PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul, will launch its 30th anniversary season with a new production of the multi-Tony Award-winning musical, "La Cage aux Folles." 

 

The production will play June 11-July 6 on the Boyd-Quinson Stage (30 Union Street). Opening night is Sunday, June 16 at 3:00 PM.

 

With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, "La Cage aux Folles" is based on the play by Jean Poirot that also inspired the 1978 French film of the same name and its American remake, "The Birdcage," starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

 

BSC's production will be directed by Mike Donahue and choreographed by Paul McGill. Angela Steiner is musical director.

 

The original Broadway production of "La Cage aux Folles" opened in 1983 and won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Two subsequent Broadway revivals won Best Revival of a Musical in 2005 and 2010, respectively. "La Cage aux Folles" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. concordtheatricals.com  

 

According to a press release:

 

Set in St. Tropez on the French Riviera, "La Cage aux Folles" is a riotous and touching musical comedy about a gay couple, Georges and Albin, who must disguise themselves for one night in order to impress a local ultra-conservative politician who is threatening to shut down the couple's drag nightclub where Georges serves as Emcee and Albin as the star attraction, Zaza.

 

The production will star Alex Michaels, aka Alexis Michelle as Albin and Tom Story as Georges.

 

"La Cage aux Folles is a delirious farce, with Harvey Fierstein's hilarious book and Jerry Herman's exuberantly tuneful score," commented Paul. "But it needs a believable couple at its center for the show's beating heart, and we're extremely fortunate to have Alex Michaels, perhaps best known for their drag persona Alexis Michelle on "RuPaul's Drag Race," and the dashing Tom Story as our Albin and Georges. With a brilliant cast and helmed by Mike Donohue with high-flying choreography from Paul McGill, we think BSC audiences are in for a treat."  

 

The cast will also feature Noah Wolfeas Jean Michel, Sally Shaw as Anne, Phillip Taratula as Jacob, Tanesha Gary as Jacqueline, Don Noble as Edouard Dindon, Michele Ragusa as Mme. Dindon, and Drae Campbell as Francis. 

 

Also starring as the "notorious and dangerous" Cagelles will be Jonté Jaurel Culpepper as Bitelle, Gabe Friedman aka Kiki BallChange as Chantal, Jules Geiss as Clo-Clo, Aaron Graham as Angelique, and Kyle White as Hannah, with Raphe Gilliam and Drew Minard.

 

The creative team includes Alexander Woodward (Scenic Design), Rodrigo Munoz (Costume Design), Philip Rosenberg (Lighting Design), Ken Travis (Sound Design), Bobbie Zlotnik (Wig Design), Kyle Kreuger (Makeup Design), Robert Aronowitz (Whip Consultant). Sara Ford is Production Stage Manager. Casting is by McCorkle Casting (Pat McCorkle, CSA; Rebecca Weiss, CSA).

 

BOYD-QUINSON STAGE

 

In addition to "La Cage aux Folles," the 2024 Boyd-Quinson Stage will feature a revival of Boeing Boeing (July 17-August 3) by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans. 

 

This 1960 riotous French sex farce delighted a new generation of theatregoers with a recent critically acclaimed London and Broadway revival. 

 

BSC's production will be helmed by Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and will star BSC Associate Artists Mark H. Dold, Christopher Innvar, and Debra Jo Rupp. 

 

BSC Artistic Director Alan Paul will direct "Next to Normal" (August 13-September 8), in a co-production with Round House Theatre in Washington, DC. "Next to Normal," which will close the Boyd-Quinson Stage season, features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The original Broadway production, produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre, won three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The show recently received its London premiere in a critically acclaimed production that is transferring to the West End. Next to Normal is licensed by Music Theatre International.

 

ST. GERMAIN STAGE

 

The St. Germain Stage season opens with the regional premiere of "A Tender Thing" (June 25-July 20) by Ben Power, which will be directed by Alan Paul. 

 

Originally staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this two-character play imagines what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet had not died as teenagers but had instead lived to old age.

 

"Forgiveness" (July 30-August 25) is the world premiere of a new play by Mark St. Germain and directed by Ron Lagomarsino. 

 

The play is set in Minnesota where prisoners are allowed to plead their case in front of the Governor, in a bid to be returned to society. In this interactive production, audiences will help determine who is worthy of forgiveness.

