Follies: Musical Info & 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 inner struggles and the choices they’ve made. Follies explores themes of nostalgia, lost dreams, and the passing of time.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
Musical Information
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Cast Size: 20+
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, Marriage, Metatheatre, Non-Linear, One-Word, Original, Popular, Tap Dance
Similar Musicals
If you’re looking to discover new shows, here are some musicals like Follies.
References:
The following sources were used to verify the accuracy of this musical overview:
- Follies (libretto/script)
- Follies Cast Albums (1971-2018)
- Playbill archives for Follies, (1971 Broadway production)
Return to the complete A-Z musicals list »