FOLLIES to replace FUNNY GIRL at CTG in Los Angeles?- Page 2

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 6:05pm

It's such a good idea. It's too good an idea NOT to happen.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 10:15pm

Yes, we did have the REPRISE staged reading and the most embarrassing performance I've ever seen, that by Patty Duke. It was like your grandmother got drunk at a party and decided to do karaoke. (On the other hand, nobody has ever sung Sally better than Vikki Carr.)

Judith Light might be good as Phyllis, but I found her Joanne in COMPANY surprisingly and unfortunately lightweight.

And, yes, this is all wishful thinking by those of us who live out here.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 10:26pm

FOLLIES may or may not work out given the timing of the space it has to fill, but its definitely a show CTG is talking with producers about; along with two other musicals and a play that I think would be a very bad idea. Expect an announcement in the next two weeks.

And apparently yes, there are indeed tentatives plans for this production of FOLLIES to have a national tour. So if it doesn't get to LA in Jan; I imagine it will be part of CTG's 2013 season.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 10:36pm

Thanks for the inside dope, Michael. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:08pm

A tour for this show sounds like a great idea IMO.

* Some people claimed that this show would have a limited audience on Broadway and interest would die-down after that audience had seen it. This kind of does look like what has happened and what is going to continue to happen. Does this suggest that having short 1-2 week highly sold stops would work for the show? It has never toured before, which could work in its favour?

* Bernadette Peters could tour with the show. They can work out the stops around her concert dates (which might not even be much of the problem if the tour doesn't start for a few months after the Broadway production closes). They wouldn't have to worry about finding a name then.

* They could still perform at the Tony Awards (like Legally Blonde et al.) and the production still having commercial value/being open somewhere might help them win some Tonys, too.

Updated On: 11/5/11 at 11:08 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:20pm

Bernadette Peters is not going to go on tour. The thought of that is kind of amusing, actually.

[binau]

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

I know you have said that certain actors wouldn't tour in the past (e.g. You had this response to someone who posted a thought of Marin Mazzie touring in NEXT TO NORMAL when there was discussion about replacing Ripley)...but why not? Is it because it is 'beneath' her?

I mean it's not like she has a family to keep her occupied. She also appears to perform in concerts so frequently around the country....is it not already the case that she kind of 'tours'?

Just over a year ago she had never even replaced someone in a show...maybe next she'll tour....And then next (MMm how could she stoop lower...the 50th Roxie replacement :P? j/kss)

Updated On: 11/5/11 at 11:35 PM

[chiuptown]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 10:01am

Follies was produced at the Muny, St. Louis, before transferring to Century City, in 1972, most of the original cast. I had tickets and was unable to attend because of illness. what a regret.
Updated On: 11/6/11 at 10:01 AM

[lynnetoomey]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 11:08am

Looking at the old "Funny Girl" dates, it seems "Follies" would have to close earlier than 1/22 on Bway to make this happen?

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 3:34pm

I saw that Follies at the Muny from the free seat allllllllll the way in the back where you use opera glasses to see the actors. I was young then and recall very very little about the show and certainly had no understanding of what was going on.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 3:54pm

in terms of strategy for Tony Awards, could be a smart move for the producers...in terms of practicality, not sure how they could transport (and/or create) new set and costumes in just under 2 months - not to mention, the million dollar question - are the creative team around to oversee this transfer?

And...duh, what about Bernadette/Jan/Danny et all?

If this actually happens, it would be a coup du theater (or something like that...)

[f13overture]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 10:41pm

I too say thanks for letting us know, Michael. I can't wait to find out what they decide! *fingers crossed for Follies

[moljul]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 11:20pm

Bernadette will not do a tour. She doesn't like to tour. She did it a lot as a kid and talks about how lonely it was. I doubt she thinks it is beneath her but just feels she doesn't have to do something she doesn't like. She doesn't need the work or they money.

She has addressed your example of the fact that she "tours" with her concert. She likes these because they are maybe a night or two and then she is home again.

Now a long sit in L.A. may be an option only because she has a home there. But anything beyond that is wishful thinking.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 11/7/11 at 11:25am

Who did Patty Duke play at Reprise??
Updated On: 11/7/11 at 11:25 AM

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 11/7/11 at 11:28am

Also, this might be a bit of a longshot...but what about taking this to London? Maybe not with this cast (maybe Peters would do it, since she's never done a musical in London. Or Maria Friedman) but perhaps Paige would do Carlotta there. They've never had a full West End production of the original version. Maybe Caroline O'Connor could do Phyllis there?

What ever happened to that Trevor Nunn production? That's not happening, right?

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/7/11 at 5:42pm

Patty Duke played Phyllis. It was heartbreaking for those of us who have loved her since we watched her on TV as children. (I know I'm speaking as if everyone in the world agreed her performance was terrible. No doubt somebody disagreed, but I haven't met him yet.)

To be fair, part of the problem was that Duke gives off a distinct "working class" or "lower middle class" vibe, something which may be native to Phyllis but something she cast off long ago. Duke was badly miscast as well as not being able to sing or dance.

On the other hand, one of my students was in the ensemble and said Duke could not have been nicer to her castmates.
Updated On: 11/7/11 at 05:42 PM