Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

#1

Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:38pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=210972

FINALLY some news!

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#2

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:47pm

If done right, this is going to be AWESOME.

#3

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:49pm

This is the most amazing news! I hope this actually comes to fruition! Any speculation on the big star name?

And a remake of West Side Story is just unneeded. Spielberg is brilliant, but no thanks!

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 09:49 PM

#4

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:50pm

Gah, all this new Sondheim news makes me want to wet myself.

(Out of joy, not out of a bladder problem.)

#5

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:51pm

As I am normally first in line for ANY movie musical these days, I SHALL be going to see it and no doubt, I shall love it in spite of whatever shortcomings it may have. So it was with The Producers.

And so in the words of Riley of The Boondocks:

Booty dance
Unh
Booty dance
Booty dance
Unh
Booty dance
Booty dance
Unh
Booty dance

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Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 09:51 PM

#6

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:53pm

Streep as Sally?

#7

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:55pm

No! She's done enough film adaptations. I'm still pissed that Cherry Jones isn't playing Sister Aloysius in the movie version of Doubt.

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Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#8

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 9:56pm

A FOLLIES movie musical is old news. Rob Marshall is the high-profile director.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02142007/entertainment/theater/good_golly__its_a_hit_follies_theater_michael_riedel.htm

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#9

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:00pm

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 10:00 PM

#10

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:01pm

I really hope Phyllis and Sally aren't too old.

Age up Nicole Kidman for Sally and have Miss Vanessa Williams play Phyllis. Alec Baldwin for Ben, Timothy Hutton for Buddy, Madonna for Carlotta, Bette Midler for Stella and Susan Sarandon for Solange.

Perfection.

I still won't believe it till I see it, and I pray Bill Condon doesn't write the screenplay.

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 10:01 PM

#11

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:08pm

This could be glorious.

But I want me a Carlotta that can SANG. For REALZ.

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[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.

#12

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:08pm

Izzy Baby for baby Sally!

#13

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:09pm

Aaron Sorkin is writing the screenplay isn't he?

#14

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:11pm

Yup.

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#15

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:12pm

I heard that once, but I don't know if it's confirmed. Yay, if Sorkin does it will remain talky! It'll probably be kinda preachy, though.

#16

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:13pm

If Sorkin does it, it will be funnier. One thing that Sorkin needs to do is add jokes. The show is a huge drag when there aren't any laughs.

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"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#17

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:15pm

The most problematic part for the writer will be making the LOVELAND sequence work. That is going to be tricky. They can't just cut all of those great songs.

#18

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:15pm

Since we're wishing ... I hope he uses the 1971 script as his template!

#19

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:17pm

Alec Baldwin - oh, please, NO!

#20

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:17pm

I'd like the look of Loveland to be a bit like the dream sequences in "Limelight", although not transition into it as abruptly as Chaplin did.

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"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#21

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:20pm

Oh, I think he'd be great, Keen. Pfeiffer or Williams have to be Phyllis!

And because the powers at be really should be taking their cues from me, here's a piece of advice - If they are worried about justifying the songs, I have the solution. It's a MUSICAL.

#22

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:21pm

Follies is my favorite musical ever, and the thought of the movie makes me so excited if it is done well.

For me the key is if they can cast Sally correctly, I honestly dont know which big star I can see as Sally. I really love the idea of Vanessa Williams as Phyllis, I think she would be great.

Perhaps if they got big enough stars for Phyllis/Ben/Carlotta they could cast a Victoria Clark type for Sally (yeh, I know it will never happen, but I adored her Sally at City Center)

#23

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:21pm

WHOA - correction. I have my movie musicals mixed up. It's NOT Rob Marshall. It's Sam Mendes.

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 10:21 PM

#24

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:25pm

I think Annette Bening would be the best Phyllis.

#25

re: Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:28pm

Well, WHOEVER is making it needs to contact me immediately. We've no time to lose.

Wickedfan, have you ever heard the soundboard recording. That performance got plenty of laughs. I really think the problem is the revised book. Not only does the revised version kill all the gravitas and poignancy of the ending, but it kind of kills the laughs, too.