La Cage Aux Folles Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical

The first show was held at Broadway in 1983. Three years later, in 1986, the play was staged in the West End (London). Renewal of the musical show was in 2004 & 2008: On Broadway & in London musical La Cage Aux Folles was staged in 2008 (Theatre of Menier’s Chocolate Factory), it was a huge success & was awarded with seven prestigious British awards (Laurences). The play was also staged in Colombia (1991), in Mexico (1993), Spain (2001), Portugal (2009), Korea (2012), Denmark (2013) & Panama (2013). This performance passed also in Sweden, Puerto Rico & New Zealand. Each of these spectaculars was praised for the cast. The musical has always experienced success. To date, there are three recordings of the show: from the original one on Broadway, one staged in Australia & play of 2010 on Broadway. Albin’s aria, sung in the musical’s finale, became a hit & a kind of anthem of LGBT movement.

Overview and Recent Updates.

La Cage aux Folles remains one of Broadway's boldest love letters to identity and spectacle. In 2025, its message feels sharper, louder, more glittering than ever. New revivals bring fresh choreography and deeper emotion without losing its original fire.

Summer Revival at The Muny.

This summer, The Muny stages a grand new production. Norm Lewis and Michael James Scott lead with charisma and vocal strength. The staging blends classic cabaret with modern flair, evoking both vintage glamour and contemporary resonance.

Broadway Momentum and Touring Productions.

• A regional revival has reignited interest across cities, praised for its choreography and heartfelt performances.
• In Pasadena, Cheyenne Jackson and Kevin Cahoon reinvented Georges and Albin with electric chemistry.

Cast Highlights and Stars.

Standout performances in 2025 include:

• Norm Lewis as Georges – soulful, sophisticated, and vocally commanding.
• Michael James Scott as Albin – camp, compassion, and vocal brilliance in equal measure.
• Cheyenne Jackson and Kevin Cahoon in Pasadena – mixing tenderness with searing theatrical power.

Past legends like George Hearn and Gary Beach still linger in memory. But the new generation carries the torch fearlessly.

Choreography and Direction Enhancements.

Current revivals prioritize kinetic spectacle. Drag numbers are muscular, complex, and vibrant. The Cagelles aren’t just beautiful — they’re athletes. The direction sharpens comedy and vulnerability alike, giving each moment deeper meaning.

Critics and Audience Response.

• Audiences are ecstatic. Standing ovations arrive mid-show, not just at curtain call.
• Critics highlight the emotional weight. Some call it “a musical that feels like a revolution wrapped in sequins.”

Pasadena’s revival especially struck a nerve. Intimate, funny, and radical — it made old songs feel brand new.

Historical Context and Legacy.

The original 1983 production changed everything. It put a loving gay couple at the heart of a Broadway musical. It made drag celebratory, not comedic relief. It sang “I Am What I Am” and meant it.

Since then, it has won multiple Tony Awards and seen powerful revivals in 2005 and 2010. Every era reclaims it differently — and right now, it feels defiantly alive again.

Why It Resonates Today.

La Cage speaks to a world still wrestling with identity, family, and performance. Its message hasn’t aged. If anything, it’s ripened. Today, it doesn’t whisper liberation. It shouts it — in heels, under a spotlight, arms wide open.

Questions and Answers.

When did the original Broadway production open?

It opened August 21, 1983, at the Palace Theatre on Broadway.

Who choreographed the acclaimed 2005 revival?

Jerry Mitchell choreographed it and won a Tony Award.

Which anthem song remains the musical’s emotional centerpiece?

“I Am What I Am” continues as the rallying anthem for self?acceptance.

Who headlines the 2025 Muny revival?

Norm Lewis (Georges) and Michael James Scott (Albin) lead the cast.

Why do new revivals still connect with audiences?

They update spectacle and storytelling, yet preserve its core message of love and identity.