"La Cage aux Folles" tells the humorous and moving story of Albin, who performs as drag queen "Zaza", and his husband Georges, who run a nightclub in Saint-Tropez. Their life together comes apart at the seams when Jean-Michel, Georges' biological son from a previous relationship, announces his engagement. His future family-in-law is strictly conservative and, to avoid offending anyone, Jean-Michel asks Georges to hide Albin and pretend to be a "normal" family. Albin, who has raised Jean-Michel with love and devotion, is not prepared to be denied.
The successful musical with music by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein premiered in New York in 1983. In the midst of the AIDS crisis, "La Cage aux Folles" became an important symbol of acceptance, self-love and resistance to social stigmatization. The central message "I am what I am" remains relevant to this day.