The musical numbers in the show have been interpreted as pastiches of the styles of the leading Broadway composers of the 1920s and 1930s, and sometimes as parodies of specific songs. The Broadway production opened on April 4, 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, and with choreography by Bennett.
The musical numbers in the show have been interpreted as pastiches of the styles of the leading Broadway composers of the 1920s and 1930s, and sometimes as parodies of specific songs. The Broadway production opened on April 4, 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, and with choreography by Bennett.
Rich, in his review, noted that "As performed at Avery Fisher Hall, the score emerged as an original whole, in which the 'modern' music and mock vintage tunes constantly comment on each other, much as the script's action unfolds simultaneously in 1971 (the year of the reunion) and 1941 (the year the Follies disbanded)." Among the reasons the concert was staged was to provide an opportunity to record the entire score.
Inspired by a New York Times article about a gathering of former showgirls from the Ziegfeld Follies, they decided upon a story about ex-showgirls. Originally titled The Girls Upstairs, the musical was to be produced by David Merrick and Leland Hayward in late 1967, but the plans ultimately fell through, and Stuart Ostrow became the producer, with Joseph Hardy to direct.
The musical numbers in the show have been interpreted as pastiches of the styles of the leading Broadway composers of the 1920s and 1930s, and sometimes as parodies of specific songs. The Broadway production opened on April 4, 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, and with choreography by Bennett.
It was Prince who changed the title to Follies; he was "intrigued by the psychology of a reunion of old chorus dancers and loved the play on the word 'follies'". ==Plot== In 1971, on the soon-to-be-demolished stage of the Weismann Theatre, a reunion is being held to honor the Weismann's "Follies" shows past and the beautiful chorus girls who performed there every year between the two World Wars.
The 2017 National Theatre production is performed without an interval. ==Productions== ===1971 Original Broadway=== Follies had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial Theatre, Boston, from February 20 through March 20, 1971. Follies premiered on Broadway on April 4, 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
Rich, in his review, noted that "As performed at Avery Fisher Hall, the score emerged as an original whole, in which the 'modern' music and mock vintage tunes constantly comment on each other, much as the script's action unfolds simultaneously in 1971 (the year of the reunion) and 1941 (the year the Follies disbanded)." Among the reasons the concert was staged was to provide an opportunity to record the entire score.
In 1971 or 2001, Follies validates the legend that a Broadway show can be an event worth dressing up for." Brantley, reviewing the 2007 Encores! concert for The New York Times, wrote: "I have never felt the splendid sadness of Follies as acutely as I did watching the emotionally transparent concert production...At almost any moment, to look at the faces of any of the principal performers...is to be aware of people both bewitched and wounded by the contemplation of who they used to be.
When they sing, in voices layered with ambivalence and anger and longing, it is clear that it is their past selves whom they are serenading." ==Recordings== There have been six recordings of Follies released: the original 1971 Broadway cast album; Follies in Concert, Avery Fisher Hall (1985); the original London production (1987); and the Paper Mill Playhouse (1998).
Other notable performers in the original productions were Fifi D'Orsay as Solange LaFitte, Justine Johnston as Heidi Schiller, Mary McCarty as Stella Deems, Arnold Moss as Dimitri Weismann, Ethel Shutta as Hattie Walker, and Marcie Stringer and Charles Welch as Emily and Theodore Whitman. The show closed on July 1, 1972, after 522 performances and 12 previews.
Louis, Missouri in July 1972 and then transferred to the Shubert Theatre, Century City, California, running from July 22, 1972, through October 1, 1972.
Goldman's revised book offered some small improvements over the original." According to Sondheim, the producer Cameron Mackintosh asked for changes for the 1987 London production.
The 1987 West End, 2005 Barrington Stage Company, the 2001 Broadway revival and Kennedy Center 2011 productions were performed in two acts.
Portions of the concert were seen by audiences worldwide in the televised documentary about the making of the concert, also released on videotape and DVD, of 'Follies' in Concert. ===1987 West End=== The musical played in the West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on July 21, 1987, and closed on February 4, 1989, after 644 performances.
This production used the original text and the "Loveland" lyrics performed in the 1987 London production. ===2011 Kennedy Center and Broadway=== The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts production at the Eisenhower Theatre started previews on May 7, 2011, with an official opening on May 21, and closed on June 19, 2011.
regional productions=== Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) was the first major American opera company to present Follies as part of their main stage repertoire, running from October 21, 1988 through November 6.
Portions of the concert were seen by audiences worldwide in the televised documentary about the making of the concert, also released on videotape and DVD, of 'Follies' in Concert. ===1987 West End=== The musical played in the West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on July 21, 1987, and closed on February 4, 1989, after 644 performances.
