Bobby Smith & Brent Barrett to Lead Signature Theatre's La Cage aux Folles

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of La Cage aux Folles directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. With an iconic score by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly; Mame), featuring "I Am What I Am" and "The Best of Times," and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Newsies), this musical comedy will run from May 31 - July 10 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

"Signature's season finale of La Cage aux Folles tops off a tremendous season," said Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. "Having Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's award-winning comedy at Signature under Matthew Gardiner's direction promises to be a fantastic celebration."

The twenty year relationship between Albin, the lead drag performer of The Saint-Tropez Night Club on the French Riviera, and Georges, the club's owner, faces a test when their son announces his engagement to the daughter of ultra-conservative political parents. To please their son, Georges and Albin agree to hide their lifestyle and play it straight for a dinner with the potential in-laws. However, Albin's different definition of "normal" threatens to upend the entire supper with hilarious results.

The production will star Bobby Smith (Signature's West Side Story, The Fix) as Albin and Brent Barrett (Broadway's Chicago, Grand Hotel) as Georges. Smith and Barrett are joined in the cast by Jessica Lauren Ball (Signature's The Fix) as Anne Dindon, Michael Bunce (Signature's Beaches) as Francis, Sherri L. Edelen (Signature's Road Show) as Marie Dindon/Mme Renaud, Mitchell Hebert (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George) Monsieur Dindon/Mr. Renaud, Nova Y. Payton (Signature's Dreamgirls) as Jacqueline, DJ Petrosino (Signature's West Side Story) as Jacob, and Paul Scanlan (Signature's Simply Sondheim) as Jean Michel.

"This summer we're bringing the most notorious nightclub in Saint Tropez to our Max Theatre," said director and choreographer Matthew Gardiner. "I'm excited to be working with this fantastic design team to create a glamorous, scandalous and just a little bit dangerous new look for Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's funny and risque musical classic. Beyond the seedy nightlife and the stunning Cagelles, La Cage aux Folles is really a musical that asks us to see how much we all have in common and to celebrate those things that make us different. It shows us that with just a little love and acceptance "the best of times" truly is now."

The Cagelles will feature Sam Brackley, Darius Delk, Ethan Kasnett, Isaiah W. Young, Phil Young, and Jay Westin.

The creative team includes Musical Direction by Darius Smith; Scenic Design by Lee Savage; Costume Design by Frank Labovitz; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Lane Elms; Hair Design by Anne Nesmith; Associate Choreographer Kelly Crandall D'Amboise; Production Stage Manager Brandon Prendergast; Assistant Stage Manager Staci Blue; Production Assistant Paul Luckenbaugh; New York Casting by Laura Stanczyk Casting, CSA.