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NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

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#1

NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 5:48pm

"Kelsey Grammer, best known as the star of the former NBC hit Frasier, is in talks to play Georges in the coming Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, according to two executives involved in the production. The British actor Douglas Hodge is set to reprise his role as Albin from the current London production of the show. The executives, who spoke on condition of anonymity because no contract had been signed, said they were optimistic that Mr. Grammer would be on board in the role, which was played by Robin Williams in the 1996 movie adaptation, The Birdcage."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/kelsey-grammer-is-in-talks-for-la-cage-aux-folles/?src=twt&twt=artsbeat
#2

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 5:50pm

good choice. I've always wanted to see Grammer on Broadway in some capacity.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#4

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:10pm

I think it's a great idea. He'd be wonderful in the role. I thought he did nicely and got good reviews in My Fair Lady at the NY Phil and it will be great to finally have him in a Broadway musical.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#5

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:12pm

Is he going to be comfortable with playing a homosexual character, and the show's lampooning of conservatism in general?
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Updated On: 11/24/09 at 06:12 PM

#6

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:12pm

I didn't love him in My Fair Lady, but he was fine. It's so sad now that I have the image of Paolo Szot as Georges in my head. Oh well.
#9

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:23pm

>Is he going to be comfortable with playing a homosexual character, and the show's lampooning of conservatism in general?<

Can't imagine that he doesn't know what the show is about.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#10

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:26pm

What will be interesting is whether or not he does the kiss at the end of the show.

I can't imagine that he wouldn't.
#11

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:31pm

Lord knows, I thought Szot was a good idea too. But Grammer is actually more age appropriate for the role, will also sing it beautifully, will serve the show's comedy well, has name recognition and I think would sell tickets.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#13

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 6:42pm

I think he'd be great! I'm already excited for A.J. Shively who was cast as Jean.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
#15

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 7:06pm

If Grammer stars in La Cage he would surely have to do the kiss, as this is the Playhouse production and that is choreographed into the show?
#17

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 8:48pm

He's a Republican, yes, but I can't recall him ever speaking out against the gay community.

There are actually Republicans who support gay rights, you know.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#18

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 8:54pm

"Frasier" also had a high quotient of gay talent in its cast and creative team.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#19

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 9:12pm

That is a pity. I saw Grammer in SWEENEY TODD and it was embarrassing. His MACBETH was dismal.

He played the same character for twenty years... his acting muscles are pretty atrophied by now and George is a much more difficult role than you'd think. George is the gracious peace-keeper - with splash of theatricality - who is divided by the selfish wants of his son and his love for his partner.

Grammar's schtick is playing pompous. He would be much more suited for Dindon.

I saw both the original production and the revival. I can't remember if George and Albin kissed in the revival.. but know they didn't in the original.

Updated On: 11/24/09 at 09:12 PM

#20

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 9:34pm

Albin tends to dominate most productions of La Cage, but I thought this London production managed to throw equal attention to Georges. It might have been the wonderful performance of Philip Quast, but "Song on the Sand" and "Look Over There" scored bigger than I remember the numbers working in either of the Broadway productions. Quast also brought a glint of mischief in his eye to his Emcee scenes. I could see Grammer easily managing the same.

Yip, I think you've come down a little hard on Grammer. Macbeth was truly a bad idea gone wrong and should not have come in following its poor reception in Boston. It's quite possible too that Sweeney was just too much of a sing for him - it nearly finished off Len Cariou. But he fared well and got terrific reviews for My Fair Lady at the NY Philharmonic two years ago, so a musical comedy seems well within his ability.

As far as the kiss - I seem to recall Albin and Georges walking upstage into a sunset in the original. In the Broadway revival, Albin and Georges kissed, but pretty far upstage. In this production, the final kiss is very much front and center - and when I saw it with a rowdy Saturday night audience, the crowd cheered.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Updated On: 11/24/09 at 09:34 PM

#21

re: NY Times: Grammer to star in LA CAGE?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 9:45pm

Come on, the only show GAYER than La Cage is FRAISER! Why would Grammer have a problem with the kiss? I think he is a great choice.
PEACE.

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