During the run, Eartha Kitt replaced Gray, sparking somewhat of a comeback (she went on to perform her own one-woman show at The Shaftesbury Theatre to sell-out houses for three weeks from 18 March 1989 after Follies closed).
The MOT production starred Nancy Dussault (Sally), John-Charles Kelly (Buddy), Juliet Prowse (Phyllis) and Ron Raines (Ben), Edie Adams (Carlotta), Thelma Lee (Hattie), and Dennis Grimaldi (Vincent). A production also ran from March to April 1995 at the Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, Texas and in April to May 1995 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle with Constance Towers (Phyllis), Judy Kaye (Sally), Edie Adams, Denise Darcel, Virginia Mayo and Karen Morrow (Carlotta).
It followed a similar presentation at the 1995 Melbourne Festival of Arts with a different cast and orchestra. ===2001 Broadway revival=== A Broadway revival opened at the Belasco Theatre on April 5, 2001, and closed on July 14, 2001, after 117 performances and 32 previews.
Stephen Sondheim attended one of the performances. ===1996 and 1998 concerts=== Dublin concert The Dublin Concert was held in May 1996 at the National Concert Hall.
Directed by Michael Scott, the cast included Lorna Luft, Millicent Martin, Mary Millar, Dave Willetts, Trevor Jones Bryan Smyth, Alex Sharpe, Christine Scarry, Aidan Conway and Enda Markey. London concert A concert was held at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on December 8, 1996, and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on February 15, 1997.
Directed by Michael Scott, the cast included Lorna Luft, Millicent Martin, Mary Millar, Dave Willetts, Trevor Jones Bryan Smyth, Alex Sharpe, Christine Scarry, Aidan Conway and Enda Markey. London concert A concert was held at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on December 8, 1996, and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on February 15, 1997.
The four characters are "whisked into a dream show in which each acts out his or her own principal 'folly'". ==Versions== Goldman continued to revise the book of the musical right up to his death, which occurred shortly before the 1998 Paper Mill Playhouse production.
The 2001 Roundabout Broadway revival, the first major production following Goldman's death in 1998, was again a combination of previous versions." Major changes were made for the original production in London, which attempted to establish a lighter tone and favored a happier ending than the original Broadway production.
The 1998 Paper Mill Playhouse production (Millburn, New Jersey) was directed by Robert Johanson with choreography by Jerry Mitchell and starred Donna McKechnie (Sally), Dee Hoty (Phyllis), Laurence Guittard (Ben), Tony Roberts (Buddy), Kaye Ballard (Hattie ), Eddie Bracken (Weismann), and Ann Miller (Carlotta).
Stephen Sondheim attended one of the performances. ===1996 and 1998 concerts=== Dublin concert The Dublin Concert was held in May 1996 at the National Concert Hall.
This show recreated the original Broadway score. Sydney concert Follies was performed in concert at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in February 1998 as the highlight of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and had three performances.
The 2001 Roundabout Broadway revival, the first major production following Goldman's death in 1998, was again a combination of previous versions." Major changes were made for the original production in London, which attempted to establish a lighter tone and favored a happier ending than the original Broadway production.
The 1987 West End, 2005 Barrington Stage Company, the 2001 Broadway revival and Kennedy Center 2011 productions were performed in two acts.
It followed a similar presentation at the 1995 Melbourne Festival of Arts with a different cast and orchestra. ===2001 Broadway revival=== A Broadway revival opened at the Belasco Theatre on April 5, 2001, and closed on July 14, 2001, after 117 performances and 32 previews.
This Roundabout Theatre limited engagement had been expected to close on September 30, 2001.
In 1971 or 2001, Follies validates the legend that a Broadway show can be an event worth dressing up for." Brantley, reviewing the 2007 Encores! concert for The New York Times, wrote: "I have never felt the splendid sadness of Follies as acutely as I did watching the emotionally transparent concert production...At almost any moment, to look at the faces of any of the principal performers...is to be aware of people both bewitched and wounded by the contemplation of who they used to be.
After previews from August 3, 2002, it opened officially on August 6, and closed on August 31, 2002.
This production conducted by Julian Kelly featured the original Broadway score. ===2002 Los Angeles=== Follies was part of L.A.'s Reprise series, and it was housed at the Wadsworth Theatre, presented as a staged concert, running from June 15 to June 23, 2002.
Tom Bosley originally was cast as Dimitri Weismann. ===2003 Ann Arbor=== A concert production at the Michigan Theater in January 2003 reunited the four principal young ghosts of the original Broadway cast: Kurt Peterson, Harvey Evans, Virginia Sandifur, and Marti Rolph.
The 1987 West End, 2005 Barrington Stage Company, the 2001 Broadway revival and Kennedy Center 2011 productions were performed in two acts.
This production received a full-length recording on two CDs, including not only the entire score as originally written but a lengthy appendix of songs cut from the original production in tryouts. Julianne Boyd directed a fully staged version of Follies in 2005 by the Barrington Stage Company (Massachusetts) in June–July 2005.
