FOLLIES to replace FUNNY GIRL at CTG in Los Angeles?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:29pm

Tis buzzin' in the rumour mill. FOLLIES hasn't played Los Angeles in a major production in over twenty years so could be a smart move....

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:32pm

From your keyboard to God's ears!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:32pm

I hope they get Joyce DeWitt!!!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:35pm

Isn't that pretty much exactly what the original production did after Broadway? Perhaps not at CTG (did it exist then? I don't know LA theatre at all), but somewhere in LA, right? If this resulted in a national tour, I would be thrilled. But I do wish it could just run longer in New York...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:39pm

Pretty close to what was done originally. FOLLIES was actually the first production at the Shubert Theatre in Century City (since demolished). It opened about three weeks after the original production closed and ran in Los Angeles for a little over two months. It was to be the kick off for a national tour that was scrapped.

There have been rumblings that this production of FOLLIES might tour if they can get a big enough name to go on the road with it.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:43pm

"I hope they get Joyce DeWitt!!!"

Now be fair, Jordan. It isn't 1922. We get news from Broadway out here and even have aeroplanes that can take us to New York from time to time.

Maybe Los Angelenos wouldn't get quite as excited over Jan Maxwell (though myself I'd love to see her after reading about her here), but we certainly know who Bernadette Peters is.

[binau]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:45pm

Not to state the obvious but Bernadette Peters has a lot of concert dates in Feburary and the NYC show has extended past the original dates for FUNNY GIRL, I think. So I wonder how the transfer will work in terms of logistics, casting etc. (perhaps they'll close on the original date?)

Updated On: 11/4/11 at 05:45 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:46pm

Joyce De Witt would probably be a very charming Emily Whitman

Not sure of the logistics of how it would work. and maybe not the entire company would go with it - but I would assume that the show would open a few weeks after FUNNY GIRL was scheduled to, but basically the theatre is empty in January/February until AMERICAN IDIOT opens in March. I wouldn't even be completely surprised if (should this really come to pass) if FOLLIES didn't close a week or two early on Broadway. Sacrilege I know, but ticket sales would likely be pretty slow in New York early January...
Updated On: 11/4/11 at 05:46 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:49pm

It probably wouldn't work, qolbinau. I think we Californians are just dreaming here.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 5:54pm

Joyce DeWitt as Sally and Suzanne Somers as Phyllis. C'mon, guys. HEAVEN!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:00pm

Only if Kim Fields is Carlotta

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:01pm

Aw, but any time Phyllis and Sally have a scene together they'll make Suzanne perform her part from a booth below the theatre.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:04pm

Charlotte Rae as Hattie!!!!!!!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:06pm

Actually do you know who would also be a fabulous Hattie is Mary Jo Catlett.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:54pm

I'd be so happy to miss out on Funny Girl if FOLLIES was to take its place.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:58pm

I like this idea... I would live for Follies to tour, but I am not holding my breath.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:59pm

I really hope this happens. Love this production and if we can't keep it NY, at least it gets to live on and keep people working.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 7:36pm

I want an All-Love-Boat-Guest-Star production of Follies!

Whoever's not dead, that is.

Aw, what the heck. Some of the dead ones, too!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 7:38pm

Or all women who've played Judges on Law & Order.

[f13overture]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 7:42pm

Maxwell, Burstein reprising their roles and Rebecca Luker as Sally would be all my Follies dreams come true (short of seeing it on broadway)...
bring it to LA, baby!

what rumour mill did you hear this through, btw?

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 7:56pm

Oh, best12bars, try to keep up!

We had the all-Love Boat FOLLIES 20 years ago in Long Beach. (For New Yorkers who think the world ends at the Hudson River, Long Beach is a city next to the Port of Los Angeles, about 20 minutes from downtown L.A.)

The stars included Juliet Prowse, Dorothy Lamour and Shani Wallis, and Yma Sumac as Heidi. Thanks to Karen Morrow and Harvey Evans, it wasn't half bad.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:02pm

We also had Reprise version in 2002 including:
Vikki Carr
Harry Groener
Patty Duke
Bob Gunton
Donna McKechnie
Liz Torres
Carole Cook
Carol Lawrence
Amanda McBroom
Stella Stevens
Mary Jo Catlett
Billy Barnes
Ken Page

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:48pm

Or all women who've played Judges on Law & Order.

Judith Light would make a terrific Phyllis.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 12:25am

"Or all women who've played Judges on Law & Order."

Olga Merediz has played a judge on L&O, and she would sing the hell out of Who's That Woman.

By the way, Jan Maxwell has played a judsge on L&O. To clarify, she wasn't the trial judge, she was a judge who turned out to be a perp.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 12:18pm

Exactly where did you hear this? It screams, fan made wishful thinking.