FolliesOpening Date: March 8, 2013
Closing Date: March 10, 2013 Air date: December 2013 Medium: TV Where to watch: Region 2 DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link). |
Stage Production Notes
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman, Follies is a musical that explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and looking back at youth. Set in the dilapidated and soon-to-be demolished Weisman Theatre, former performers from the Weisman’s Follies remember the trials and tribulations of their younger selves. Follies is celebrated by critics and historians as one of Sondheim’s greatest musicals.
Following a month of previews in Boston in early 1971, Follies opened on Broadway on April 4, 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre. It was directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, with Bennett also providing choreography. The cast included Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson, and Alexis Smith.
Follies was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning 7 including Best Actress in a Musical (Alexis Smith), Best Choreography (Michael Bennett), Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz), Best Direction of a Musical (Harold Prince and Michael Bennett), Best Lighting Design (Tharon Musser), Best Original Score (Stephen Sondheim), and Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson).
After 522 performances, Follies closed on Broadway. Despite critical acclaim, the production was deemed a commercial flop after it failed to recoup its $800,000 production costs.
Follies premiered in the UK in Manchester at the Forum Theatre in 1985.
The musical was first performed on the West End in 1987 at the Shaftsbury Theatre. The production was directed by Mike Ockrent, and choreographed by Bob Avian. Diana Rigg, Julia McKenzie, Daniel Massey, and David Healy led the cast.
The New York Philharmonic presented a concert version of Follies in 1985. A documentary with substantial footage of the concert was released by PBS in 1986. The documentary was later released on VHS and DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
In 2001, Roundabout Theatre presented the first Broadway revival of Follies at the Belasco Theatre. Under the direction of Matthew Warchus, the revival was choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and featured Blythe Danner, Gregory Harrison, Judith Ivey, and Treat Williams. The revival was nominated for 5 Tony Awards and 3 Drama Desk Awards. It ran for 117 performances.
New York City Center presented a limited engagement Encores! production of Follies in 2007. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, the production featured Donna Murphy, Victor Garber, Victoria Clark, and Michael McGrath.
A second Broadway revival, based on the 2011 Kennedy Center production, opened in August, 2011 at the Marquis Theatre. Directed by Ed Schaeffer and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, the production featured Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, and Ron Raines. The revival was nominated for 10 Drama Desk Awards, winning for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Danny Burstein), Outstanding Costume Design (Gregg Barnes), and Outstanding Revival of a Musical. The production was also nominated for 8 Tony Awards, winning for Best Costume Design of a Musical. It ran for 152 performances.
In 2013, the Opéra de Toulon in France staged a new production, which was filmed live and later released on DVD. See below for more information.
In 2017, the UK’s National Theatre staged a highly celebrated production at the Olivier Theatre. Directed by Dominic Cooke and choreographed by Bill Deamer, the production featured a 21-piece orchestra and a cast of 37 including Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Peter Forbes. This production was broadcast live in cinemas around the world through the National Theatre Live program.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman, Follies is a musical that explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and looking back at youth. Set in the dilapidated and soon-to-be demolished Weisman Theatre, former performers from the Weisman’s Follies remember the trials and tribulations of their younger selves. Follies is celebrated by critics and historians as one of Sondheim’s greatest musicals.
Following a month of previews in Boston in early 1971, Follies opened on Broadway on April 4, 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre. It was directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, with Bennett also providing choreography. The cast included Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson, and Alexis Smith.
Follies was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning 7 including Best Actress in a Musical (Alexis Smith), Best Choreography (Michael Bennett), Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz), Best Direction of a Musical (Harold Prince and Michael Bennett), Best Lighting Design (Tharon Musser), Best Original Score (Stephen Sondheim), and Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson).
After 522 performances, Follies closed on Broadway. Despite critical acclaim, the production was deemed a commercial flop after it failed to recoup its $800,000 production costs.
Follies premiered in the UK in Manchester at the Forum Theatre in 1985.
The musical was first performed on the West End in 1987 at the Shaftsbury Theatre. The production was directed by Mike Ockrent, and choreographed by Bob Avian. Diana Rigg, Julia McKenzie, Daniel Massey, and David Healy led the cast.
