Long Beach CLO Follies cast?

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:05pm

Could anyone please point me toward a complete cast list for the Long Beach Civic Light Opera production of Follies with Juliet Prowse, Dorothy Lamour, and Yma Sumac? Many thanks!

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:12pm

Haven't got the programme in front of me but I recall Juliet Prowse as Phyllis, Shani Wallis as Sally, Ed Evanko as Ben, Karen Morrow as Carlotta, Susan Johnston as Stella, Yma Sumac as Heidi, Jackie Joseph and Billy Barnes as The Whitmans, Dorothy Lamour (as Hattie?), Denise Darcel as Solange...gosh, who was Buddy? Was it Harvey Evans? Updated On: 2/26/05 at 11:12 PM

[JJPeachum2]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 3:11am

Dorothy Lamour was definitely Hattie... but I can't for the life of me remember if Evans was Buddy or not... I wanna say that it was...

[Demitri2]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:00am

Geez, I can't remember for sure who played him either but Harvey Evans does sound right. I kind of remember reading in the program that he was his younger self in the original Broadway production. I had a great time when I saw it. The usher who sat me invited me to the cast party afterwards and handed me an invitation. The women in the show were the friendliest bunch I've ever encountered. At the punch bowl Denise Darcel grabbed my arm and said to me in her french accent, "Was like Broadway, no?" Yma Sumac entered the room using a cane and walked up to me, introduced herself and put out her hand. Karen Morrow was...just as you'd expect, warm and funny. The only cast member absent was Dorothy Lamour and yes she did a great "Broadway Baby". The biggest surprise of the evening for me was Juliet Prowse. I'd never been a fan before but having seen many actresses play Phyllis, her line readings were the best. The only performer who didn't impress me was Shani Wallis as Sally but I've got to admit that although a fan, Judy Kaye did nothing for me either as Sally the last time I saw the show. It just may be a hard role to pull off yet Dorothy Collins sounds perfect on the original cast recording and tapes I've heard of the entire show.

[JJPeachum2]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 3:52pm

Karen Morrow is wonderful. I was lucky enough to catch her Reno Sweeney at the St. Louis MUNY a few years back.