Donna McKechnie enjoyed top billing as Carlotta. ===2007 New York City Center Encores!=== New York City Center's Encores! "Great American Musicals in Concert" series featured Follies as its 40th production for six performances in February 2007 in a sold out semi-staged concert.
In 1971 or 2001, Follies validates the legend that a Broadway show can be an event worth dressing up for." Brantley, reviewing the 2007 Encores! concert for The New York Times, wrote: "I have never felt the splendid sadness of Follies as acutely as I did watching the emotionally transparent concert production...At almost any moment, to look at the faces of any of the principal performers...is to be aware of people both bewitched and wounded by the contemplation of who they used to be.
The 1987 West End, 2005 Barrington Stage Company, the 2001 Broadway revival and Kennedy Center 2011 productions were performed in two acts.
However, August 23, 2011, Broadway preview performance was performed without an intermission.
By opening, the 2011 Broadway revival was performed with the intermission, in two acts.
This production used the original text and the "Loveland" lyrics performed in the 1987 London production. ===2011 Kennedy Center and Broadway=== The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts production at the Eisenhower Theatre started previews on May 7, 2011, with an official opening on May 21, and closed on June 19, 2011.
Sondheim evokes the popular music of the prerock era." The production transferred to Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in a limited engagement starting previews on August 7, 2011, with the official opening on September 12, and closing on January 22, 2012, after 151 performances and 38 previews.
A two-disc cast album of this production was recorded by PS Classics and was released on November 29, 2011. Brantley reviewed the Broadway revival for The New York Times, writing: "Somewhere along the road from Washington to Broadway, the Kennedy Center production of Follies picked up a pulse...I am happy to report that since then, Ms Peters has connected with her inner frump, Mr.
This production has taken on the glint of crystalline sharpness." The production's run was extended, and its grosses exceeded expectations, but it did not recoup its investment. The Broadway production won the Drama League Award, Distinguished Production of a Musical Revival for 2011-2012 and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Burstein) and Outstanding Costume Design (Barnes).
Out of seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, it won only one, for Barnes' costumes. ===2012 Los Angeles=== The 2011 Broadway and Kennedy Center production transferred to the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California, in a limited engagement, from May 3, 2012 through June 9.
The cast recording of the 2011 Broadway revival, by PS Classics, was released officially on November 29, 2011, and was in pre-sale before the store release.
Sondheim evokes the popular music of the prerock era." The production transferred to Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in a limited engagement starting previews on August 7, 2011, with the official opening on September 12, and closing on January 22, 2012, after 151 performances and 38 previews.
Out of seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, it won only one, for Barnes' costumes. ===2012 Los Angeles=== The 2011 Broadway and Kennedy Center production transferred to the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California, in a limited engagement, from May 3, 2012 through June 9.
Other new cast members included Carol Neblett as Heidi, Sammy Williams as Theodore and Obba Babatunde as Max. ===2013 Toulon Opera House (France)=== For its first production in France, Follies was presented at the Toulon Opera House in March, 2013.
The 2017 London revival cast was recorded after the production closed in January 2018, and was released in early 2019. ==Film adaptation== In January 2015, it was reported that Rob Marshall is set to direct the movie, and Meryl Streep was rumored to star in it.
The 2017 National Theatre production is performed without an interval. ==Productions== ===1971 Original Broadway=== Follies had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial Theatre, Boston, from February 20 through March 20, 1971. Follies premiered on Broadway on April 4, 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
The production was directed by Tyran Parke and produced by StoreyBoard Entertainment. === 2017 London revival === A London revival was performed in the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre (22 August until 4 November 2017 - later extended to 3 January 2018, as extensions are common practice at the National Theatre).
The 2017 London revival cast was recorded after the production closed in January 2018, and was released in early 2019. ==Film adaptation== In January 2015, it was reported that Rob Marshall is set to direct the movie, and Meryl Streep was rumored to star in it.
The production was directed by Tyran Parke and produced by StoreyBoard Entertainment. === 2017 London revival === A London revival was performed in the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre (22 August until 4 November 2017 - later extended to 3 January 2018, as extensions are common practice at the National Theatre).
The 2017 London revival cast was recorded after the production closed in January 2018, and was released in early 2019. ==Film adaptation== In January 2015, it was reported that Rob Marshall is set to direct the movie, and Meryl Streep was rumored to star in it.
The production was broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on 16 November through the National Theatre Live programme. The production returned to the Olivier Theatre on 14 February 2019, playing until 11 May.
The 2017 London revival cast was recorded after the production closed in January 2018, and was released in early 2019. ==Film adaptation== In January 2015, it was reported that Rob Marshall is set to direct the movie, and Meryl Streep was rumored to star in it.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05