The New York Philharmonic presented a concert version of Follies in 1985. A documentary with substantial footage of the concert was released by PBS in 1986. The documentary was later released on VHS and DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
In 2001, Roundabout Theatre presented the first Broadway revival of Follies at the Belasco Theatre. Under the direction of Matthew Warchus, the revival was choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and featured Blythe Danner, Gregory Harrison, Judith Ivey, and Treat Williams. The revival was nominated for 5 Tony Awards and 3 Drama Desk Awards. It ran for 117 performances.
New York City Center presented a limited engagement Encores! production of Follies in 2007. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, the production featured Donna Murphy, Victor Garber, Victoria Clark, and Michael McGrath.
A second Broadway revival, based on the 2011 Kennedy Center production, opened in August, 2011 at the Marquis Theatre. Directed by Ed Schaeffer and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, the production featured Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, and Ron Raines. The revival was nominated for 10 Drama Desk Awards, winning for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Danny Burstein), Outstanding Costume Design (Gregg Barnes), and Outstanding Revival of a Musical. The production was also nominated for 8 Tony Awards, winning for Best Costume Design of a Musical. It ran for 152 performances.
In 2013, the Opéra de Toulon in France staged a new production, which was filmed live and later released on DVD. See below for more information.
In 2017, the UK’s National Theatre staged a highly celebrated production at the Olivier Theatre. Directed by Dominic Cooke and choreographed by Bill Deamer, the production featured a 21-piece orchestra and a cast of 37 including Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Peter Forbes. This production was broadcast live in cinemas around the world through the National Theatre Live program.
Filmed Production Notes
Thanks to successful productions of American musicals including Candide (2006), The Sound of Music (2009), West Side Story (2012), My Fair Lady (2013), and several Sondheim musicals at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, American musical theatre has found a following in France.
In 2010, under the artistic direction of Claude-Henri Bonnet, the Opéra de Toulon staged a well-received production of Kurt Weil’s Street Scene.
In 2013, Opéra de Toulon and Opéra-Théâtre de Metz co-produced a new production of Follies. The musical featured English and French actors, including Graham Bickley, Liz Robertson, Charlotte Page, and Jérôme Pradon. It was performed in English with French surtitles.
Slight changes were made to the production, including having Solange LaFitte played by a male actor, Denis d’Arcangelo (an actor well-known for playing transvestite characters).
Follies at the Opéra de Toulon received glowing reviews. Critics praised Sondheim’s sublime score, and noted the outstanding performances of the cast.
Regard en Coulisse, a French site dedicated to musical theatre, published a delightful behind-the-scenes article featuring stills of the production.
The final performance of the Opéra de Toulon production was filmed live. The production aired on France 3 during the Christmas period in 2013, and re-aired on French television on May 6, 2017.
BelAir Classiques released Follies on DVD in 2015, which in addition to the full musical features 30 minutes of interviews with the cast.
Follies is available to view on Region 2 DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Thanks to successful productions of American musicals including Candide (2006), The Sound of Music (2009), West Side Story (2012), My Fair Lady (2013), and several Sondheim musicals at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, American musical theatre has found a following in France.
In 2010, under the artistic direction of Claude-Henri Bonnet, the Opéra de Toulon staged a well-received production of Kurt Weil’s Street Scene.
In 2013, Opéra de Toulon and Opéra-Théâtre de Metz co-produced a new production of Follies. The musical featured English and French actors, including Graham Bickley, Liz Robertson, Charlotte Page, and Jérôme Pradon. It was performed in English with French surtitles.
Slight changes were made to the production, including having Solange LaFitte played by a male actor, Denis d’Arcangelo (an actor well-known for playing transvestite characters).
Follies at the Opéra de Toulon received glowing reviews. Critics praised Sondheim’s sublime score, and noted the outstanding performances of the cast.
Regard en Coulisse, a French site dedicated to musical theatre, published a delightful behind-the-scenes article featuring stills of the production.
The final performance of the Opéra de Toulon production was filmed live. The production aired on France 3 during the Christmas period in 2013, and re-aired on French television on May 6, 2017.
BelAir Classiques released Follies on DVD in 2015, which in addition to the full musical features 30 minutes of interviews with the cast.
