GOODSPEED MUSICALS AUDIENCE INSIGHTS TABLE OF CONTENTS LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Character Summary............................................................................................................................3 Goodspeed Opera House June 26 - Sept 6, 2015 Show Synopsis......................................................................................................................................4 _________ Meet the Writers...................................................................................................................................6 Music and Lyrics by JERRY HERMAN Director’s Vision....................................................................................................................................8 Book by Behind the Scenes: Costume Design...........................................................................................9 HARVEY FIERSTEIN Program Notes...................................................................................................................................10 Based on the play by “Here Comes the Musical La Cage aux Folles” Excerpt..........................................................11 JEAN POIRET “The Best of Times” Excerpt..........................................................................................................13 Lighting Design by Messages Behind the Music.........................................................................................................14 JOHN LASITER La Cage aux Folles and the State of Musical Theatre..............................................................16 Costume Design by MICHAEL MCDONALD Interesting Facts................................................................................................................................18 Resources...................................................................................................................................19 Scenic Design by MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT Choreographed by RALPH PERKINS Directed by Thank you to our La Cage aux Folles Be In the Know sponsor ROB RUGGIERO Executive Director MICHAEL GENNARO Love to be in the know? Find this guide and lots of other fun stuff at: www.goodspeed.org/la-cage-in-the-know Audience Insights for La Cage aux Folles was prepared by: Joshua S. Ritter, M.F.A, Education & Library Director Kathryn Micari, Education & Library Assistant Katherine Griswold, Creative Content Manager Audience Insights updated 06.18.15 2 CHARACTER SUMMARY GEORGES: The owner of the legendary nightclub La Cage aux Folles, partner to Albin and biological father to Jean-Michel. ALBIN: The star performer at La Cage aux Folles known as Zaza, Georges’s partner and Jean-Michel’s surrogate mother. JEAN-MICHEL: Georges’ son who wishes to transform his parents before they meet his fiancée Anne and her traditional family. ANNE: Jean-Michel’s fiancée and the daughter of conservative politician Edouard Dindon. EDOUARD DINDON: A conservative politician and head of the “Tradition, Family and Morality Party.” MARIE DINDON: The wife of Edouard Dindon and Anne’s mother. JACOB: The flamboyant maid employed by Georges and Albin. JACQUELINE: The owner of Chez Jacqueline and a good friend of Albin and Georges. MONSIEUR AND MADAME RENAUD: Owners of a popular café and friends of Albin and Georges. CHANTAL, MONIQUE, HANNA, MERCEDES, BITELLE, PHAEDRA, CLO-CLO: Performers at La Cage aux Folles otherwise known as Les Cagelles. Jamison Stern as Albin. ©Diane Sobolewski. 3 SHOW SYNOPSIS La Cage aux Folles opens in a nightclub begs Georges to hide his occupation, in Saint-Tropez, France. Georges, the convince Albin not to attend the dinner, owner of the club and the master of to redecorate the apartment in a more ceremonies, welcomes the audience to his subdued style and to allow Jean-Michel’s establishment and introduces Les Cagelles, biological mother, Sybil, to pose as his wife the club’s chorus “girls.” While Les Cagelles for the evening. Georges is mortified by his are onstage, Georges rushes upstairs to the son’s requests but eventually agrees to the apartment he shares with his partner, Albin. ruse. Albin is the club’s star act and he regularly performs as his alter ego “Zaza;” however, Meanwhile, Albin finishes his performance he has missed his cue and Georges is as Zaza and returns to the apartment to frantically searching the apartment for scold Jean-Michel. He has just learned that him. Once Georges finds Albin, he quickly his little boy is engaged and he is horrified prepares to go on stage with the help of his that he was informed by Jacob. After loyal “maid,” Jacob. briefly speaking with Georges and Albin, Jean-Michel bids his parents goodnight and leaves Georges alone to explain to Albin that