 

The St. Germain Stage season will conclude with the regional premiere of "Primary Trust," winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, by actress/playwright Eboni Booth.

 

This play, about a bookstore worker who loses his job and must find a new way forward for himself, delighted Off-Broadway audiences last year at Roundabout Theatre Company.

 

Additional details on the 2024 BSC season, including gala, concerts, and staged readings, will be announced in coming weeks.

 

THE BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY 2024 SEASON

 

Boyd-Quinson Stage 30 Union Street, Pittsfield, MA.

 

La Cage aux Folles

 

Book by Harvey Fierstein

 

Based on the play La Cage Aux Folles by Jean Poiret

 

Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman

 

Choreographed by Paul McGill

 

Directed by Mike Donahue

 

June 11-July 6

 

Opening Night: Sunday, June 16 at 3:00 PM

 

Sponsored by Berkshire Money Management 

 

"The best of times is now!" Come join the party at the hottest nightclub in St. Tropez, home to Jerry Herman & Harvey Fierstein's hit musical comedy. This spectacular show about love and acceptance is as heartwarming as it is hilarious, and it has so much to say about what it means to be a family.

 

 

 

Boeing Boeing

 

By Marc Camoletti

 

Translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans

 

Directed by Julianne Boyd

 

Starring Mark H. Dold, Christopher Innvar, and Debra Jo Rupp

 

July 17-August 3

Opening Night: Sunday, July 21 at 5:00 PM

 

Fly to Paris in the swinging '60s and meet playboy Bernard. With help from his housekeeper Bertha who plays flight control, Bernard keeps a rotating group of flight attendants on standby. But with the arrival of a long-lost friend and the new Boeing jet, Bernard's plans hit some turbulence. Fasten your seatbelts for a "deliciously, deliriously innocent sex comedy." (The New York Times)

 

 

Next to Normal

 

Music by Tom Kitt

 

Book & Lyrics by Brian Yorkey

 

Choreography by Eamon Foley

 

Directed by Alan Paul 

 

Co-Production with Round House Theatre, Bethesda, MD.

 

August 13 - September 8

Opening Night: Saturday, August 17 at 8:00 pm

 

"Impeccable," proclaimed the The Washington Post—a "vibrant musical revival." Director Alan Paul infuses his production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical with live video and multimedia, capturing the psychology and inner life of the musical's six characters in ways both intimate and epic. Centered around a family's ongoing struggles to overcome issues from their past and the underpinnings of suburban life, Paul's all-new production blew DC audiences away. And now it's coming to Barrington Stage. 

 

 

St. Germain Stage 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MA

 

Regional Premiere

 

A Tender Thing

 

By Ben Power

 

Directed by Alan Paul

 

June 25-July 20

 

Opening Night: Friday, June 28 at 8:00 pm

 

What if Romeo and Juliet did not die as teenagers, but lived on into old age? Ben Power has brilliantly taken Shakespeare's words, rearranged and reimagined the play's scenes, and the result is a provocative tale of lasting love and commitment. First staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this Romeo and Juliet is about the deep, caring relationship that can only be forged by time.  

 

 

 

World Premiere

 

Forgiveness

 

By Mark St. Germain

Directed by Ron Lagomarsino

 

July 30-August 25

 

Opening Night: Saturday, August 3 at 8:00 pm 

 

In Minnesota, a convict who has served time for anything from drug dealing to murder is allowed to seek forgiveness from the Governor. They have 10 minutes to plead their case. It's a dramatic, pressurized process where convicted criminals plead to be accepted back into the fold or be stuck forever on the outskirts of society. In this world premiere and interactive production, you will help decide who is worthy of forgiveness.

 

 

Winner! 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

 

Regional Premiere

 

Primary Trust

 

By Eboni Booth

 

September 18-October 13

 

Opening Night: Saturday, September 21 at 8:00 pm

 

Kenneth, a 38-year-old bookstore worker, has a happy life filled with simple pleasures like Mai Tais with his lifelong best friend. But he is shaken from his routines after a sudden layoff. In finding a new job at a local bank, he starts to open up to others while also opening up moments from his past. The Observer says, Primary Trust "will restore your faith in theater's elemental storytelling powers."

 

TICKET INFORMATION

 

Single tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now. For more information, visit BarringtonStageCo.org.