Christine Baranski and Ruthie Hensall to Star in Follies Concert This Spring

[Showface]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 10:54am

I'm assuming Baranski will play Phyllis and Henshall will be Sally?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Christine-Baranski-Ruthie-Henshall-More-Will-Star-in-FOLLIES-Concert-at-Royal-Albert-Hall-This-Spring-20150116



Updated On: 1/16/15 at 10:54 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 10:56am

*Henshall

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 10:56am

Baranski couldn't sing Carlotta, so there's no way in hell she could be Sally.

[Showface]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 10:58am

Thanks, LizzieCurry!

PhyllisRogersStone, I think she may be playing, well...Phyllis Rogers Stone!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 11:01am

That character is more in her wheelhouse than Carlotta or Sally, at least the icy part. There's an undercurrent of heat in Phyllis that I don't think Baransksi can or will portray.

She was horrid in the concert at City Center.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 11:03am

I like Christine Baranski, but she's not right for this. At the most, she's a Hattie.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 11:19am

Henshall is quite an ideal Sally!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 6:14pm

Jenna Russell @jennarusselluk
I'm sad I'm not in Follies....*looks to the heavens and sighs* #SallyDurant

Updated On: 1/16/15 at 06:14 PM

[binau]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 7:55pm

Would have preferred Jenna. Didn't find anything special in Ruthie's concert performance of "Losing My Mind".

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 8:00pm

Does Henshall does still sing through her clenched teeth.

[KanderEbb]

Posted: 1/16/15 at 10:49pm

Actually Ruthie Henshall could be a fabulous Phyllis as well as Sally. Christine... I adore her a lot, and I'm fully aware she's a huge Sondheim fan, but seriously, I cannot imagine she does any part in this show.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 1/17/15 at 6:04am

I'm very excited for this concert, I can't wait for the whole cast to be announced!

[Showface]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:27pm

Jennifer Coolige will be playing Hattie Walker.

Well...that's interesting casting...



https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jennifer-Coolidge-and-More-Join-FOLLIES-in-Concert-at-the-Royal-Albert-Hall-20150212 Updated On: 2/12/15 at 09:27 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:30pm

The casting for this is weird as hell.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:57pm

Seriously, what is with the casting here? Did they throw names of people into a hat, and hoped for the best?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:39pm

Truly bizarre!

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:12pm

Yes Ruthie sings with clenched teeth.....but she'll be fabulous.

What bothers me is the broadwayworld article says she played "Roxy" - come on spell the characters name correctly.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 11:42am

Jennifer Coolidge may be unorthodox casting but I have a feeling she's going to be absolutely inspired.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 2:43pm

I hope they cast someone big as Carlotta. There's nothing more exciting than having "I'm Still Here" knocked out of the park.

I agree that this is quite a hodgepodge of actors. I think Guru put it best with the "names out of a hat" thing...do you guys think the concert will be filmed, a la Phantom?

[Posner11]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 6:14pm

The Royal Albert hall email gave an expanded and updated cast listing - some great performers but still an odd mix of proven musical performers and some decidely less so.The ticket prices are a bit higher than normal for a one day concert and the site was showing a fair number of unsold arena and stalls seats so presume some of these names pulled in help sales - Not seen any special offers on seats yet.

Featuring an all-star cast including:
Christine Baranski (Into The Woods, The Good Wife, Mamma Mia)
Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie, Legally Blonde)
Alexander Hanson (Stephen Ward the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar)
Alistair Brammer (Miss Saigon, War Horse)
Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.)
Ruthie Henshall (Chicago - original Roxy, Les Misérables)
Laura Pitt-Pulford (The Sound of Music, The Light Princess)
Anita Dobson (Eastenders, Chicago)
Anita Harris (Carry On films, CATS)
Roy Hudd (Oliver! - Fagin, Coronation Street, Good Old Days)
Russell Watson (the UK’s best-selling classical artist; winner of four Classical BRIT awards),

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 10:02pm

I get that this is just a concert, but Baranksi is in her sixties and Henshall her 40s and they are supposed to be contemporaries, and is Coolidge is 53 and playing a character that's supposed to be in her 70s at the youngest. What a strange evening it's going to be.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:06pm

I'm glad I won't be there to see it. The British have a habit of turning Follies into SH*Te.

Updated On: 2/21/15 at 11:06 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:07pm

The casting truly is bizarre...what I find interesting is that

none of the sources confirm all the roles..a few have been

confirmed, but not any of the leads, even though I'm positive

Baranski will be playing Phyliss and Henshall will be playing

Sally; it just would be nice to get confirmation.



Oh, and this is apparently the poster:

[Showface]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:07pm

Welp...that was a double post...

That's all. Updated On: 2/20/15 at 11:07 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:10pm

"I'm glad I won't be there to see it. The British have a habit of turning Follies into ****e."

Was the original London production not good? Interesting...I have not heard much about it.

Where did it go wrong?