 'Hysteria,' 'Elton John�s Glasses' and 'The Memory of Water.' He has worked with Chicago�s Steppenwolf Theatre, directing John Malkovich in 'The Libertine' (nominated for five Jeff Awards, including Best Production) and 'Lost Land,' both plays by Stephen Jeffries.

Lynne Page�s (Choreographer) credits include: 'Never So Good' (National Theatre) 'Little Shop of Horrors' (Menier Chocolate Factory and West End) 'Bad Girls the Musical' (West Yorkshire Playhouse) 'Assassins' (Crucible, Sheffield) 'There Came a Gypsy Riding' and 'The Late Henry Moss' (Almeida) 'Fabulation' (Tricycle Theatre) 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' (RSC) 'Bat Boy - the Musical' (West End) 'Blonde Bombshells of 1943' (West Yorkshire Playhouse) 'Tell Me on a Sunday' (West End) 'The Merchant of Venice' (National Theatre) 'Meat' (Theatre Royal, Plymouth) and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (European tour).

The original production of La Cage aux Folles was one of Broadway�s biggest hits of the 1980's. 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).

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