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The Actorsingers Great live musical theater in Nashua, New Hampshire since 1955 |
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Follies
 | Edmund M. Keefe Auditorium Book by James Goldman Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
FOLLIES is presented in cooperation with Music Theatre International,
119 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10010
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A Note From the Director
The original concept of "Follies" was inspired by the famous photograph
of an elegantly appointed Gloria Swanson standing in the rubble of the
demolished Roxy Theatre in New York. The juxtaposition of a remembered
youth full of glamour and passion with the disillusionment and disappointment
of real life became the theme of "Follies" and presented a forum for Stephen
Sondheim to write some of his most haunting and beautiful music.
By setting an elegant reunion of former showgirls in an about-to-be-demolished,
decaying theatre, Sondheim and collaborator James Goldman contrast the beauty
of faded memories of youth with harsh realities of a life of unfullfilled dreams.
Throughout the show, the appearance of 'ghosts', the young spirits of the
characters, re-emphasize the existence of memories of youth. Thus the central
conflict of the show; each character fights to return to a time of idealism,
to regain the hope that was lost as they grew older.
The show's finale, entitled 'Loveland', presents the folly of love and how
this ideal affects each character as the past and present collide. By
realizing the folly of idealism and youth, the characters reconcile the
issues of their past which enables them to face the present and the future.
Synopsis of Scenes and Musical Numbers
Setting: A reunion party on the stage of the Weissman Theatre - 1971
Act IBeautiful Girls Roscoe and Company Don't Look at Me Sally and Ben Waiting for the Girls Upstairs Buddy, Ben, Phyllis, Sally, Young Buddy, Young Ben, Young Phyllis, and Young Sally Listen to the Rain on the Roof Emily and Theodore Whitman Ah, Paree Solange LaFitte Broadway Baby Hattie Walker The Road You Didn't Take Ben Bolero D'Amour Vincent, Vanessa, Young Vincent and Young Vanessa In Buddy's Eyes Sally Who's That Woman? Stella Deems and the Ladies I'm Still Here Carlotta Campion Too Many Mornings Ben and Sally One More Kiss Heidi Schiller and Young Heidi |
Act IIThe Right Girl Buddy Could I Leave You? Phyllis SETTING: LOVELAND The Folly of Love Loveland Ensemble The Folly of Youth Scene: Bower in Loveland You're Gonna Love Tomorrow Young Ben and Young Phyllis Love Will See Us Through Young Buddy and Young Sally Buddy's Folly Scene: Thoroughfare in Loveland The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues Buddy and Blues Duo Sally's Folly Scene: Boudoir in Loveland Losing My Mind Sally Phyllis's Folly Scene: Honky-Tonk in Loveland The Story of Lucy and Jessie Phyllis and Male Dance Ensemble Ben's Folly Supper Club in Loveland Live, Laugh, Love Ben and Dance Ensemble |
Coming Next Season
Summer: TBA
Fall: 40th Anniversary Show (A Celebration of Broadway)
Spring: The Best Little Whore House in Texas