Gary Griffin's Follies

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:47pm

Does anybody have the scoop on the Chicago Shakespeare Follies to be directed by Gary Griffin.

Questions:
How big will the band be?
Are they going to cast with strictly local talent or are they bringing big names in for the show?
What will Griffin's concept be?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 6:23pm

http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,62,4,1,4

Lots of info there.

Caroline O'Connor and Brent Barrett are the biggest names in the cast.

The production starts in a few days. I cannot wait to read comparisons to the Broadway revival.
Updated On: 9/30/11 at 06:23 PM

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 6:30pm

"Hollis Resnik will perform the role of Carlotta (and sing "I'm Still Here") in director Gary Griffin's production. The Broadway actor Brent Barrett will play Benjamin; Caroline O'Connor plays Phyllis; Robert Petkoff plays Buddy and Susan Moniz plays Sally."


Aside from the above, everyone is pretty much local talent.


MORE INFO:
http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,63

[Jon]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 7:04pm

To 99% of Chicago theatregoers, the "local talent" is more well-known than the "big names" they brought in.

By the way, Hollis Resnick and Susan Moniz are "local" - they have done the vast majority of their performing in Chicago. O'Connor, Barrett and Petkoff are the only true out-of-towners.

You make it sound like it's going to be a bunch of community theatre folks with a few "real" actors.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 7:19pm

I like the idea of O'Connor as Phyllis. I wish I could see this.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:03pm

I wish I could see Brent Barrett play Ben.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:04pm

Caroline O'Connor is genius casting--she IS an actor/dancer, so she'll be able to knock "Lucy and Jessie" out of the park in all respects. It will be interesting, too, to have a Phyllis who isn't statuesque.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:16pm

Donna Murphy wasn't a statuesque Phyllis, and it worked fine. Though, I absolutely love and prefer the dynamic of a statuesque Phyllis next to a short and girlish Sally. Maxwell and Peters have a similar dynamic to Collins and Smith. I did like Murphy's performance, but for me, Maxwell is even better.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:23pm

Murphy isn't statuesque, but she sure looked it from my seat at City Center.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:25pm

Rear gallery??

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:31pm

Yup. Also mid-mezz.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 8:41pm

I'm seeing this next Friday, so I'll be sure to give my thoughts on it. I found and interview with Gary Griffin about this show that was quite interesting:

http://lisawolfonlocation.com/gary-griffin-follies/

There is also a video interview with the choreographer with clips from "Lucky & Jessie" in rehearsal. I definitely like the concept he has for choreographing the number. It will definitely help with the story-telling of the number. Caroline O'Connor looks a lot better of a dancer than what I have seen of Jan while in DC. Overall, I thinks this production looks exciting and certainly has the potential to be amazing.

EDIT: oops! I forgot to put the link to the Lucky & Jessie video! Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mMZnkhCpNc&feature=player_embedded Updated On: 9/30/11 at 08:41 PM

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 9:41pm

oooh...12-piece orchestra...classy! That's even smaller than the roundabout! (15)

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 9:45pm

YIKES. 12 Pieces. :-O

Where did you read that?

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 9:51pm

Orchestra of 12: http://lisawolfonlocation.com/gary-griffin-follies/
"We spoke about Gary’s choice to have a 12-piece orchestra join the actors onstage. He hopes that the presence of live musicians encourages the audience to connect more fully due to this added dimension."


Cast of 29: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,62,4,1,2



So I cannot imagine that the production design will be too huge because the orchestra is on stage (and there will be a harp, among other instruments)...but we shall see!!
Updated On: 9/30/11 at 09:51 PM

[musikman]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:07pm

I have a few friends in the show, one of whom I've heard from about it. She is extremely proud of the production and that it will be really beautiful. I certainly hope so!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:11pm

I really wonder what version of the book they are using?

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:24pm

I was wondering what book, too...Hopefully not the Roundabout version.

[musikman]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:45pm

I'll see if I can find out!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/30/11 at 10:56pm

Murphy isn't statuesque, but she sure looked it from my seat at City Center.

Yeah, and she sure looks it up close, too. Are we working with two different definitions of statuesque, because I almost always think she looks like a Grecian statue.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:27am

Murphy is a stunningly beautiful woman, but I wouldn't call her statuesque in the way that Jan Maxwell or Marin Mazzie is. But compared to Caroline O'Connor--who is very diminutive--she's practically an Amazon. O'Connor physically seems very different from what I think most people expect of a Phyllis, but she's also one of the greatest triple threats of this generation. I wish New York saw more of her.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 12:43am

I think O'Connor can project an air of icy intimidation despite being relatively small. I know that the script describes Phyllis as being tall, but I don't think being shorter would directly affect characterization. I often wonder how the physical descriptions of characters in scripts came about and what it is about those characteristics that the playwright found important.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 4:30pm

I know a couple people in this production as well (not close friends, just people I've done shows with). It sounds very exciting, and come on people, it IS a regional production, even if Chicago Shakes is one of the top regional theaters in the country. An orchestra of 12 and cast of 29 is not cheap.

BTW, at first I though Brent Barrett was an odd choice for Ben, thinking him too young. But he's actually now in his fifties!

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 5:14pm

Looks like they don't have the "supporting" older women for this one (ie, DeeDee West, Sandra Crane in the current B'way production).

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/1/11 at 5:27pm

No great tragedy there.