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FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?

FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#1FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 1:15am

http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1924395

Apparently Sondheim made a vague comment tonight about it featuring some "new material."

I wonder what that means?
Updated On: 11/30/10 at 01:15 AM

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#2FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 1:47am

Phyllis flies around the theatre and then a spider god sings about bras.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

THDavis Profile Photo
THDavis
#2FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 11:26am

"Phyllis flies around the theatre and then a spider god sings about bras."

Oh, Sondheim made calls to discuss with you too then?

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#3FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 9:36pm

Do you think the "new material" means a revised book?

SeanMartin Profile Photo
SeanMartin
#4FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 9:43pm

I actually hope not. I always liked the original one-act version; it's far better written than people think -- especially when you view it next to the many attempts at inserting an intermission that just never seem to work.


http://docandraider.com

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#5FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 9:45pm

If Sondheim is writing new material, I demand a recording!

binau Profile Photo
binau
#6FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 9:47pm

It could happen

http://www.psclassics.com/feature_krasker-interview.html

"TK: You know, at this point, I think I've recorded all but about six of Steve's shows, but the answer is Follies. If you'd asked me twelve years ago, when I'd recorded none of his shows, it would still have been Follies."


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#7FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 9:50pm

I was reading that article a week or so ago and I started to wonder if a new recording could happen. New material + Bernadette = New recording.

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#8FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:08pm

Could they be trying to find a way to work "Country House" in so Phyllis could have something substantial to sing in Act 1?

I know many Follies fans aren't crazy about that idea. But I'd be curious to see if it could work.

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#9FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:15pm

As long as The Road You Didn't Take isn't cut that's fine.


EDIT: I wrote I was fine with The Road You Didn't Take being cut . What a mistake!! Forgive me.
Updated On: 11/30/10 at 10:15 PM

SeanMartin Profile Photo
SeanMartin
#10FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:17pm

I think the problem with "Country House" is that it doesnt really fit anywhere. It's there to give Phyllis a song. Maybe the production team will revisit that and finally find a place for it.


http://docandraider.com

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#11FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:17pm

^ Well that's what I mean. They might have to use dialogue from the London production to lead into it.

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#12FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:23pm

But Country House is not new material and Sondheim wrote on Finishing the Hat the only song written for the London production he found useful is Ah, But Underneath.

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#13FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:27pm

No, its not new. But it's never been seen in an American production. I doubt he's suddenly going to write new songs for Follies.

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#14FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:34pm

That's why I think is the book they are tweaking.

SeanMartin Profile Photo
SeanMartin
#15FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:37pm

Hey, as long as they bring back Boris' set and Florence's costumes...


http://docandraider.com

JOak Profile Photo
JOak
#16FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:39pm

Does anyone know the budget?

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#17FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:40pm

The book has been tweaked 8 million times. And James Goldman is gone now.
As long as they don't use that ATROCITY of a ending (known as the Roundabout ending) - I'll be thrilled.

SeanMartin Profile Photo
SeanMartin
#18FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:41pm

Oh god... if they want to know how *not* to stage this show, all they have to do is look at that atrocity.


http://docandraider.com

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#19FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 11/30/10 at 10:41pm

The budget is $5-$6 Million.

Michael Bennett Profile Photo
Michael Bennett
#20FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 12/1/10 at 9:41am

I would be really surprised if the production featured any of the material from the London production. Sondheim, who has said often that he loves playing with his work and allowing the opportunity for re-examination, also seems to feel that the new material created for the UK production should largely not be revisited.

I imagine the musical changes made for this production will be minor. I wouldn't expect any new songs at least.

ray-andallthatjazz86 Profile Photo
ray-andallthatjazz86
#21FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 12/1/10 at 11:40am

"Country House" is hardly a good song and it sticks out like a sore thumb. I would love for Phyllis to have more singing in the show, but not if it comes in the form of "Country House" which is simply subpar to what is an incredibly beautiful score.


"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

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QuiteSo
#22FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 12/1/10 at 11:50am

I was at Sondheim/Kushner on Monday evening, and he didn't say that there would be new material, exactly. He said that every production of Follies has not been the same as the one that has preceded it, and that the Washington production would be revised. I take that to mean they'll be working with the already existing material from the previous productions. That said, it would be WONDERFUL to get any new work from the man. :)


Merrily we roll along, roll along...

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#23FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 12/1/10 at 1:02pm

I would be really surprised if the production featured any of the material from the London production. Sondheim, who has said often that he loves playing with his work and allowing the opportunity for re-examination, also seems to feel that the new material created for the UK production should largely not be revisited

Well I wish the same could said for the book. It's tragic that the Roundabout book uses the London ending (most of it). There's no reason why it should be used. But we've already had a thread about this. :-p

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#24FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center to feature some new material?
Posted: 12/1/10 at 1:17pm

I wouldn't mind them taking another stab at the lead-in to Loveland. I don't know that it's fixable, but I wouldn't mind a new approach.



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