Sondheim’s Follies to return to the National Theatre in 2019

Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Stephen Sondheim’s musical Follies is to return to the National Theatre in 2019. Following a critically acclaimed run in 2017-18, Stephen Sondheim and James Golman’s musical Follies is to return to the National Theatre in 2019. Casting and production dates will be announced in the near future. The production recently won two awards at the London’s Critic’s Circle Theatre Awards for Dominic Cooke (Best Director) and Vicki Mortimer (Best Designer). A cast album of the production is expected to be released in the coming months. Dominic Cooke’s production of Follies saw the show restored scenes cut from the 1971 Broadway premiere and used Jonathan Tunick’s full original orchestration and saw the show returned to its original one-act structure. The National Theatre’s production of Follies saw four-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton as Sally Durrant, three time Olivier winner Philip Quast as Ben, and Olivier and Obie Award winner Janie Dee … Read more

My 2017 Theatre Highlights – Mark Ludmon

Book tickets for An Octaroon at Orange Tree Theatre

We asked our review team to nominate their 2017 theatre highlights. Mark Ludmon nominated his favourites. An Octoroon, (Orange Tree Theatre) This year saw the arrival in the UK of the work of acclaimed American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Hampstead Theatre presented his dark unsettling satire Gloria while the Orange Tree Theatre gave us his theatrically inventive play An Octoroon. Using Dion Boucicault’s once-popular 1858 melodrama The Octoroon as its starting point, this cleverly explored the black experience from the perspective of 19th-century slavery. With a strong cast directed by Ned Bennett, the production was bursting with ideas, laughs and energy, often breaking the fourth wall to great effect. Read my review. Barber Shop Chronicles, (National Theatre) The vibrancy of Inua Ellams’ new play Barber Shop Chronicles hits you from the moment you enter the foyer of the National’s Dorfman Theatre, decked out with signage from barbers around the world. To … Read more

REVIEW: Follies, National Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Follies National Theatre, 8th September 2017 5 Stars Book Follies Tickets Folly is an interesting concept: it has fascinated the western mind all the way from Erasmus of Rotterdam’s philosphical contemplation, through the artificial landscaping constructions that adorn the estates of Stowe and Stourhead, Ermenonville and Versailles, to the variety entertainments of late 19th century Paris, and into the area which principally concerns this epic musical divertissement based upon the idea: the expensive and spectacular early 20th century Broadway revues of Florenz Ziegfeld. Oddly, a lot of time seems to have been spent worrying about whether this show, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book – or at least ‘scenes’ – by James Goldman, is ‘really’ a musical or just some kind of astonishing hybrid failure: its original producer Harold Prince dubbed it a ‘long-running flop’.  While these practical questions have merit, they detract from the actual … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the National Theatre

Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Enjoy Johan Persson’s gorgeous first look production photos of Follies at the Olivier Theatre. 1971, New York. There’s a party on the stage of the Weissman Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves. Follies features a book by James Goldman, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, design by Vicki Mortimer, choreography by Bill Deamer, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, musical direction by Nigel Lilley, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Paul Groothius. Follies returns to the National Theatre in February 2019 FOLLIES TICKETS

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Results: 90 – 81

Top 100 Musicals of All Time Poll Results

Welcome to our second instalment of votes from our Top 100 Greatest Musicals of all time poll. There are a few new entries and some bona fide classics in this part of the list. Congratulations to all those who are listed in our roll call of truly great musicals. Did your favourites make the Top 100? Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below. 90. Sweet Charity One of the first Fellini movies to be adapted as a musical, Sweet Charity brought together some of the greatest musical theatre talent of all time, starting with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. Sweet Charity was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and starred his then wife Gwen Verdon. The show was nominated for 9 Tony Awards and is well know for showstoppers including Big Spender, If My Friends Could … Read more

Follies At The Royal Albert Hall – Great Seats Still Available

Follies at the Royal Albert Hall - one night only

A production of Follies is being staged by the National Theatre in February/ March 2019. Book Now! One of the iconic scores of Stephen Sondheim will be performed at The Royal Albert Hall for one day only on April 28, 2015. Great seats are available through BritishTheatre.com for the matinee and evening performance of this unique special event. Follies sees past performers of the Weismann Follies gathering in a crumbling Broadway theatre which is scheduled for demolition. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondehim and a book by James Goldman, Follies focuses on two couples, Buddy and Sally and Ben and Phyllis who are attending the re-union. It’s an evening of ghostly reminiscences, of revelations and of celebration as the former showgirls re-live their glory days. Follies won seven Tony Awards for its original Broadway production and is considered one of Sondheims great scores containing songs including Broadway Baby, Losing … Read more