#2
Posted: 3/27/26 at 2:41pm
From the email that went out today:
In an exciting co-production between Signature Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company, Stephen Sondheim’s sumptuous and sophisticated masterpiece glitters on the Harman Hall stage, directed by Matthew Gardiner in Spring 2027.
In 1971, a chorus of former showgirls return to their theatre to take one last look where it all began – when everything was possible, and nothing made sense. Surrounded by the glamorous ghosts of their past selves, they reminisce and face regrets as reality and memory begin to blur in ways both dazzling and devastating.
With an epic cast of 32 and 14-piece orchestra, Sondheim’s incomparable score, including “Broadway Baby,” “I’m Still Here” and “Losing My Mind,” shines in spectacular style like you’ve never seen it before.
Shakespeare Theatre Company and Signature Theatre
present
FOLLIES
Book by James Goldman
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Produced Originally on Broadway by Harold Prince
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Directed by Matthew Gardiner
By Special Arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh
May 18 – June 20, 2027
At Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Hall
Tickets for Follies are currently only available as part of a subscription. Signature Theatre’s season subscription packages will go on sale late April/early May and you can add-on Follies to your package of Signature shows when you order.
Note that if you already subscribe to Shakespeare Theatre Company, Follies is included in your subscription. There is no need to add it on to your subscription at Signature unless you’d like to see it twice!
#3
Posted: 3/27/26 at 3:35pm
Color me thrilled! Interested in who we might see cast in leads.
#4
Posted: 3/27/26 at 3:44pm
So it's just a co-production between two DC regional theaters. Maybe they can secure some good NYC talent in the mix with their DC cast.
#5
Posted: 3/27/26 at 4:51pm
I would say Signature Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company are more than just mere "regional theaters" -- they routinely produce top-notch shows, with top-notch talent. This very well may get me up there for a weekend!
Updated On: 3/27/26 at 04:51 PM
#6
Posted: 3/27/26 at 4:52pm
Definitely, of the many options out there - this is a great combo.
#7
Posted: 3/27/26 at 7:06pm
CoffeeBreak said: "So it's just a co-production between two DC regional theaters. Maybe they can secure some good NYC talent in the mix with their DC cast."
They both regularly have NYC talent on their stages and produce consistently excellent work. STC’s Guys and Dolls starring Julie Benko and Signature’s Fiddler on the Roof starring Douglas Sills were two of my favorite theatre-going experiences in 2025.
#8
Posted: 3/27/26 at 9:16pm
TheatreMonkey said: "I would say Signature Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company are more thanjustmere "regional theaters" -- they routinely produce top-notch shows, with top-notch talent. This very well may get me up there for a weekend!"
I agree. Both of these theatres produce productions that far exceed anything in NYC
#9
Posted: 3/28/26 at 2:20am
I agree. Both of these theatres produce productions that far exceed anything in NYC
Now that's just silly. I have been to both of these theaters shows'. They are good regional theaters. Many are. But like my post said. They are indeed regional theaters doing a co-production - as regional theaters do. "far exceeding" NYC shows is ridiculous. It's the reason they source talent FROM NYC for their shows.
#10
Posted: 3/28/26 at 4:24am
I did wince at the idea of a 14 piece orchestra being marketed as a positive thing....
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#12
Posted: 5/20/26 at 2:24pm
binau said: "I did wince at the idea of a 14 piece orchestra being marketed as a positive thing...."
it feels like advertising a hamburger as having both a top and a bottom bun
#13
Posted: 5/20/26 at 5:34pm
CoffeeBreak said: "
I agree. Both of these theatres produce productions that far exceed anything in NYC
Now that's just silly. I have been to both of these theaters shows'. They are good regional theaters. Many are. But like my post said. They are indeed regional theaters doing a co-production - as regional theaters do. "far exceeding" NYC shows is ridiculous. It's the reason they source talent FROM NYC for their shows.
"Far exceed anything" might be hyperbolic but I try to catch most of their revivals and found their Ragtime to be superior to Broadway's current Ragtime in many respects, I enjoyed most things about their She Loves Me more than the last Broadway revival, I found their Road Show and Titanic more entertaining than Encores', and even enjoyed their chamber Miss Saigon more than the 2017 Broadway revival, so GeorgeInDC might be putting it inflatedly, but I (and know many others) have here and there, not infrequently, preferred their productions to Broadway/NYC.
I'm sure the casting for this will be exciting! I'd love to see a Rachel Bay Jones & Laura Benanti production, though perhaps that's wishful thinking for this particular co-production. There are so many great actresses in their 40's-50's (the *actual* ages of the characters) who could take this on.
#14
Posted: 5/21/26 at 3:49pm
CoffeeBreak said: "
I agree. Both of these theatres produce productions that far exceed anything in NYC
Now that's just silly. I have been to both of these theaters shows'. They are good regional theaters. Many are. But like my post said. They are indeed regional theaters doing a co-production - as regional theaters do. "far exceeding" NYC shows is ridiculous. It's the reason they source talent FROM NYC for their shows.
"
The work happening at Signature Theatre does in fact far exceed what is happening at most spaces in NYC. One only needs to see Mr Gardiner’s thrilling production of Pippin at Signature currently running to know this. Also anyone who thinks a theatre producing Follies isn’t doing it at a loss even with only 14 pieces in the orchestra has no idea about how the economics of theater work in 2026 and how a musical the size and scope of Follies is impossible in this day and age. It’s a huge thing that Signature and Shakespeare are producing this production.
#15
Posted: 5/21/26 at 3:53pm
binau said: "I did wince at the idea of a 14 piece orchestra being marketed as a positive thing...."
tbh, I read it more as stating facts and managing expectations.
I was surprised, however, to learn that Pasadena's BRIGADOON has a 22-piece orchestra.
#16
Posted: 5/21/26 at 4:32pm
It says a lot about a regional theater when top-level NYC-area talent regularly goes to work there. DC is just a great theater city, regardless.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 5/21/26 at 04:32 PM
#17
Posted: 5/21/26 at 4:43pm
So so glad I finally, at least, got to see a production at Arena Stage. I saw "Ride the Cyclone" in 2023 before I moved back out West. It was excellent. Took my best friend from High School who lives there but had never seen a show there. She has since returned for other productions.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#18
Posted: 5/21/26 at 5:43pm
uncageg said: "So so glad I finally, at least, got to see a production at Arena Stage. I saw "Ride the Cyclone" in 2023 before I moved back out West. It was excellent. Took my best friend from High School who lives there but had never seen a show there. She has since returned for other productions."
Arena did a terrific revival of "Damn Yankees" this past season that is headed to Broadway next year.
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