Casting announced for encore season of Follies at the National Theatre
Casting has been announced for the return season of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s musical Follies at the National Theatre in February 2019.
James Goldman
Sondheim’s Follies to return to the National Theatre in 2019
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
REVIEW: Follies, 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
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
REVIEW: Follies In Concert, Royal Albert Hall ✭✭✭
In the case of Betty Buckley as Carlotta, the casting was inspired. Her powerful and joyful rendition of I’m Still Here stopped the show. But it was Anita Dobson’s self-deprecating turn as Stella which finally galvanised the entire company into glorious cohesion: her attack in Who’s That Woman was splendid (a gutsy belt matched her tap-dancing prowess) and she and all of the other women acquitted themselves well in bringing Andrew Wright’s clever choreography to life. The younger versions of Sally, Phyllis, Ben and Buddy were spot-on, engaging and sublime. Christine Baranski’s Phyllis was brittle, regal and immaculately stylish.
