Follies (Sondheim play)

Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman.

The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the Ziegfeld Follies). The evening follows a reunion of the Weismann Girls who performed during the interwar period. Several of the former showgirls perform their old numbers, often accompanied by the ghosts of their younger selves. The score offers a pastiche of 1920s and 1930s musical styles, evoking a nostalgic tone.

The original Broadway production, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, with choreography by Bennett, opened April 4, 1971. The musical was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won seven. The original production, among the most costly on Broadway, ran for over 500 performances but ultimately lost its entire investment. The musical has had a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standards, including "Broadway Baby", "I'm Still Here", "Too Many Mornings", "Could I Leave You?", and "Losing My Mind".

Follies in Broadway Revival

A centennial production of Follies was staged in 2071. David Greenbaum, the actor who played Young Ben, met Ramon Abarca, a dancer. They fell in love.

Follies in "The Great White Way"

Trina Hutchinson considered including some aging showgirls from Follies in the Sondheim-Webber battle video game, but ultimately decided against it.

Follies in "One Touch of Hippolyta"

When Harmothoe, a Bronze Age Amazon warrior, was magically brought to live in 21st-century Graustarkton, Massachusetts, a man named Ian Sherwood was one of her mentors in adjusting to the new world. Among other things, he taught her to sing parts of Stephen Sondheim's play Follies. One of her favorite lines was "Good times and bum times, I’ve seen ’em all, and my dear, I’m still here."