If you haven’t heard the news as of lately, TaDa! Events latest masterpiece production, La Cage Aux Folles has been all the talk on Newfoundland and Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula since 2020 came into the picture. La Cage Aux Folles is St. John’s latest WOW factor and you’re in good hands because we’re keeping you up to speed with everything right here! Did we mention we have a very special guest for this article?

La Cage Aux Folles tells the story of George, the owner of a glitzy drag nightclub, and Albin, the star attraction. When their son, Jean-Michel, brings home his new fiancee and her ultra-conservative parents, the limits of family, love and mascara are tested. This groundbreaking musical comedy won rave reviews in both its stage productions and its film version The Birdcage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. TaDa! Events, known for its elaborate productions, brings the full glitter of a Parisian show-bar to the St. John’s stage, then flips the action to reveal the backstage madness behind the feathers and the fans.

With a star studded cast of singers, dancers, actors, musicians and some of the City’s most glamorous drag queens, La Cage Aux Folles is hilarious and heartwarming fun for the whole family!

If you haven’t heard of ‘The Birdcage’ before, click on the video below to see what La Cage Aux Folles is all about!

If you’re looking to get tickets for the show like many others in Newfoundland and Labrador, click the photo-link below and get yours today!

The world, the country and the province has come a long way with respect to the LGBTQ community since ‘The Birdcage’ had been released in 1995. Looking back 25 years prior to 2020, the ground-breaking film earned such awards as:

• Screen Actors Guild Awards (1997) – Outstanding Performance by a Cast
• 20/20 Awards (2017) – Best Costume Design / Best Art Direction
• American Comedy Awards, USA (1997) – Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) / Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Blockbuster Entertainment Awards  (1997) – Favorite Supporting Actor – Comedy / Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy

Speaking about glamorous drag queens, we’ve caught up with La Cage Aux Folles very own Irma Gerd for a one-on-one interview! If you’ve been curious to learn about the world of drag, here’s your chance to learn some of the ins and outs of what it’s like to be on the cast of TaDa! Event’s La Cage Aux Folles!

Interviewer: Tell us about Irma Gerd. Where did the inspiration come from for the name? Who is Irma Gerd? Who does Irma represent?

Irma Gerd:

““Irma is weird, wild, and wonderful. I thought GERD would help spread awareness for Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder, and Gerd knows I love a pun. (Irma Gerd, say it out loud)””.

Interviewer: Let’s focus on Newfoundland and Labrador. What does it mean to be Irma Gerd in the province? In St. John’s? How receptive are people to the growing world of drag in NL?

Irma Gerd:

““I thought that I would have to move away to find my success, and Toronto helped me find what I love, but bringing that love back to Newfoundland was my ticket. I don’t know if I would be as successful if I had stayed on the mainland. Since living in St John’s  I have had the opportunity to play a major part in building the drag community that exists today. I have been able to shape it in a way that I believe to be more accepting of all forms of drag, and have been able to advocate for drag to be respected as an art form, and for the artists to be paid fairly for the work that they do.

I have had such a positive reaction to my drag from Newfoundlanders. It used to be that the only stage for drag was once a month at the local gay bar (the only one in the province), now there are opportunities to perform just about anywhere you can think. Drag Brunch at the Mall, Keith Power just did the Mt. Pearl Frosty Fest as Cher, one time I was hired to do drag on the Metrobus at 7am!””.

In Photo: Irma Gerd.
Photo Credit: Shyama Shoots Photography

Interviewer: Can you give us a brief overview of the St. John’s LGBTQ and drag community? Are there any characteristics that shine bright here as opposed to other regions and/or provinces?

Irma Gerd:

““I think that St. John’s has a very vibrant community given how small it is in comparison to other major centres. The word I always use is that our community is blossoming. It’s not new by any means, there have been drag performers performing underground for decades, but it’s only in the past two or three years that it’s been exploding with new faces, and events almost every weekend. We are getting to a point that we have to co-ordinate show times so that we don’t have overlaps and drag fans can make it out to as many shows as possible! It’s a very exciting time!””.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about the TaDa! Events drag contest! Can you tell us a little about your experience of partaking in the show?

