Menier Chocolate Factory's LA CAGE AUX FOLLES To 'Sparkle' On Broadway, Opens April 18th, 2010- Page 4

[James2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 11:33pm

Regarding the artwork for this production...

What is that thing above the figure's shoulder? Is it supposed to be some sort of earring? It looks like a face from a Muppet Show monster.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 2:22am

Maybe they can get Kermit the Frog to play Georges...he's used to working with hams.

[Albin]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 11:36am

I am over the moon over this! I'm hoping it will be recorded since it is such an esteemed production. All ready to buy my show ticket and plane ticket from Buffalo!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 1:03pm

Marius, so... Philip Quast is not famous in the musical theatre biz?? I think he's probably one of THE most famous musical performer cuz he's in the Les Mis DVD! I don't think Tom Hewitt will be anymore famous/stunt casting than Philip Quast to be honest!

[kec]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 1:57pm

I've got a ticket to see this in London in early October. John Barrowman will be playing Albin.

[MariusPontmercy]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 2:07pm

Marius, so... Philip Quast is not famous in the musical theatre biz?? I think he's probably one of THE most famous musical performer cuz he's in the Les Mis DVD! I don't think Tom Hewitt will be anymore famous/stunt casting than Philip Quast to be honest!

I know Philip Quast is very well-known among Les Mis fans and regular London theatregoers, but he's not a big box office name even here in the UK, let alone in the US. If there was any justice, he would be - I wasn't trying to knock him at all, he's one of my favourite actors! But the reality is they couldn't sell the show on his name.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:24pm

it's taking the Longacre apparently
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Menier_Chocolate_Factorys_LA_CAGE_AUX_FOLLES_Set_for_Longacre_Theatre_20090912

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:27pm

"It's terrible. I hate it." -- Arthur Laurents

P

[MariusPontmercy]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:47pm

Hmm, the pictures that Google brought up make the theatre look quite big (or wide, at least) - but it's difficult to tell from photos. It doesn't look very "intimate", though.

As I've said before, the wrong theatre would kill this production. The intimacy of the Playhouse in London is part of what makes it work: http://tinyurl.com/nmwypg

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:50pm

The Longacre?! Really...?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:56pm

At least we know Burn the Floor will be f****ing gone?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 10:32pm

I think the Longacre is perfect for this production. It has a decent seating capacity but doesn't feel hufe. The orchestra is relatively shallow (or at least always feels that way) and even the balcony doesn't seem ridiculously high like in some theaters (the Lyceum, for example).

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 10:52pm

I just hope we get a recording of this revival. The Original is great and all, but the sound quality is terrible (at least on my copy) and it'd be great to have new voices/orchestrations.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 11:25pm

Any more word on Patinkin?
Harvey likes this casting.
And he thinks Laurents' Production
was too glitzy, i read that somewhere.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 1:53am

Do you think they'll redesign the set to mimic the inside of the Longarce now? That player's theater looks so tiny. Are they bringing over the chairs and tables too?

I'm so excited for this!

[perfectliar]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:11am

Confirmed by the show's official site: www.lacage.com

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:16am

That photo posted earlier is deceptive. The Playhouse in London is a normal sized theatre. It's a two balcony house with about 800 seats. The Longacre is a two balcony house with 1,000 seats.

Strangely enough, both the Playhouse and Longacre have the same amount of rows on the stalls/orchestra level - 17. Apart from the Longacre's larger seating capacity, the configuration of the two theatres is almost exactly the same. So, Broadway audiences should be able to have as intimate an experience with this production as West End audiences have enjoyed.

Here is another shot of the Playhouse with the La Cage pre-show set.

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 02:16 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:43am

Meanwhile, I found this really cool historical photo of the Longacre, including all of the detail work that was just restored - the terra cotta figures on the boxes and mezz and balcony overhangs had been masked for decades.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:50am

The Longacre is quite a good choice and confirmed my idea that the producers were going for a 1000 seater. I wonder if the set will get a slight redesign as the London production incorperate some of the theatre look to the set design although they would be fine just keeping it the same.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 1:55pm

A shot showing how the set has been designed to become part of the Playhouse itself.

Its an incredibly small production and needs a very smallish house to play in.
The entire theatre itself would sit on the stage of the Marquis!!!

Its a shame that very nearly all Broadway houses are dark and plain compared to London theatres and especially the Playhouse.

It would be great if it played the wonderful Mark Hellinger Theatre but even if still a theatre it would be way too big.


Updated On: 9/13/09 at 01:55 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:07pm

Explaining that further - the boxes on stage in the picture that Mama posted are designed to look like the actual boxes of the Playhouse. (That's where the orchestra is located for the production, on both sides of the stage). The stage floor is built out into the house and the first row of seating has been removed and tables and chairs have been installed.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:10pm

..and it looks glorious!

This seating plan will give you some idea s to how small the Playhouse is.
Approx: 762 seats
Updated On: 9/13/09 at 02:10 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:19pm

The Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre


The auditorium.


The restaurant, bar and stage door!


Currently home to a new production of 'Forbidden Broadway'.
Closes today, Sep 13th.

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 02:19 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:28pm

I'd agree that a lot of the Broadway theatres are plain Janes, next to some of London's West End theatres... Still... we have a few beauties...

Al Hirschfeld


American Airlines


New Amsterdam


Barrymore


Cort



Longacre



Lyceum


Shubert


Walter Kerr


Winter Garden

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 02:28 PM

[Jonwo]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 2:40pm

The Longacre looks great in that picture and I'm sure La Cage will be fine, after all Boeing Boeing played there and its London theatre is of similar capicity to the Playhouse.

I do like The Walter Kerr and it's the perfect venue for A Little Night Music when it opens, is it the first time that two transfers from the same company have arrived on Broadway within a few months of each other?