Fred Applegate Completes La Cage aux Folles Cast

Fred Applegate has joined the Broadway cast of La Cage aux Folles, playing two roles: ultra-conservative Edouard Dindon and cafe owner M. Renaud. The musical revival, which stars Frasier Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer and British star Douglas Hodge, starts rehearsals on Monday, March 1, 2010.

Interestingly, Applegate was last seen on Broadway juggling two roles in the blockbuster Young Frankenstein: Inspector Kemp and the lonely Hermit. Other Broadway credits include Max Bialystock in The Producers (in which he also toured) and Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music. Recently, Applegate appeared off-Broadway in Happiness and in the City Center Encores! staging of Fanny as husband to Elena Shaddow, who will now play his daughter Anne in La Cage.

In La Cage aux Folles, Georges (Grammer) is the suave owner of a glitzy drag club on the French Riviera. Partnered romantically with his high-strung star performer, Albin (Hodge), the pair live a charmed life—until Georges’ son Jean-Michel (A.J. Shively) announces his engagement to the daughter (Shaddow) of a conservative right-wing politician (Applegate) who’s coming to dinner. The Tony-winning Best Musical of 1984 features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. The new production is directed by Terry Johnson and choreographed by Lynne Page.

Also featured in the company are Veanne Cox as Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud, Robin de Jesus as Jacob, Christine Andreas as Jacqueline, Chris Hoch as Francis, Heather Lindell as Colette, Bill Nolte as Tabarro and David Nathan Perlow as Etienne.

La Cage aux Folles is set to begin performances at the Longacre Theatre on April 6, 2010.