Irma Gerd:

““I am no stranger to the stage, but in La Cage Aux Folles I will be doing so many new things. A higher level or choreography, while singing live, not hogging the whole stage to myself, these are all new things for me! I am honoured that the good folks at TaDa have cast me in this production, and at that have cast me as my own drag persona. They were thinking of having Bernadette Peters playing Irma, but I’m willing to do nude (lipsticks), so I got the role.

But real talk: It’s very cool that they have cast a few local queens in the show as either themselves (Shea Muah), or in other roles (Eda Kumquat and Betty Boo Kakke). It’s a great show to introduce people to drag and casting us is a way for people to learn that it’s not just a thing in places like Toronto and New York– our local drag community is without a doubt THE best one in the Greater St. John’s Area!!””.

In Photo: Irma Gerd.
Photo Credit: Shyama Shoots Photography

Interviewer: As someone who’s been in theatre and performing roles for quite some time, what does it mean to you to be partaking in one of the leading roles in La Cage Aux Folles? Why is La Cage symbolic for Newfoundland and Labrador? In the LGBTQ community?

Irma Gerd:

““I think for a lot of people, this show will be the first time they ever encounter drag up close and personal. And not just by seeing it, but the show itself shows that behind the drag is a person, not just a caricature. It is very funny but has a lot of heart. I have been familiar with the movie (The Birdcage) and the soundtrack for a long time, and I think that audiences can come from any walk of life and take something out of the show. It’s not just for gay people who love glitter!!

 

I’m very excited to be one of the sparkly headlining acts at La Cage Aux Folles, it’s just too bad it’s not a real club here in town, I’d perform there every night if I could. But at least it will be real March 12-14^th at the Arts and Culture Centre!””.

Check out the following video for yet another hilarious clip from The Birdcage! The video will give you a sneak-peek at what to expect during La Cage Aux Folles!

Interviewer: How does La Cage Aux Folles differ from other performances you’ve done throughout the years? Can you discuss what it’s like working with the drag and LGBTQ community at La Cage Aux Folles? We understand that some of the performers have not partaken in a play or big show like La Cage before. How has the process gone? We’ve been told there’s an amazing family vibe happening!

Irma Gerd:

““I’ve not actually done that much in the theatre, a lot of my work has been on stage at bars and party events. There is a lot of sharing of knowledge happening in this production. I am learning more technical terms, and tighter choreography with Pamela Pittman, singing live with Evan Smith, and doing scene work with Terri Andrews. But also, I have been giving other actors lessons in walking in heels and giving off a ‘drag’ attitude, and talking to costume and makeup to give them some tips that they may not have known to help make this show even more fabulous!””.

Interviewer: Do you have any specific highlights of working with TaDa! Events you’d like to speak about? Do you have any career defining highlights for Irma? For yourself with regards to acting and performing?

Irma Gerd:

““It’s been a big year for me (bragging time)! About a year ago I was featured on CBC’s ‘Canada’s a Drag’ Season 2. I performed twice in a series of Performance Art at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery. I competed in and won ‘Atlantic Drag Star’ in Halifax, a regional competition judged by Drag Race winner Aquaria. I designed, styled, and maintained the wigs and hair for Opera on the Avalon’s production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Through Eastern Edge Gallery I curated an evening of performance art and drag called the ‘Retroflex Cabaret’, which exhibited art by local performers, some invited from Toronto, and from the show Dragula, Hollow Eve from Los Angeles. I have also been producing shows this year with my drag collective, the ‘Phlegm Fatales’, which have been elevating the format of drag shows locally and bringing some freaky fun performers to the stage.

 

So yes, it’s been a year full of career highlights, and I’m so excited to add La Cage onto this growing list of accomplishments!””.

Interviewer: Any closing comments? Perhaps any words of wisdom to the LGBTQ and/or drag community? To Newfoundland and Labrador? Show goers? You choose!

Irma Gerd:

““I hope this show is sold out every night because it’s really going to be a lot of fun. And I hope that everyone who goes continues to come back out to support the local drag and theatre of the province. It’s an amazing opportunity to be a part of this show and I cannot wait to share it with the world!””.