Cinegrill Theater was once called the Cinegrill Cabaret Lounge in the early 2010's, but the name was changed to indicate that this space would have a wider spectrum of entertainment such as movie showings.
Now in 2023 performing La Cage, Drag Show, very loosely referring to the movie La Cage aux Folles. Announce yourself to the reception. Pass through a bookcase disguised door like at the Magic Castle and enter a crimson velvet tinged world of Cabaret.
Comfortable sofas for the big ballers while the rest of us are relegated to tall bar stools with no back. Don't get too toasted & sloshed or you could fall back backwards.
3 man band starts playing stalwarts of the American Song Book about 15 minutes before show time at 7pm. The doors open at 6pm. The 2nd show starts at 9pm.
You can order a short list of bar food, and there is a full bar, but obviously no loud blender to disrupt the show which runs around 90 minutes. So it is possible to dine before or after at French influenced Shirley where you get a 15% discount showing your La Cage tickets. Then doing a post prandial libation at the Lounge or an alcohol based Milk Shake at 25° to make it a full evening at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Drag is a venerable art form. In Shakespeare's time, the Globe Theatre had only male actors so Drag was de rigueur as well as the ancient Japanese Kabuki Theatre which is still all male to this day.
Host Tommi Rose, 47 year Drag veteran originally from the La Cage aux Folles Night Club in the 1980's as well as at famous Finocchio's in San Francisco during the 1970's, does a flurry of 13 costume changes ending with a silver beaded dress weighing 28 lbs.
A Marilyn Monroe, who is a dead ringer to the original, performs flawlessly channeling her inner Monroe. Lady Gaga makes an appearance lip synching to songs when she sang with Tony Bennett. The in between acts had a "Cabaret" Berlinesque feel that Liza Minelli would have been pleased.
The Torch Song finale was a rousing, feel good rendition of "I Am What I Am" from the song originally introduced in the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles.
It was a poignant song that makes no apology nor excuse for who we are. And that is the way it should be.
Enjoy the Drag!!!
PS Get rid of the annoying two pillars blocking the view of the stage. read more