LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
PRESS ROOM

SPECIAL BENEFIT PERFORMANCE NOV. 12, 8pm

REVIEWS

John Farrell Press Telegram Correspondent
A Stage Filled With The Spectacular

Wonderful dance numbers, costumes and plenty of songs in 'La Cage'
Family values are, in the long run, created by families themselves, and not politicians who make their livings defending them.
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David C. Nichols Special to the Times
It's Always A Good Time at 'La Cage'

Musical Theatre West's revival of the transvestite romp offers two breakout leads.
One could, as ever, find fault with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, which opens Musical Theatre West's 51st season. But why bother? This joyus revival of Jery Herman's 1983 Tony-winning transvestite toe-tapper is a triumph of sentimental showmanship.
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Eric Marchese Special to the Register
Glitz and heart gild this 'Cage'

The glitter of a large-scale Long Beach staging can't obscure the 1983 musical's message of tolerance.
HE/SHE: As Albin, David Engel's dramatic versatility and stirring vocal skills are showcased in Musical Theatre West's staging of "La Cage aux Folles."
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James Scarborough Gazette Theater Critic
High Energy "Folles" Worth Viewing

The glitter of a large-scale Long Beach staging can't obscure the 1983 musical's message of tolerance.
What do you get when you combine "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?" with a line of high-kicking Mae West Can-Can girls at Finnochios?

You get Paul Garman's spectacular production of the Jerry Herman musical, "La Cage Aux Folles," from Musical Theatre West at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
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This Tony Award winner for Best Musical is a boisterous and uplifting celebration of love and family in an untraditional setting. The inspiration for the 1996 film "The Birdcage," La Cage Aux Folles is the story of the son of a French nightclub owner, who must introduce his straight-laced future in-laws to his own "parents." The show is filled with outlandish costumes, extravagant dance numbers, and a jazzy Jerry Herman score, including "The Best of Times," "I Am What I Am" and the title song.

DAVID ENGEL (Albin)

is coming full circle with this LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. Twenty years ago, he appeared in the original Broadway production of LA CAGE, creating the role of Hanna from Hamburg. He is thrilled to be working with the shows creator, Jerry Herman once again. David received the 2002 Ovation Award as "Best Actor in a Musical" and is nominated again for the role of Bobby Child in CRAZY FOR YOU for MTW. Other MTW shows are SWING! and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Broadway shows include PUTTING IT TOGETHER opposite Carol Burnett and SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL (Bass Wickersham). Best known as Smudge in FOREVER PLAID, a role he created in the original NY production as well as the London-West End and LA productions (LA Drama Critics, Drama-Logue, Ovation Awards). He recreated Smudge this past holiday season in PLAID TIDINGS at the Pasadena Playhouse. Other stage credits include starring roles in KISS ME KATE, FALSETTOS, DAMES AT SEA, PASSION, CHILDREN OF EDEN, I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, I DO! I DO!, and as an Aggie in both the stage and the film versions of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.

NORMAN LARGE (Georges)

toured as Henry Higgins (Zoni Award) in MY FAIR LADY, and received an Ovation Award nomination for SWEENEY TODD (Performance Riverside). Other performances include HMS PINAFORE (Captain Corcoran - Arizona Theatre Company - Republic Award), THE SECRET GARDEN (Archie - Theatre-By-The-Sea), six years with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Monsieur Andre and the Phantom - LA and SF), the original Broadway cast of LES MISERABLES (Bishop of Digne, Thenardier and Javert), A DOLL'S LIFE and SILVERLAKE, (Broadway both directed by Hal Prince), CATS, WEST SIDE STORY, THE STUDENT PRINCE, MAN OF LA MANCHA, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, DRACULA, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and CHESS. Film credits: "Pretty Woman" and "Repossessed". Norman was a principal artist with the New York City Opera for four years. TV: "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "NYPD Blue", "JAG", "Ally McBeal", "Nash Bridges", "Arliss", "Seinfeld", "Lois & Clark", "Caroline in the City", "Melrose Place", "L.A. Law", "Quantum Leap" and many more. Norman's favorite productions to date are his seven and two year old sons, Nathan and Brandon, produced in conjunction with his dancer/actress/wife Irene Cho.