Salt Lake Acting Company founder and director of this show Ed Gryska was taking a big chance by presenting the show in conservative, mostly Mormon, Salt Lake City. The cast was all local except for Eddie Cobb and myself. They were all terrifically talented and dove right in, the guys having a lot of laughs learning to walk in high heels and wearing the terrific costumes designed by Susan Crotts and put together by the much-loved seamstress Viola Tollis. We had some good press from both of the local papers prior to opening and once the reviews came out and the word of mouth spread, we were playing to SRO houses for every performance.

The audiences loved the show and would clap in time with the music and sing along as we sang “The Best of Times is Now” during the company bows. Theater seats were taken out of the first couple of rows and replaced by tables and chairs to simulate the feeling of being in a night club. There were also single tables placed on far stage right and left so that the audience was part of the action when Zaza and the Cagelles performed. It was so great to hear the laughter and see the smiles on their faces as the show went on. However, there was a local homophobic fellow who felt that he had to write letters to the editor (see in the photo gallery above)  of the conservative daily newspaper and warn readers that the “play promotes homosexuality” which made people curious and sold even more tickets.

Eddie Cobb was a joy to work with and was brilliant as Albin/Zaza. We remained friends until he unexpectedly (cardiac arrest) left the planet in 2004. Another really big loss was the passing of Ed Gryska in 2015. He did so much for the Salt Lake Acting Company as well as for the theatre community in Salt Lake City. His courageous, daring and adventurous choices will long be remembered. While our show was running, Anthony Hopkins, who I became friends with in Los Angeles, just happened to be in SLC shooting the film “Desperate Hours.” I invited him to see our show and after the performance, he graciously asked to meet Ed and the cast and told everyone how much he enjoyed the production. Needless to say, it made our day having an Academy Award winner in the audience.

Fade out, Fade in … 30 years later, former longtime Democrat and gay activist senator from Utah, Jim Dabakis took on the role of Monsieur Dindon in a week long staged reading of La Cage at Salt Lake’s other prominent theater venue the Pioneer Theater Company. The first time he saw the show was our 1989 production which he had this to say about: “I was totally transformed to a whole different world. … I was naive, and I didn’t really understand drag queens. I was in my own little bubble. [The musical] brought me to a place that only the best theater can bring you. Our community and our state will always be in debt to SLAC and the cast for this pioneering production.”

While I was in rehearsal for the show, I had my little video camera with me (no iPhones back then) and took videos of our daily music sessions, Cagelle’s tap dancing lessons, costume fittings etc. etc. etc. A friend who came to see the show one evening secretly videotaped the whole production. I had it all transferred to a couple of  DVDs which are now part of the University of Utah’s Marriott  Library Theatre Collection to view by request. Long Live S.L.A.C. and founder Ed Gryska.