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, marking the European premier.
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.
The UK’s National Theatre staged a new production in 2017 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.
The National Theatre production received universally rave reviews. Writing for The Stage, Tim Bano claimed “This isn’t just triumphant, it’s transcendent.” The Guardian’s Michael Billington stated the production “perfectly captures the sustained emotional arc of Sondheim and Goldman’s musical,”
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, marking the European premier.
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.
The UK’s National Theatre staged a new production in 2017 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.
The National Theatre production received universally rave reviews. Writing for The Stage, Tim Bano claimed “This isn’t just triumphant, it’s transcendent.” The Guardian’s Michael Billington stated the production “perfectly captures the sustained emotional arc of Sondheim and Goldman’s musical,”
Filmed Production Notes
As part of the National Theatre’s successful National Theatre Live program, the 2017 production of Follies was broadcast live to cinemas around the world via Fathom Events on November 16, 2017.
During the broadcast, some cinemas experienced transmission issues, particularly with sound balance.
Encore screenings are being held in December 2017 and January 2018.
While the vast majority of the National Theatre’s broadcasts have been plays, NT Live have also broadcast Fela! (2011) and The Threepenny Opera (2016).
Follies is not currently available to view.
As part of the National Theatre’s successful National Theatre Live program, the 2017 production of Follies was broadcast live to cinemas around the world via Fathom Events on November 16, 2017.
During the broadcast, some cinemas experienced transmission issues, particularly with sound balance.
Encore screenings are being held in December 2017 and January 2018.
While the vast majority of the National Theatre’s broadcasts have been plays, NT Live have also broadcast Fela! (2011) and The Threepenny Opera (2016).
Follies is not currently available to view.
Follies PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Olivier Theatre (National Theatre), London
Producer: National Theatre
Book: James Goldman
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Dominic Cooke
Musical Director: Nigel Lilley
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick with Josh Clayton
Choreography: Bill Deamer
Scenic and Costume Design: Vicki Mortimer
Lighting Design: Paul Constable
Sound Design: Paul Groothuis
Cast:
Julie Armstrong, Norma Atallah, Josephine Barstow, Jeremy Batt, Tracie Bennett, Di Botcher, Billy Boyle, Janie Dee, Anouska Eaton, Liz Ewing, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Forbes, Emily Goodenough, Bruce Graham, Adrian Grove, Fred Haig, Aimee Hodnett , Dawn Hope, Liz Izen, Alison Langer, Emily Langham, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ian McLarnon, Leisha Mollyneaux, Gemma Page, Kate Parr, Philip Quast, Edwin Ray, Gary Raymond, Adam Rhys-Charles, Jordan Shaw, Imelda Staunton, Zizi Strallen, Barnaby Thompson, Christine Tucker, Michael Vinsen, Alex Young
Theatre: Olivier Theatre (National Theatre), London
Producer: National Theatre
Book: James Goldman
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Dominic Cooke
Musical Director: Nigel Lilley
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick with Josh Clayton
Choreography: Bill Deamer
Scenic and Costume Design: Vicki Mortimer
Lighting Design: Paul Constable
Sound Design: Paul Groothuis
Cast:
Julie Armstrong, Norma Atallah, Josephine Barstow, Jeremy Batt, Tracie Bennett, Di Botcher, Billy Boyle, Janie Dee, Anouska Eaton, Liz Ewing, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Forbes, Emily Goodenough, Bruce Graham, Adrian Grove, Fred Haig, Aimee Hodnett , Dawn Hope, Liz Izen, Alison Langer, Emily Langham, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ian McLarnon, Leisha Mollyneaux, Gemma Page, Kate Parr, Philip Quast, Edwin Ray, Gary Raymond, Adam Rhys-Charles, Jordan Shaw, Imelda Staunton, Zizi Strallen, Barnaby Thompson, Christine Tucker, Michael Vinsen, Alex Young
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Tim Bano, “Follies review at the National Theatre, London – ‘not just triumphant, but transcendent’,” The Stage (Sept 7, 2017)
- Michael Billington, “Follies review – Sondheim's showbiz stunner returns in breathtaking style,” The Guardian (Sept 6, 2017)
- Michael H. Hutchins, “Follies,” The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide (May 29, 2014)
- Domenic Cavendish, “Razzmatazz, poignancy and cracking songs in this unmissable Sondheim revival - Follies review,” The Telegraph (Sept 7, 2017)
- Mark Shenton, “Mark Shenton’s week: Repeating Follies at the National and repeated failings at the Old Vic,” The Stage (Nov 20, 2017)
- Paul Taylor, “Follies, National Theatre, London, review: It's jaw-droppingly great,” The Independent (Sept 7, 2017)
- Matt Trueman, “London Theater Review: ‘Follies’ With Imelda Staunton at the National Theatre,” Variety (Sept 7, 2017)
- Matt Wolf, “Sondheim’s ‘Follies’ Is Back, at Once Bleak and Beautiful,” New York Times (Sept 8, 2017)
Websites
- National Theatre, “Follies,” Accessed via: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/follies
- National Theatre Live, “Follies,” Accessed via: http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/63102-follies
- Playbill, “Follies: Broadway/ Musical/ Original” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/follies-winter-garden-theatre-vault-0000011547
Written by Luisa Lyons (December, 2017)