It’s an evening rehearsal at the Civic Theatre in Evansville for the spring main stage musical "La Cage aux Folles."
Director Kearston Woywood calls the cast to their places, then up to the sound and light booth upstairs.
“Can we skip the overture and just go to the main thing,” she asks. The plucked, opening notes for "I Am What I Am," plays over the sound system.
The cast is partially dressed for the show with flowing gauzy capes and heels. Woywood said especially for their 100th season, this is an important story to tell.
“Civic this year, especially in their season, I feel has really been pushing boundaries, and trying to get important theater out there," she said. "I think this is nothing, if not important theater — It celebrates queerness and it pushes acceptance. I think that's something that is a message that needs to be heard currently.”
This musical was first a French play in 1973, then a film in 1978 and finally a musical in 1983.
The 1996 film "The Bird Cage" is based on the 1978 film. Harvey Fierstein wrote a novel adaptation.
Musical summary, via Concord Theatricals
"After 20 years of partnered bliss, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better or worse, get a bit of both when Georges’ son (fathered during a one-night fling) announces his impending marriage to the daughter of a bigoted, right-wing politician. Further complicating the situation is the 'family business' — Albin and Georges run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, where Albin is the star performer, 'Zaza.' Georges reluctantly agrees to masquerade as 'normal' when he meets the family of the bride-to-be. But Albin has other plans, with hilarious results."
With lots of dancing singing and costume changes, it’s a big job for a small cast and crew of 28.
Backstage, Art/Education Director Dani Scott has the flamboyant costumes and accessories laid out and hung up.
“There are a lot of costumes and costume changes," she said. "But I think what is fun is that everyone's working together so well, if someone needs help with a quick change, they're right there ready to go.”
Above video still: Steve Wylie performs as Albin/Zaza, during the March 11 rehearsal.
Theater Secretary Devon Tomkins runs the ticket booth for the final performance of "La Cage" on March 29. Many tickets are bought online; sine are bought here. She said 100 tickets were sold for the evening.
They are able to celebrate their 100th season at the Civic Theatre building on Fulton Avenue — a location they thought they were never coming back to.
in 2023, the company moved to Bosse High School, intending to end up at the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. But a benefactor bought the building and made necessary repairs, allowing them to return home for 2026.
Board Vice President Joe Gilpatrick said patrons are happy to be back.
“One of the first things they say were, 'we are so glad you guys are back here. It feels like you guys are back home, feels we're back home as patrons.' So the overall thought of our centennial season has been a lot of pride and a lot of hard work," he said. "I know we, a lot of us, been burning the midnight oil to make sure this place keeps going the way it has been.”
He said they’ve sold the most season ticket passes that they have in years.
Art Director Dani Scott is near the front doors of the theater, greeting patrons for the afternoon performance which starts in just a few minutes. She says a final performance is a little "bittersweet."
“Because they've done such an amazing job," she said. "It's always bittersweet to do the final show, but it's such a great last hurrah.”
She said right after the show, they get a little break.
"And then it's on to the next story. And that's how theater is. You build something, you you put it away at the end of the day, and then you're on to the next.”
Scott said topics from 100 years ago still resonate today. Civil rights and women's rights are still controversial. This musical even today, is a bit daring.
“This show le cage kind of emphasizes that there's still a morality police. Throughout history, there's always people trying to tell you what to do, who to be and how to act, and it's a story that keeps happening over and over. So hopefully at some point that journey comes to an end and everyone can just accept each other for who they are.”
This musical finished its run ion March 29. The Evansville Civic Theatre Centennial Celebration Gala is May 2. The play "People Places and Things" opens May 21st.
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