Broadway has always been a place where boundaries are pushed and social issues are explored through the medium of entertainment. From landmark productions such as West Side Story (1957) that challenged stereotypes of race and ethnicity to Rent (1994) that shed light on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the stage has been a platform to tackle and discuss issues of social relevance.
One such topic that was hitherto considered taboo and relegated to the fringes of society is the portrayal of homosexuality on Broadway. The LGBTQ+ community had to fight tooth and nail to gain visibility and recognition in the mainstream media, and theatre was no exception. However, the turning point came in the early 80s, with the production of La Cage Aux Folles, a musical that featured a homosexual couple in the lead and depicted their struggles and triumphs. In this blog post, we will explore the journey of this groundbreaking production and its impact on the theatre scene.
The Play and its Adaptations
La Cage Aux Folles is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein. It is based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret. The story revolves around Georges, the owner of a drag nightclub on the French Riviera, and his partner Albin, who is also the star performer of the club. When Georges’ son announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative politician, the couple’s lives turn upside down as they try to conceal their lifestyle and appease the girl’s family. The play explores themes such as acceptance, identity, and familial bonds.
The original Broadway production of La Cage Aux Folles premiered at the Palace Theatre on August 21, 1983, and ran for 1,761 performances. It starred George Hearn as Georges and Gene Barry as Albin and was directed by Arthur Laurents. The musical was a commercial and critical success and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical.
La Cage Aux Folles was adapted into a film of the same name in 1978, directed by Edouard Molinaro and starring Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault. The movie was a hit in France and spawned two sequels. It was later remade in Hollywood as The Birdcage (1996), directed by Mike Nichols and starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. The movie was a box office success and received critical acclaim, winning an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
The Impact of La Cage Aux Folles
The success of La Cage Aux Folles marked a watershed moment in the history of Broadway, as it was the first musical to center around a gay couple and portray their love and relationship in a positive and non-judgmental light. The show broke down stereotypes and challenged societal norms surrounding sexuality and gender identity. Through its mischievous humor and infectious melodies, La Cage Aux Folles invited audiences to empathize with the characters and their struggles, and appreciate their humanity. The play was instrumental in humanizing the LGBTQ+ community and paving the way for more representation and diversity on stage. It inspired a new generation of playwrights and composers to explore similar themes and narratives and to leverage theatre as a platform for social commentary and reform.
La Cage Aux Folles also had a significant impact on popular culture beyond theatre. Its film adaptations brought the story to a global audience and helped to normalize homosexuality in mainstream media. The success of The Birdcage in particular, with its star-studded cast and mainstream appeal, helped to break down barriers and stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people and to promote acceptance and understanding.
Conclusion
La Cage Aux Folles was more than just a musical. It was a milestone in the LGBTQ+ rights movement and a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate today. Its groundbreaking portrayal of a gay couple on Broadway paved the way for more diversity and representation in theatre and inspired a new era of social consciousness and activism. Through its infectious music, witty dialogues, and poignant themes, La Cage Aux Folles challenged societal norms and prejudice, and showed us that love knows no gender or societal boundaries.
FAQ
Was Sound of Music on Broadway first?
The Sound of Music has become an iconic musical, beloved by audiences all over the world. But when it comes to the question of whether the show premiered on Broadway or not, the answer is a bit more complex than a simple “yes” or “no.”
The original production of The Sound of Music did indeed premiere on Broadway on November 16, 1959, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Starring Mary Martin as Maria and Theodore Bikel as Captain von Trapp, the show was an instant hit, breaking box office records and receiving favorable reviews from critics.
However, it’s worth noting that The Sound of Music didn’t actually start out as a Broadway musical. The show was based on the memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp, which was later adapted into a German-language stage musical called Die Trapp-Familie. It was this German production that first caught the attention of American producers, who decided to bring the show to Broadway.
It’s also worth pointing out that The Sound of Music was not the first production to tell the story of the von Trapp family. In fact, the first adaptation of the von Trapp story was a German film called Die Trapp-Familie, released in 1956. The success of the film and the subsequent stage production paved the way for the Broadway version.
So while The Sound of Music did indeed premiere on Broadway first, the roots of the story and the show’s success can be traced back to the von Trapp family and their real-life experiences, as well as the earlier adaptations of their story that paved the way for the Broadway musical.