Jean-Michel does not want him to participate in the upcoming gathering. Georges convinces Albin to walk down to a local café for dinner. He intends to share all of Jean-Michel’s requests once they are settled at the cafe. However, once they arrive at the restaurant, Georges mentions that he invited Sybil to dinner with the Dindons. Albin is outraged that Georges has invited “that woman” to dinner and they argue heatedly over the decision. The quarrel is eventually resolved, but Albin rushes out the door to prepare for his second performance of the evening before Georges can tell him the rest of Jean- Michel’s requests. Meanwhile, Jean-Michel has taken over his father’s apartment and is hurriedly The cast of Goodspeed’s La Cage. ridding the dwelling of any unusual décor. ©Diane Sobolewski. While Albin takes the stage, Georges’ Georges walks in on his son’s un-decorating son Jean-Michel arrives and tells his efforts and he tries to make sure that father that he is engaged to Anne Jean-Michel understands the enormity Dindon, the daughter of a conservative of his requests. Jean-Michel waves off his politician. Georges doesn’t approve of father’s warning and continues removing the engagement, but Jean-Michel assures things from the apartment. When Albin his father that he is in love with Anne; walks offstage to change his costume, he unfortunately, her father is head of the sees Jean-Michel carrying an armful of “Tradition, Family and Morality Party,” his gowns and demands to know what is whose stated goal is to close the local drag happening. Georges forces himself to tell clubs. Jean-Michel shares with Georges Albin about Jean-Michel’s plan and though that he lied to Anne about his family Albin is devastated by what he has heard, background and told her that his father is he insists on continuing with the show. He a retired diplomat. Much to Jean-Michel’s marches onstage and turns his song into a chagrin, the Dindons are arriving in St. declaration for Jean-Michel and Georges Tropez tomorrow and want to meet their stating “I Am What I Am.” Albin whips off daughter’s future in-laws. In order to save his engagement to Anne, Jean-Michel Continued 4 SHOW SYNOPSIS CONTINUED his wig in front of the audience, throws it at Back at the apartment, the Dindons Georges, and storms out of the club. demand that their daughter abandon her fiancée, but Anne refuses to acquiesce to The next morning, Georges finds Albin at her parent’s command. Upon witnessing a local café and tries to apologize for his Anne’s conversation with her parents, Jean- behavior. He suggests that Albin attend Michel realizes how badly he has treated the dinner with the Dindons as Jean- his own family and asks their forgiveness, Michel’s beloved Uncle Al. Although Albin which is quickly granted. The Dindons is still upset with his family, he agrees to prepare to leave without their daughter, “straighten up” for Jean-Michel. With the but Jacqueline, who has arrived with help of some friends, Georges attempts to members of the press, blocks their exit. teach Albin how to act like a “macho” man. Jacqueline realizes the Dindons’ identity and calls the local press to photograph Later, back at the the famous anti-homosexual activist with redesigned apartment, the most infamous homosexual couple Georges tells his son that in St. Tropez. Georges and Albin step in Albin will be attending and offer to make Mr. and Mrs. Dindon a the dinner as Uncle Al; yet, proposition: if the Dindons allow Anne and Jean-Michel is opposed Jean-Michel to marry, Georges will help to the idea and expresses the Dindons escape through La Cage aux misgivings. As father and Folles. The Dindons grudgingly agree to son argue, Albin intercepts the deal and everyone makes their way to a telegram from Sybil the club. Georges takes the stage as Les stating that she will not be Cagelles prepare the Dindons for the grand attending the dinner and finale and their escape. Georges grandly he hatches a plan to save introduces each of the Les Cagelles, and the day. The Dindons arrive then he introduces the Dindons, who at the apartment and Albin disguised themselves as members of the appears as Jean-Michel’s nightclub’s revue to escape the press. The forty-year-old mother, in Dindons successfully escape the club, Anne pearls and a sensible suit. and Jean-Michel leave to continue planning The meeting immediately their wedding and Albin and Georges share heads in a negative a kiss as the curtain closes. direction when Mr. Dindon begins talking about La Cage aux Folles. Jacob ends up saving the conversation by burning dinner and forcing the group to take a trip to a local restaurant “Chez Jacqueline,” which belongs to an old friend of Albin and Georges. Mrs. Jamison Stern as Albin and James Dindon is very impressed when Jacqueline Lloyd Reynolds