Follies: Musical Information & Synopsis
Synopsis
Follies delves into the lives of former showgirls who reunite at a dilapidated Broadway theatre. Set against the backdrop of the theatre’s impending destruction, two couples, Sally and Buddy, and Phyllis and Ben, are forced confront their past and present. As the former showgirls reminisce about their youth, the “ghosts” of their former selves underscore their struggles and choices they’ve made. Follies explores themes of nostalgia, lost dreams, and the passing of time.
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Musical Information
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Cast: Large (20+ Roles)
Creative Team
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Goldman
Awards
Laurence Olivier Award: Best New Musical (1987)
New York Drama Critics’ Circle: Best Musical (1971)
Cast Albums
Original Broadway Cast (1971)➝
New York Philharmonic Concert Cast (1985)➝
Licensing
Follies is available to license through Music Theatre International.
Australasia Licensing
Europe Licensing
International Licensing
Resources
Audition Songs: Theatre Trip
Sheet Music: Amazon➝
Tags
1970s, Aging, Broken 4th Wall, Dramatic, Fantasy, Infidelity, Marriage, Memories, Metatheatre, Non-Linear, One-Word, Original, Popular, Tap Dance
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References
The following sources were used to verify the accuracy of this musical overview:
- Follies Libretto/Script
- Follies Cast Albums (1971-2018)
- Follies Playbill Archives (1971)➝
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