Daniel Davis, who originated the role of Georges in the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, is no longer with the production. Davis, who played his last performance yesterday, will be replaced in mid-April by stage, screen, and recording veteran Robert Goulet. Until then, the role will be played by John Hillner, Davis’s understudy.
Though no official reason was given for the cast change, there has been word of friction between Davis and co-star Gary Beach, who plays Albin (Georges’ longtime lover and the star of the titular nightclub). It has also been reported that Davis missed several performances recently.
Goulet created the role of Lancelot in the 1960 Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot, and he won a Tony Award in 1968 for his performance in the Kander and Ebb musical The Happy Time. He subsequently appeared on Broadway in Moon Over Buffalo in 1995 and as King Arthur in a 1993 revival of Camelot. Goulet also starred as Emile DeBecque in a recent tour of South Pacific.
La Cage aux Folles has a book by Harvey Fierstein and a score by Jerry Herman. The current production was directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.