Follies is available to view on Region 2 DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Follies PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Toulon Opera House, France
Producer: Opéra de Toulon and Opéra-Théâtre de Metz
Book: James Goldman
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Olivier Bénézech
Musical Director: David Charles Abell
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Choreography: Caroline Roëlands
Scenic Design: Valérie Jung
Costume Design: Frédéric Olivier
Lighting Design: Marc-Antoine Vellutini
Cast:
Graham Bickley (Benjamin Stone), Liz Robertson (Phyllis), Charlotte Page (Sally), Jérôme Pradon (Buddy), Nicole Croisille (Carlotta), Denis D'Arcangelo (Solange LaFitte), Sarah Ingram (Stella Deems), Stuart Neal (Young Ben), Sophie May Wake (Young Phyllis), Fra Fee (Young Buddy), Jessie May (Young Sally), Julia Sutton (Hattie Walker), Marilyn Hill Smith (Heidi Shiller), Kristy Swift (Young Heidi), Joe Shovelton (Roscoe / Max Deems), Jo Cameron Brown (Emily Whitman), John Conroy (Theodore Whitman), Larrio Ekson (Weismann), Francois Beretta (Kevin), Elizabeth Cramaro (Margie)
Theatre: Toulon Opera House, France
Producer: Opéra de Toulon and Opéra-Théâtre de Metz
Book: James Goldman
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Olivier Bénézech
Musical Director: David Charles Abell
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Choreography: Caroline Roëlands
Scenic Design: Valérie Jung
Costume Design: Frédéric Olivier
Lighting Design: Marc-Antoine Vellutini
Cast:
Graham Bickley (Benjamin Stone), Liz Robertson (Phyllis), Charlotte Page (Sally), Jérôme Pradon (Buddy), Nicole Croisille (Carlotta), Denis D'Arcangelo (Solange LaFitte), Sarah Ingram (Stella Deems), Stuart Neal (Young Ben), Sophie May Wake (Young Phyllis), Fra Fee (Young Buddy), Jessie May (Young Sally), Julia Sutton (Hattie Walker), Marilyn Hill Smith (Heidi Shiller), Kristy Swift (Young Heidi), Joe Shovelton (Roscoe / Max Deems), Jo Cameron Brown (Emily Whitman), John Conroy (Theodore Whitman), Larrio Ekson (Weismann), Francois Beretta (Kevin), Elizabeth Cramaro (Margie)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Pat Cerasaro, “FOLLIES Now Available For The First Time On DVD In New Region 2 Edition, View The Trailer & Order,” Broadway World (March 11, 2015)
- Catherine Galitzine, “Critique : “Follies” à l’Opéra de Toulon,” Musical Avenue (March 25, 2013)
- Stéphane Ly-Cuong, “Graham Bickley, Liz Robertson, Charlotte Page, Jérôme Pradon Will Star in Sondheim's Follies in France,” Playbill (March 4, 2013)
- Stéphane Ly-Cuong, “Follies - Toulon Opera (Review)” Regard en Coulisse, (March 9, 2013)
- Michel Parouty, “Sondheim en France,” The Sondheim Review, 20(1), (Fall/Winter 2013), p.55-56
- Rick Pender, “News & Notes: I Cannot Leave the Thought of You Behind,” The Sondheim Review, 19(4), (Summer 2013), p.4
- Rick Pender, “Transcendent Art,” The Sondheim Review, 21(3), (Summer 2015), p.16
Websites
- BelAir Classiques, “Sondheim: Follies,” Accessed via: https://belairclassiques.com/film/sondheim-follies-toulon-dvd
- Culture Box, ““Follies” de Stephen Sondheim par Olivier Bénézech à l’Opéra de Toulon” Accessed via: https://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/opera-classique/opera/tous-a-l-opera/follies-de-stephen-sondheim-a-l-opera-de-toulon-255757
- Opéra de Toulon, “Follies,” Accessed via: http://www.operadetoulon.fr/spectacles/lyrique-follies/6.htm
- The Sondheim Guide, “Follies: 2013 Opéra de Toulon Production,” Accessed via: http://www.sondheimguide.com/follies.html#Toulon
Written by Luisa Lyons (March, 2018)