The Birdcage with Carrie Courogen (author of Miss May Does Not Exist) in person

Introduced by Carrie Courogen, author of the Elaine May biography Miss May Does Not Exist, and followed by a book signing

Dir. Mike Nichols. 1996, 117 mins. U.S. DCP. With Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria. The legendary team of director Mike Nichols and writer Elaine May reunited for this smash adaptation of the French farce La Cage aux Folles, starring Robin Williams as Miami Beach drag nightclub owner Armand and Nathan Lane, in a star-making role as his longtime partner and star performer, Albert. When Armand’s son (Futterman) arrives home with the sudden news that he’s engaged to the daughter (Flockhart) of an ultra-conservative politician (Hackman) and that he and his wife (Wiest) are visiting imminently, the two men are forced into hiding their gay identities and lifestyles for one awkward night. May’s addition of trenchant nineties culture war politics, Nichols’s expertly timed slapstick, and sweet-natured belief in nontraditional family values make The Birdcage a good-natured comic plea for staying true to oneself. 

Tickets: $17.50 / $12 senior and students / $10 youth (ages 3–17) / free for MoMI members at the Senior/Student level and above. There is a $1.50 transaction fee per ticket for all online purchases. The cost of admission may be applied toward a same-day purchase of a membership. 

Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. 

About the author:

Carrie Courogen is a New York-based writer, editor, strategist, and director with over 15 years of editorial experience in print, digital, and video media. Her debut book, Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius, is available now. The New York Times praised it as “compulsively readable,” The New Yorker said it’s “remarkable,” the Washington Post deemed it “splendid,” and the Los Angeles Times called it “a minor miracle.” It is a 2024 National Book Critics Circle finalist and was named one of the best books of 2024 by the New York Times, NPR, Publishers Weekly, Vulture, Newsweek, Literary Hub, and more.

Photograph by Sylvie Rosokoff